Do TV “superpowers” silence real voices? New study from The University of Akron explores how television gets neurodiversity wrong

From "Heroes" to "True Detective" to "Limitless," television has often portrayed synesthesia - a neurological condition where senses blend, so a person might "see" sounds, "taste" words, or "hear" colors - as a dazzling superpower. But according to new research from The University of Akron, those portrayals may do more harm than good.

Dr. Dimitria Gatzia, professor of philosophy and integrated biosciences in the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences, has published a new study, "Enhanced Senses, Constrained Voices: Analyzing the Television Portrayals of Synesthetes Through Mute Group Theory," in the book "Making Thought Visible: Essays on Neurodiversity on Television" (Curt Hersey & Julie D. O'Reilly, Eds.).

Her analysis reveals that while TV often celebrates synesthesia as an extraordinary gift, synesthetic characters are usually silenced - unable to tell their own stories without a "translator" or guide. This narrative pattern, she argues, reflects a broader cultural tendency to marginalize neurodivergent voices.

"Television has tremendous influence on how we think about difference," said Gatzia. "When synesthetes are portrayed as extraordinary but voiceless, it reinforces the idea that their perspectives don't belong at the center of their own stories."

This research highlights how popular media can unintentionally reinforce stereotypes about marginalized groups - even when it appears to be celebrating them. The research also offers fresh insight for scholars and practitioners in neurodiversity, media studies, disability studies, and related fields, highlighting how representation in pop culture can either empower or erase marginalized perspectives.

The study contributes to a growing conversation about how the media portrays neurodivergent experiences and why those portrayals matter.

Media contact: [email protected]