[mastercheif]

In college I tried a medication called Topamax (Topiramate) for migraine prevention. Topamax has a low-occurrence side effect of “language impairment” which I was particularly sensitive to.

It was a terrifying experience, but it was also a valuable one as it changed the way I view intelligence.

10 days in my writing and speech skills had devolved to that of a primary school aged child. I tried to type a text message and struggled to come up with simple words like “and”. My speech slowed down considerably.

The terrifying thing was that my internal world was still as complex and meaningful as it was before. All of the emotions I felt were real and legitimate. My cognition outside of lqnguage was intact, I could do math just fine and conceptualize and abstract problems.

In spite of this, I was unable to convey what I was feeling and thinking to the outside world. It felt like I was trapped inside my own body.

After recovering, my intuitive understanding of the link between language and intelligence was changed forever.

See the following for more info on Topamax/Topiramate language impairment: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10072-008-0906-5

[RoyalHenOil]

I do not experience an internal monologue (unless I make a conscious effort at it), and I also struggle to find the right words for things. For this, and for a few other reasons (like taking a longer time than usual to understand speech), I suspect I may have a mild language processing disorder.

But my inner world is still extremely rich. I have very complex thoughts, can solve complex puzzles, etc., all without thinking any words.

It sounds like your medication gave you a particularly intense experience of this.

Many people have historically downplayed the consciousness of animals and babies on account of their inability to understand language, but it seems language likely has nothing to do with consciousness.