Great question. Sounds like you might have a little OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder). I used to do the same thing as a kid. I had this obsession to count every window in a house or building. I could not leave until all the windows were counted. I dont do it anymore, but I remember it used to drive me nuts. As long as it doesn't interfere with your life or daily function you have nothing to worry about. But if it does, and it bothers you that much, go see your doctor. There is medication for this.

It sounds like a type of obsessive compulsive disorder to me. If you have had a habit of counting letters in words for quite a time now, it is only an aquired skill that you can correctly guess the # of letters in words immediately. But I would say that it probably started out as OCD and gradually became a 'skill.' But dont take my definate word on it, I am no doctor.

I don't think it is normal but you should not make it an obsessive compulsion where you must do this either. on the flip side, it is a nice ability to be able to do this sort of thing. Just try not to become dependent upon doing this in order to feel alright. I suggest other forms of word games in order to satisfy your mental cravings for word play.

I'm no expert, but it sounds obsessive/compulsive, to me. Counting is a common symptom of OCD. Here's just one link: "Not all obsessive-compulsive rituals are external manifestations like repeatedly checking the stove or the handwashing. A person with OCD may perform counting rituals throughout the day, every day in their mind." http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/01_15_00/page_01.html

It's a bit of OCD, although it doesn't sound like you would meet the criteria for a diagnosis...so don't worry. It's funny because my husband does this SAME thing, I think it's odd but there's no harm in it. He also tries to see if he can get out his sentences in an even number of syllables.

I don't think it is abnormal, but could be caused by several different things. As Taylor indicated, it might be associated with OCD, but it might also be associated with Aspergers Syndrome, or any number of lesser known things. If this is the only thing that you notice that is out of the ordinary, I wouldn't worry. Just check with your doctor next time you see him.

It's possibly OCD and I disagree with the mother who is dismissing it as a "parlor trick." I have OCD. It's not always debilitating. Most people associate it with people whose lives are disrupted by it. In reality, and depending on the compulsion, there are many people who live happily and unconsciously with OCD. I'm 30 years old and a year ago I realized that I have been unconsciously counting. It started when I was younger. All I can remember is that one day in elementary school I began associating numbers 1-5 with good and bad things. I'd be able to listen to my teacher but my primary thoughts would sometimes veer off into counting...usually when I quickly "got" the lesson and became bored. I did very well in school btw. I realized last year that while watching television, certain phrases jump out at me...the longer the better. I've been doing this for years as well and I'm not sure why it never dawned on me that this was occurring. Depending on the sentence/phrase, I'll sometimes sign the letters (i'm not deaf, i just know how to sign language letters). I count the letters and syllables in the words in hopes that it will result in a multiple of 5. Ironically, I'm almost 100% right. And no matter what, I will recount the phrase two additional times to make sure I counted correctly. I feel a sense of relief when I'm right. And once I count one phrase, I have to count another. Sometimes I do it for hours and like in school, I'm totally aware of what's going on around me or on tv. The point is, it's my little quirk. I don't count aloud so I'm not bothering anyone. I've lived with this for most of my life, and it's not disrupting in any way that I know of so where this may be "weird" or "crazy" to others...I don't care. I don't need medication to "fix" something that's not broken. I guess I just like counting to five :)

Having said that, I was just two point two, or 795 days (until september 1980, I would have scalled it two and a sixth) when I could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name. It was on 11 September 1967 when I announced 'there are 16 letters in responsibilities'.

As I have already mentioned, I was just 26 months when I could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phraes or name.

As I was saying, I was two and a sixth when I could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name. I wonder how many other children that young are also that smart?

I mentioned on Holy Saturday 10 April 1976 that there are 270 minutes between hang Miss Deighton's pretty pink knickers on the line and how old Jeffrey was when he could work out how many letters there were in a ceratin word, phrase or name.

There are 270 minutes between hang Louise Marilyn Smith's pretty pink knickers on the line and how old Jeffrey was when he could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name. (Jeffrey Hasford, 14 May 1985)

There are 270 minutes between hang Louise Marilyn Smith's pretty pink knickers on the line and how old Jeffrey was when he could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name. (Jeffrey Hansford, Tuesday 14 May 1985)

It's fine if it's done in moderation.

When I was two-and-a-sixth I was asked "How many letters in reincarnation?" to which I replied "13". I was absolutely right!

Two things to tell you afore we go. First of all, I would like to remind you that Louise Marilyn Smith could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name when she was three and a quarter. Secondly the time, of course, was incorrect; it is 24:55. Now may I remind you to switch off your television set. Good morning.

Two things to tell you afore we go. First of all, I would like to remind you that Louise Marilyn Smith could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name when she was three and a quarter. Secondly the time of course was incorrect; it is 24:55. Now may I remind you to switch off your television set. Good morning.

It's absolutely f-i-n-e but only if it's done in moderation. Not with strangers, not with everyone and certainly NOT every minute of the day!!! !!!!!!!!!

We're going to leave you now, since it is thirty three minutes past twelve. Just before we go, we'd like to remind you that Louise Marilyn Smith could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name when she was three and a quarter.

Going back to when Louise Marilyn Smith was wiping her tights on the 57 bus (14.04.1973) her mother hit her with 'speak softly' to which LMS (aged 4.8) replied 'eleven'. Mrs Betty Smith needed to count it on her fingers to see if her little girl was right. She then hit her with 'institutionalisation' and Louise Marilyn Smith replied 'twenty' and she then had to wait while her mother counted on her fingers again. It was cute and amusing at 4, OK when I was 9 but a definite no-no when I was 14.

Although I didn't get any qualifications until I was twenty six, I could do mathematical and lexicographical calculations at just twenty six MONTHS.

My parents didn't mind me doing it when I was 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, but at three multiplied by seven they regarded it as a definite no-no.

It was very clever when I was two, OK when I was eight but a definite no-no when I was fourteen.

I'd expect this from eight-year-olds, but not from eighteen, nineteen and twenty year olds.

It may be a relatively innocuous form of obsessive/compulsive behavior. If it's not interferring with any major portions of one's life, it's probably not worth bothering with.

Most of us call a halt to counting the letters in a word, phrase or name after about 12 (unless, of course, we are either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown).

I was silly about the number of vowels or the number of letters, and that was when I was younger and much less sensible. It was quite clever when I was six, OK when I was nine but a definite no-no when I was twelve.

It sounds like you're describing OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). If it's something you feel compelled to do, then that would be the category for such behavior. Personally, I can tell you the number of letters in a word at a glance if I wanted with no need to count, but I do not concern myself with the matter at all, and I wouldn't bother at all with phrases.

But after thirteen IT WOULDN'T WASH!!!

It's fine unless it verges on becoming a habit after a while, but after about twelve I wouldn't bother unless you were either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown (the word game on Channel 4).

Obviously, we would expect this from four-year-olds, but not on any account from eighteen, nineteen and twenty-year-olds.

I've been told - that's the sort of thing we do when we're little! From the age of 13, we should refrain from telling people how many letters a certain word, phrase or name is made up of unless, of course, we're either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown.

Small children of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 often tell people the amount of letters in a certain word, phrase or name, but at that stage of their lives it's considered educational.

although it's probably technically OCD, it's not "weird" or anything. lots of people do little weird things like that. i personally have to sort out how to add numbers to get 11, or a symmetrical number (I count 2 and 5 as opposites, so a number like 2115 would work, otherwise the numbers have to be symmetrical) and i have a bunch of other stupid math rituals i go through in my head constantly. either your OCD ruins your life or you get good at it to the point where you can do them so efficiently you dont need to think about it anymore and you look rather clever as a result.

I've never seen anyone do it in my life! However, I've done it many a time since I was two and a sixth. I still do it as an adult, but only if I'm either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown. By the way, 11 September 2008 is the 41st anniversary of when I could work out how many letters there were in a certain word, phrase or name.

I would recommend that party trick for ages four to eight.

As far as I know, it's more a 'photographic memory' thing than a sign of OCD.

It sounds like OCD counting to me. Which isn't really "normal," but hey, what really is normal? Lots of people have OCD. As long as it isn't inhibiting your life in any way, I wouldn't worry about it too much (there are some extreme cases where people spend all day counting things and never get anything done).

As I explained at coffee break on Bonfire Night 2008, I'd say it would be educational if it was a small child of 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. That is because children of that age are that sort of age to learn about colours, numbers and times. When I was two my mother asked me 'How many letters in Tooting Bec Station?' to which I replied '17' - at the drop of a hat. My mum then asked me 'Would you be kind enough to tell me the number of letters in African Caribbean Community Library?' and in two shakes of a lamb's tail I replied '32'.

When the news on BBC1 came on, when I was four, I would announce with glee, 'This is BBC Midlands; it's as many minutes to nine as letters in Linda Marilyn Deighton'. My mother seems to have brought this up a few times since 20.01.1990.

As I have already mentioned, I would totally disagree that counting the # of letters in a ceratin word, phrase or name is a sign of OCD. I consider it educational if a normal 4, 5, 6, 7 8, or even 9 or 10 year old was doing it, but from the age of 11 he or she shouldn't bother outside of crosswords or Countdown. What makes YOU think it's a sign of OCD?

I don't see it as OCD at all. My son started doing this at two-and-a-sixth and it was a party trick back then. But as he moved towards double figures, people thought of it as unnecessary + an arrant waste of time.

It was on 27 September 1979 that Miss Deighton mentioned that I was counting the number of letters teachers' surnames had, and that was one way of relieving my anxieties. So we have these 6: Akhurst = 7, Brett = 5, Butler = 6, Deighton = 8, Hutcheson = 9 and Renouf = 6. Miss Deighton would have disagreed it was a sign of OCD.

Miss Deighton would consider this a parlor trick if a young child (i.e. a child of 6, 7, 8 or 9) was doing this, but she would deem this unacceptable from teenagers.

In a nutshell, Miss Deighton didn't mind me doing it when I was nine or ten, but by the time I was thirteen she considered this inappropriate, babyish and an arrant waste of time. 'If we're doing a crossword puzzle, that's fine', said Miss Deighton on 11/10/1979.

It's all right if we're either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown, but otherwise it won't wash with people after about age twelve.

I started doing this at two and people found it cute and amusing back in 67.

No, it is not still a habit, I still do it at heading towards 45 but only if I am either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown.

Miss Deighton would think that was more of a 'parlor trick' than OCD.

A fascination with numeric patterns *could* be a sign of austism/aspergers. Take the austism test to see: http://aq.server8.org/

Miss Deighton would deny that was OCD. She looked on it as a party trick that small children of 4 through 8 would do.

It's fine if it isn't taken to excess.

If a small child, 5 or 6, was doing it, that's fine. But not at twenty one.

I started doing this party trick when I was about two, but in my mother's words it wasn't so much a party trick as something I was able to do. I still do this as an adult, but only if I'm either doing a crossword puzzle or playing Countdown (= the word game on Channel 4) so in that case it's neither a habit nor an issue.