There are learning disabilities that I have and have enhanced my life probably more than hurt me. But I’ve never tested for face-blindness. It isn’t the worst case. But mine goes way back. I bumped into a really good friend while shopping with another. It was probably 45 years ago so not a sign of dementia. The faces were familiar but names escaped me.
Often when watching a show I will state the face is familiar, but my son or husband have said, “You know this person.” Then they rattle off the actor’s name and title of the show I supposedly saw the star in.
When I meet new people I will often forget their faces and their names. If I remember either it is because I had a great conversation with the person. I find I can rattle off the whole conversation. And will suddenly recognize the now familiar face.
Does this happen to any of you?
It has, indeed, happened to me, but I never attributed it to face blindness. I assumed it was because I wasn’t enough paying attention during a brief introduction to be able to recall a somewhat familiar looking face and link it with a name. I was always envious of those who had almost total recall of names and faces.
When I was in college I wrote all the names of the students in my class and where they sat. I found having the written name and place helped the most. I had the names and faces before the professor. But random meeting without the written name put me in a forest of faces.
I tend to forget names, but never a face…
They can all look alike when I feel the social anxiety peak. Eyes on either side of the nose, etc. Sometimes the elements align and I remember faces and names, but other times it can be confusing. Ad this has been like that all my life.