Prosopagnosia

[pandora_parrot]

So, I gave a little talk on prosopagnosia today to my coworkers.

I hit all the usual points. Talked about how I can't follow the plot of movies. How I can't remember my mother's face. You know... All of the usual things I mention.

And people really liked it! Take a look at this email!

Dear Joyce,

I wanted to thank you for your presentation today. Not only did it clear up the reason why you did seem not to know me after I met you a couple times, but I think it also educated everyone on something important that people don't usually think twice about. The next time I see you, I'll be sure to introduce myself again! I'm pretty short, with long curly-ish brown hair.

A few others also came up to me and told me that they experience this sort of thing as well! And others are now identifying themselves whenever they come near me. Exciting!

Comments

[fabmadamj.livejournal.com]

A winner is you!

[tenacious-snail.livejournal.com]

That is really, really excellent. I'm glad to hear that it went so well for you.

(It also just occurred to me that when I am interacting with a blind person that I don't see often, I introduce myself. Same principle applies here, sounds like)

[stormdog.livejournal.com]

That is really neat. I wish I felt more comfortable doing something like that.

thank you.

[dutchy1.livejournal.com]

Your story did light my spirit: I do recognize faces and circumstances but with very much trouble (after countless meetings and sometimes not even than) NAMES.
So a variation on your theme... I always use the excuse: I have moved house 40 times before I was 10 years of age (only exaggerated 2x, but 40 sounds better than 38 times!) so my mind turned the switch: as soon as you know the names you move again so why bother...
And how hard I do try, I cannot turn the switch back (or a joke like that) I wish this had an official name too. Or could find that d****n switch!
And bravo (applause!!!) for your talk!

Re: thank you.

[paradox-puree.livejournal.com]

Just remember that there's a big difference between inability to recognize names and inability to recognize faces. In one, you still know who the person is, you don't know their label. In the other, you simply have no idea whether the person you're talking to is someone you know, someone you don't, someone you work with, a friend, etc.

It very much changes the situation and the interaction.

But it does result in some similar reactions, because if you can't recognize the person, there's no way of recognizing their name at all, eh?

Good luck! *hugs*

Re: thank you.

[dutchy1.livejournal.com]

I really do know the difference, it only makes a job as difficult as the other way when you have a job a a kind of social worker and had even once the post as a director of the whole caboodle and there were each week at least 1700 visitors who did expect you did know their names for they were there at least once a week or more...
What I did hope to do is: a thumbs up for brave person, b: let people know there are a lot of similar circumstances so do not feel alone by it, and let other readers think about the subject so they do not "judge" other people by there own standard, although your friends react cool! (hurray for them too).
And not least: It did make me feel "less a freak" for being so badly about names, that's also why the "thank you"!
So good luck *HUGS* from me too!

[terminaldogma.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow ... this is something I really need to look into. Could explain a lot.

Thanks (and congratulations on your successful presentation!)

[mayamaia.livejournal.com]

I know I often forget it.

[peaceofpie.livejournal.com]

Dude, you rock my socks right out of the pleathertrucking box. :)

[celticmoni.livejournal.com]

So. Effing. BRAVE!!

Go you!

[natalie-i-am.livejournal.com]

Yay for understanding colleagues!
I dunno how i would identify myself without sounding like a prat... thank god we speak over IRC :)