Faceblindness

[stormdog]

A student came to the desk with a coworker to ask me a question. I answered him, and he continued his chat with the coworker. Suddenly, it ocurred to me that the student might *be* one of my coworkers. I looked and listened carefully, trying to observe his clothes to see if they were like what I remember him wearing. That and his hair matched, and his voice sounded pretty close. Ok, that must be my coworker.

Why didn't I recognize him? I'm pretty sure its because he wasn't wearing the glasses he usually wears. I still don't feel 'emotionally' sure it was him, but logically it's the only explanation.

But I've been told, both by a neurologist in their professional capacity and by a friend-of-a-friend with neurological experience and knowledge, though he doesn't know me very well, that I'm not faceblind.

Ok; what's the other explanation?

Comments

[basefinder]

I would think there are shades of faceblindness. I think lots of us are "just not good with faces" or only really remember the faces of people we are close to or see often. So maybe you have "it" bad enough to impact your life, but not quite bad enough to meet a clinical definition.

[stormdog]

It's definitely a spectrum. I got the impression they didn't see any sign of it in me at all though. It left me disillusioned about talking to any other neurologists.