Remembering names and faces.

[Claymoreiron]

This isn’t a new problem but I cannot remember names or faces. I work in an industry where I work with large groups and it’s becoming a problem. I can just walk past people I have just met. Names are just a jumble to me.

i have always been like this tbh. I’ve started to wonder if I can do anything about it or even if I’m maybe ND in some way.

any suggestions? TIA

Same here! Names worse than faves although with faces, I can confuse people. It's so embarrassing when it's only one direction.

Like you I've always been like this and I show absolutely no sign of cognitive concerns otherwise.

I very much suspect I would be diagnosed as adhd if I were to be tested (no interest in doing so though). I don't know ow if that might be a symptom?

Sorry, the only suggestion for names is to try an analogy. Say they have a big nose, they become big nose Andy. Obviously only in your head until you then do remember. I should apply this myself but I don't think about it at the time and somehow always think I will remember...that time!

Im the same.... names, dates, faces, most things TBH!
Face blindness is def a thing though and Im well known at work for not remembering anybody (I work as a nurse too so everybody is in identical uniforms). In fact recently one of my patients was moved out of their room into the corridor temporarily and I thought they were a new admission!😆

My advice is just admit it. You become that person at work who has a brain like a sieve but at least you dont have to keep faking remembering somebody!

Someone told me once that the main reason you don’t remember people names is that you don’t try hard enough too and I think that can be true to some extent. If you tell yourself that you are bad with names and faces then you are giving yourself an excuse to not bother trying. I’ve taken this onboard and now I really try to listen and remember names. I still don’t think I’m very good but I’m a lot better than I was.

My husband is typically very unobservant of anything and everything but he can spot and name politicians and sports stars across from across crowded stations. I think he has a special knack.

Thanks all. Drives me nuts.

No solutions I'm afraid just empathy. I have failed to recognise myself and close friends/ partners in pictures. I'm useless at the picture round in the pub quiz and I get totally lost if a film has many similar looking characters.

For work, I do find writing a name down and saying it over multiple times helps it to stick and tips like 'learning' people's faces/ mannerisms is possible, so saying (in my head) Andy Smith (big nose, tall, blue eys, grey hair, bites his nails, comes from Wrexham) helps it to stick a bit and I do make notes on new people I need to remember from work (god help me if anyone ever finds those!) ... but if I bump into someone out of context I am very unlikely to just recognise their face, if they start to chat I just hope I can pick up enough clues from how they look / speak to put them into context before I look stupid!

Edited as double posted!

I have this and I'm diagnosed autistic, probably adhd too.
I'm a sahm and fortunately it doesn't have a huge impact on my life. Most people I see around are im the same context each time (eg school mums) and I recognise them enough to say hello at drop off etc. I usually avoid saying someon's name if I'm not sure (eg I just say Hello, not Hello X). Often if I see them out somewhere else I have no idea who they are, but if they seem to recognise me then I smile and say hello back. (Sometimes I've ended up saying hello to complete strangers who were actually speaking hands-free on a phone, but never mind). Having Whatsapp groups really helps as I have the names written down, often with a profile picture.

I'd agree that part of it is that I don't try too hard at remembering. I don't make close friendships and don't see much point in using brain power to memorise lots of faces and names of people who aren't going to play a big part in my life. Obviously for work these relationships might matter more but I'm a bit relieved I don't haveto put that effort in.