Persons with prosopagnosia have trouble recognizing their own family members.
Prosopagnosia is the inability to recognize faces and is also called "face-blindness." It can impair other recognition, such as place recognition and car recognition. Neurologist Oliver Sacks and scientist Jane Goodall are some well-known people who suffer from this neurological disorder, which can be genetic or a result from brain injury. Persons with severe prosopagnosia may even have trouble recognizing spouses, children and their own home. However, you can improve on your own recognition skills by learning a few tricks, which can really help out in social situations.
Instructions
1. Observe distinct traits on people's faces when you meet them. Note facial hair, birthmarks, distinctive hair and body language traits, like the way a person may stand or mannerisms.
2. Listen to people's voices. Many people who have mild facial recognition problems are good at using other senses to compensate. Listen to each person's distinctive voice and speech patterns to help you remember her.
3. Relate this person to things you already know about her. When observing her face, create a context in your mind. To create a context, think of what her job is, what she is wearing and other aspects of her life in relation to her face.
4. Repeat information frequently. When you meet a new person, tell yourself over and over who she is and traits about her. Repetition is important for learning about any new concept.
5. Photograph new people when you meet them. It can help you relate the information clearly.
6. Write information on your photograph about the new person, such as her name, job and anything else to help you remember her.
7. Feel positive about your recognition skills. Most people cannot remember everyone and everything they see. By using all your senses and creating an emotional feeling about a new face, you can improve your recognition skills.
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