I have trouble with people's names

debodun said:
I know two couples that have similar names and I can't remember which names go with which faces. For instance (made up names just to illustrate the point):

Alan and Jean Baker
Adam and Joan Barker

Anyone else have this situation.
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Nope...I just can't remember faces.. I have face blindness (prosopagnosia)..so unless I've seen someone many, many times.. I don't recognise them out of the place I saw them first...
 
I have to associate the name with something. Harry would be a guy with a lot of hair. Jean would be blue jeans. etc. Otherwise, forget it!

Today, for my "Welcome to Medicare" physical, I was given a memory test. I was told to remember "Daughter Heaven Mountain". Thing is, I just had lunch with my daughter and we were discussing heaven, not on a mountain, but I stuck that in my word picture. Then a few minutes later after discussing other things I had to recite those 3 words. Heck, how could I not remember them? I think I will remember them long after I forget everything else!
 
Our senior brains increasingly lose the ability to recall names of not only people we meet but also objects as neural connections fade from non use and diffusion. As a person working in large corporate offices and labs, whenever I started new jobs, I would carry around a small notebook with pencil and scribble in who, what for all I was introduced to. Otherwise forgetting names of coworkers can leave a poor impression on them the next time one meets.
 
I actually was trying to remember the names of my x-husband's niece and nephews today. I got the boys, but the girl took much longer. I finally remembered them but it took a while.

I have written down the names of my nephew's kids, as well as my "greats". It helps.
 
When I was working I had a schedule so I knew the person's name that I was seeing.
Now I see these people out in public and think "Oh no, what is that person's name!?"
Most of the time I know it. Thing is, I an tell they can't recall my name. I always remind them the in a friendly way.
 
Here is a technique I use in business and w my family and friends that helps all parties w names. When meeting some one unexpectedly w a business associate or family member in tow that I know well and my company only knows vaguely from a previous meeting or encounter I always aggressively start the convo so I can control the beginning.

Approaching some one w my wife at the golf club for instance. I say clearly w a full throat....."hi John, great to see you, you remember my wife Jane." They are then able to greet each other warmly since all the awkwardness of not remembering a name has gone away in a heartbeat.

If it's business I might also mention their employer's name and also add a tiny positive fact about how each party is connected. That avoids a lot of "foot in mouth" disease.
 
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