This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyv58l3mdno
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Face blindness will be examined as part of new project | |
| (2 months later) | |
| Dr Hayley Ryder could not recognise her husband of 30 years if she saw him out of context | Dr Hayley Ryder could not recognise her husband of 30 years if she saw him out of context |
| An academic who cannot recognise people - including her own husband or children - hopes a new project will raise awareness of the little-known condition of face blindness. | An academic who cannot recognise people - including her own husband or children - hopes a new project will raise awareness of the little-known condition of face blindness. |
| Dr Hayley Ryder, who has had the condition prosopagnosia throughout her life, said: "I'm sure I continually offend people." | |
| The Milton Keynes-based Open University (OU) academic cannot distinguish people by their faces so instead has to rely on other cues such as hairstyles or clothing. | The Milton Keynes-based Open University (OU) academic cannot distinguish people by their faces so instead has to rely on other cues such as hairstyles or clothing. |
| Her colleague Prof Catriona Havard is starting a project to raise the profile of the condition and find ways to support those who have it. | Her colleague Prof Catriona Havard is starting a project to raise the profile of the condition and find ways to support those who have it. |
| "It's not as simple as someone being a bit bad with names, it's way more than that but people just don't understand it," Prof Havard said. | "It's not as simple as someone being a bit bad with names, it's way more than that but people just don't understand it," Prof Havard said. |
| Listen: Dr Hayley Ryder, a lecturer at the Open University in Milton Keynes, talks about living with facial blindness | Listen: Dr Hayley Ryder, a lecturer at the Open University in Milton Keynes, talks about living with facial blindness |
| What is face blindness and how many people are affected by it? | What is face blindness and how many people are affected by it? |
| Prosopagnosia, known as face blindness, is a condition where you have difficulty recognising people's faces. There is no treatment, but there are things you can do to help you recognise people. | Prosopagnosia, known as face blindness, is a condition where you have difficulty recognising people's faces. There is no treatment, but there are things you can do to help you recognise people. |
| It affects people differently. Some people may not be able to tell the difference between strangers or people they do not know well. | It affects people differently. Some people may not be able to tell the difference between strangers or people they do not know well. |
| Actor Brad Pitt revealed in 2013 he was suffering from the condition. | Actor Brad Pitt revealed in 2013 he was suffering from the condition. |
| It is believed to affect between 2 and 3 per cent of people. | It is believed to affect between 2 and 3 per cent of people. |
| Dr Ryder, in her 50s and a mum-of-three, said it was not until her late 20s that she realised she had a medical condition. | Dr Ryder, in her 50s and a mum-of-three, said it was not until her late 20s that she realised she had a medical condition. |
| "All my life I was aware that people I thought were complete strangers would come up and talk to me as if they knew me. | "All my life I was aware that people I thought were complete strangers would come up and talk to me as if they knew me. |
| "If I meet my husband of 30 years out of context, I wouldn’t know it was him. I can’t recognise my children. | "If I meet my husband of 30 years out of context, I wouldn’t know it was him. I can’t recognise my children. |
| "I can’t even join my colleagues at lunch unless they come and get me first, because I’m just looking at a set of crowded tables. | "I can’t even join my colleagues at lunch unless they come and get me first, because I’m just looking at a set of crowded tables. |
| "It's very hard socially - people think you’re just keeping yourself to yourself or not bothering." | "It's very hard socially - people think you’re just keeping yourself to yourself or not bothering." |
| Prof Catriona Havard (left) and Dr Hayley Ryder (right) met at a recent OU workshop to explore face blindness | Prof Catriona Havard (left) and Dr Hayley Ryder (right) met at a recent OU workshop to explore face blindness |
| Prof Havard has written a book about the topic and wants to create a free screening tool to classify youngsters with prosopagnosia, and other resources to help support children and adults. | Prof Havard has written a book about the topic and wants to create a free screening tool to classify youngsters with prosopagnosia, and other resources to help support children and adults. |
| She said: "A lot of children get misdiagnosed at school with things like autism because they can’t recognise their friends and may be socially interacting in a different way." | She said: "A lot of children get misdiagnosed at school with things like autism because they can’t recognise their friends and may be socially interacting in a different way." |
| The OU has provided funding via its Open Societal Challenges Project, with the aim of attracting more finance to develop the research further. | |
| "My major ambition is people know about face blindness, so it’s as commonly talked about as ADHD or autism. | "My major ambition is people know about face blindness, so it’s as commonly talked about as ADHD or autism. |
| "Parents can help their children and adults can talk to their co workers and friends, so we can make allowance for them and their behaviour," said Prof Harvard. | "Parents can help their children and adults can talk to their co workers and friends, so we can make allowance for them and their behaviour," said Prof Harvard. |
| Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. | |
Previous version
1
Next version