Yes. This is a real condition called Prosopagnosia.
Face blindness makes it difficult to recognize new people, and sometimes even people that you do know.
Prosopagnosia can be either “acquired” or “developmental.”
- Acquired face blindness might result from some sort of trauma like brain damage or a stroke. There is a possibility of improvement or “retraining” the face processing mechanisms in the brain.
- Developmental face blindness does not result from trauma, and is permanent. Some experts believe this condition is genetic and runs in families.
Would a diagnosis of Prosopagnosia qualify you for disability benefits? Probably not, based on this single diagnoses alone.
However, if this condition has resulted from a severe injury, contributes to severe anxiety, or otherwise limits your activities of daily living, then Social Security must consider this diagnoses in conjunction with all of your other diagnoses and symptoms.
Interested in learning more about face blindness? Here are some resources:
- Yes, face blindness is a real condition. (5 News)
- Prosopagnosia (face blindness) (NHS-UK)
- Speaking of Psychology: What is it like to be face blind? (APA)
- Face to Face Newsletter (Prosopagnosia Research Center)
