Face blindness affects me in the least helpful moments – like when my boss’es boss greets me, or someone I serve with on a local board says, “Hello”. It usually takes me at least a second or two, to make the connections – sometimes longer. I’ve gotten so used to it, I guess, that my compensatory techniques cover it up pretty well. So, who would believe me, when I tell them that I often don’t recognize even the people closest to me, on sight? Funny, how that goes.
My coping mechanism, of just being friendly and cordial with everyone, as though I do know them, comes in handy. It’s disarming. And it helps in other situations, where a bunch of people are standing uncomfortably around each other. I have no idea if I know them or not, for at least a few minutes, so I just assume I already do, and I greet them as such.
It helps everyone feel at ease. And no one has an idea that I don’t recognize people at first. They never guess 🙂
Autistic Ultra 
I had no idea, before I learned that I was on the spectrum, that I’m mildly faceblind. Or that such a thing even existed. I just thought I needed to pay more attention. And that tied in with my discomfort in looking directly at people’s faces when in a conversation. Two aspie traits right there in a neat bundle, and I didn’t have a clue.
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Sounds familiar. With me, face-blindness is so much a part of me, I almost don’t even notice it. Except, when I’m clearly drawing a big ol’ blank on who’s standing right in front of me. Then… yeah. Sorry – I DO know you, after all!
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I had to have my youngest pointed out to me in a kindergarten play because they had put a hat on her and I could not pick her out of the class. I was only two feet from her at the time. But I can recognise other features, especially hair.
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