Why Dyslexic brains struggle with names and faces (It’s Neurology, Not Carelessness)

Send us Fan MailHave you ever run into someone you know you know—but their name just won’t come, and their face doesn’t quite register the way you expect? For dyslexic individuals, this isn’t carelessness or lack of effort. It’s neurology.In this episode, I explore the neuroscience behind name retrieval and face recognition in dyslexic brains, including research on the left anterior temporal lobe and the visual word form area. We unpack why dyslexic individuals may struggle to retrieve proper names, why this can sometimes extend to recognizing repeated faces, and why blanket statements like “dyslexics can’t remember faces” miss the nuance entirely.I also share personal reflections as a dyslexic and an artist—highlighting how strong episodic memory, visual detail, and storytelling often coexist alongside name-retrieval challenges. Dyslexia doesn’t look the same in everyone, and this episode emphasizes individual differences, strengths, and meaning-based processing rather than deficit narratives.If you’re dyslexic, support dyslexic individuals, or want to understand neurodiversity through a more compassionate and accurate lens, this conversation offers insight, validation, and a reframing of what’s really happening beneath the surface.Monzalvo, K., Fluss, J., Billard, C., Dehaene, S., & Dehaene-Lambertz, G. (2012). Cortical networks for vision and language in dyslexic and normal children of variable socio-economic status. NeuroImage, 61, 258–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.02.035Support the showThank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-onlineEnrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programsOr connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].