[NABS-L] Not Recognizing Voices

Wed Nov 10 15:42:07 UTC 2021

Hi, Amy

I lost my sight five years ago when I was nineteen. For me, recognizing voices is harder than recognizing faces. I don't know the reason why, but I feel like I mistake more people by voice than I did when I was seeing their faces.

Luke Seibert
President, Alabama Association Of Blind Students
(256) 443-0212
LukeSeibert.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-seibert-3a2a78173/

-----Original Message-----
From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Amy Albin via NABS-L
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 5:47 AM
To: sandragayer7 at gmail.com; National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Amy Albin <amyralbin at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Not Recognizing Voices

Thanks for all the great answers. Now for my other question: For those who became blind later in life, (and are adjusted to blindness) is recognizing voices harder than recognizing faces?

On 11/10/21, Sandra Gayer via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello Amy,
> I was on a course last year which lasted for almost 3 months. There 
> were 2 girls I got routinely mixed up. It became a bit of a class 
> joke, all good humoured. You'll be fine.
>
> Very best wishes,
> Sandra.
>
> On 11/5/21, josh lester via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> It is quite normal. Happens to me a lot. You don’t have anything to 
>> worry about.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Nov 4, 2021, at 10:07 PM, Joshua Hendrickson via NABS-L 
>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> Amy.  I don't think you have anything to worry about.  Some people 
>>> just have very similar voices.  When I was in school I knew a set of 
>>> identical twins who were girls.  I had them in some of my classes 
>>> and once I was invited to their birthday party which was a lot of fun.
>>> ?The only way I was able to tell the twins apart was to listen very 
>>> closely.  One of the twins had a slightly lower voice then the other 
>>> one.  It was something I had to intentionally listen for or I could 
>>> mix the two girls up.  Again, I think you don't have anything to 
>>> worry about.
>>>
>>>> On 11/4/21, Kennedy Stomberg via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>> Amy,
>>>>
>>>> There is a disorder of not recognizing voices, but it's pretty rare 
>>>> and not easy to diagnose. What you're describing doesn't sound like 
>>>> that though, since you don't have this difficulty with everyone. 
>>>> (I'm not an expert, and certainly not quallified to say for sure, I 
>>>> just have some basic
>>>> knowledge!)
>>>> In any case, I want to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with 
>>>> not always being able to recognize voices. I know it can feel 
>>>> frustrating, but I hope you don't feel bad about it! If anyone is 
>>>> making you feel judged because you can't universally recognize 
>>>> voices, I am so sorry that's been your experience!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Kennedy Stomberg, M.S. she/her/hers
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> On Nov 4, 2021, at 9:01 PM, nspohn0--- via NABS-L 
>>>>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> I think it's normal. Sometimes you don't expect seeing someone at 
>>>>> a certain place or a certain time of day, which can throw off the 
>>>>> micro moments of scanning your voice profiles for a match.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: NABS-L <nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Amy Albin 
>>>>> via NABS-L
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:29 PM
>>>>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>>>>> Cc: Amy Albin <amyralbin at gmail.com>
>>>>> Subject: [NABS-L] Not Recognizing Voices
>>>>>
>>>>> Hey All,
>>>>>
>>>>> I am totally blind and have a question that I never got around to 
>>>>> asking.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have no hearing disabilities. However, I sometimes don't 
>>>>> recognize people's voices that I have known for awhile. For 
>>>>> example, people in my classes, some of them I can't tell apart 
>>>>> even though I have interacted with them frequently. In high school 
>>>>> I was in a group where there were 2 girls I could not tell apart 
>>>>> by voice. I do not have this problem for everyone.
>>>>> There are plenty of people whose voices I recognize, but plenty I 
>>>>> don't.
>>>>> I
>>>>> know that when sighted people can't recognize faces, it is 
>>>>> considered a disorder. Is not recognizing voices normal for blind people? Thanks.
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Joshua Hendrickson
>>>
>>> Joshua Hendrickson
>>>
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>
>
> --
> Sandra Gayer DipABRSM, LRSM.
>
> Soprano Singer
> www.sandragayer.com
>
> Broadcast Presenter
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>
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>
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