I also have a harder time when a conversation is more than one on one- even more so when it's on the phone. I can never tell when it's okay to say anything.

I understand the failure to recognize people and fix them into memory issue.  I think it is because i have to see them a few times to find the other patterns of recognition.  They way they walk, their voice, their general hairstyle, their gait, their mannerism, scars, marks, etc.  once i have those other things... as long as they are moving i can spot them.  If i see them sitting and not moving i can not and it's torture.  I've learned to stop saying "oh hi __?__.   Until they move and i'm sure. 

But to answer the original comment about when to talk in groups, etc.  I use the good ole fashion raising my hand coupled with (are you finished i didn't want to interupt you if your not).. can work.  Learning the rhythm of the group just like you have to learn people.  Takes a few times to learn the rhythm of when those people speak, etc.  You might want to be bold and simply say upfront... hey gang, i have these issues (state generally) so i'm just gonna raise my hand when i have a thought cause i can't tell when people are finished and i don't want to be rude.  then they just know.  It's also ok to "go back".  I often have to say..."well going back to that other issue i just wanted to say....." it's ok i guess.  who cares.

If it's a tutor session (forgive i wasn't sure the context of this situation) but if it's a group tutor session on a subject for a class... then i really  think it's totally appropriate to have disability accomodations for your disability.  You might want to ask for a 1 on 1 tutor because of your dis.  and it's fine to get a room that doesn't make your head buzz.  If it were group therapy i'd say stick it out and use the group to practice social skills and timing, etc.  But if the goal is to learn the subject matter and do well, screw the learning op and get your needs met.  Sorry :( i'm from NY... we are born with not filters on what we say when heated up, grin.  Hope that helped.  ugh.

If is a group you really need and or want to stay a part of, then take a moment at the beginning of the group and share what you need to that would help you feel more comfortable.  If it were me... I'd totally write it down and read it or i'd die a thousand times before i got it out, grin.  Best of luck. 

Jen

Jen, I know what you are talking about with the difficulty with recognizing people. For me, I if they change their hair, I will not recognise them. I also tend to focus on a persons mouth when they talk, so I don't notice much else about them, unless they are talking . I think I just figured out why I do this. Last week, I was visiting my aunt at the hospital( she overdosed on meds) and she was really really sedated, and was very hard to understand. My auditory listening skills are not that good in the best of situations. I found that it really helped that I look at mouths, as I was able to understand much of what she said, by listening and looking at her lips as she talked. I wondered if this is a learned responce that I picked up along the way in my life, since I don't have the best processing ability with auditiory things. I can't just read lips, but with a combination of both, I can better understand what is being said. I am good at one on one conversations, to an extent, though I tend to dominate a conversation. If there are more than that that I am supposed to be talking to, I just can't keep up. Alot of people can follow a conversaatioin just by listening to all in the group without having to also lip read. I have sat in meetings, where it sounded like nonsense being spoken, ande they laughed at things that I just could not understand. I really wanted to run out of the room.

To answer your first question, I find it helpful to raise my hand. It might look funny, but at least I know that when I'm called on, other people are finished talking. I'm awful at figuring out when someone is done talking. I'll even raise my hand during family conversations (I come from a larger family, though, and they're *all* talkative). Sometimes, it's not fixing what's wrong (i.e. not being able to read nonverbal cues so that I know when someone's done talking) but compensating for what's wrong (raising my hand, in this case).

Also, I deal with sensory overload by having something in my hand to fidget with. Like you, I have a tendency to go off into my own little world when there is too much going on. I've found it helpful to have a notebook for doodling, or a plastic bottle I can squeeze gently without making noise. Neither of those things is too distracting for the people around me, either. If I have something to relieve the stress/anxiety of too much sensory information, it's much easier for me to participate in groups.

Finally, hello from another SLP student!