JulieKac Asked October 2021
Repetitive sounds and utterances in elderly. Is there a reason for this?
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My elderly Father has started to constantly 'sing' nonsense phrases such as 'Ooppsy diddley didoo boddledy boddely boo!' Is this a sign of dementia?
Is there another reason for this?
To be honest he is driving me round the bend!
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A full exam by his primary doctor and an exam from a neurologist sounds like it would be in order.
Make a list of all the things that seem “odd” think back over the past year even things that did not seem significant at the time. Present that information to the doctor.
And have you asked dad why he does this? If so what does he say.
To keep this from driving you ‘round the bend I suggest headphones, earbuds and listen to music or a book.
I often compared my Husband to the kids that have Autism or ADD. They quite often make noises to calm themselves and I think that is what my Husband did. When we were out in a large store his noises would get a bit louder. If there was a lot of excitement around him, his noises would get louder. So much of it I think was anxiety.
There are medications that can help with anxiety you could discuss that with his doctor.
If the noises really get to you try pinpointing the trigger.
Is it when there is excitement around him, or is he alone? Is it when he is trying to do something and he can't quite get it?
Try turning volume down on the TV. Calming music if he likes music, there are sound machines that might help. Talk to him in a quiet voice and try lowering the pitch of it.
Although my Dad does suffer from anxiety sometimes, he tends to do the repetitive talking when he is just sitting in his chair, not when he is anxious. The gist of it is not upset or anger, he just repeats those phrases over and over.it's a habit he's got into. I have read about autistic children or adults with dementia who repeat what people say back at them. He doesn't do this.
I do have a medication to give him if he gets very anxious or depressed but rarely give this to him as it just knocks him out,
My mom's geriatric psychiatrist explained that it was important for mom to be on a steady, regular dosage of anti-anxiety meds, not just take something when she felt panicky. By maintaining a regular dose, you get ahead of the anxiety and prevent the "attack" from happening.
There are also antidepressants that have good anti anxiety properties that might be worth exploring with a geripsych.
He is quite short of breath generally due to years of smoking, so the panic attacks display themselves as him getting short of breath. The trouble with the Lorazepam is they cause drowsiness which I am afraid will put him at risk of falling. His mobility is very poor.
Seriously though, get dad a cognitive exam because he truly does sound like he's on the dementia path to me. While my mother has lots of moments of lucidity and doesn't always act off of her rocker, those moments are getting fewer and fewer these days. She's now insisting she has 'a job' at the Memory Care where she lives and fell out of bed this morning in her rush to get up in time for work. Sigh. Dementia presents itself in constantly changing ways interspersed with times where they can remember what happened 30 years ago and recall the events like it was yesterday.
Good luck.
My Dad is 100% lucid most of the time, so that's why I don't see his problems as completely dementia-related, But yes.string all those problems together and they do sound like dementia. There are no easy ways of dealing with this.
What happens if you sing back to him? Echo back what he does...or change it up...or a simple song that won't drive you batty if he gets stuck on singing that for a while?
happy birthday, pop goes the weasel. part of the Star spangled banner or a church hymn or anything that he used to sing or whistle when you were growing up.
Or try background music from the years when he was becoming an adult - 16-30 is usually about right. He might 'sing' or babble along with that...less obvious nonsense for your ears.
It may be self soothing for anxiety...or for boredom....
how are his eyesight and hearing? if he is lacking sensory input, he may be making up his own sounds that he can hear.
Good luck...and it may be a phase that just passes......put in one earplug in your ears to decrease the volume might help.
Watching sport is good for him I think as it is quite interactive.
His eyesight isn't great and he is a little bit deaf but these things don't impair his communication. He can hear the TV and can hear me too.
Songs, music, rythms seem to work better or for longer than words.
The plaques, tangles, proteins that build up in dementia. The hardening of arteries, narrowing of tiny blood vessels, causing clots or bleeds in stroke. Heart not pumping so well, causing reduced oxygen to the brain. Kidney or liver not working so well causing confusion. These sorts of things can be creeping around unseen. Call them *old age*.
I suppose do what you still can together that you enjoy. Take steps so you are not a *lone caregiver* & get some helpers (housecleaning, a sitter, etc).
What's your longer term plan? When will you reunite with your own life? Or is this your new permanent residence?