Does dementia cause patients to make noises or could this be caused by something else?

My Dad made these kinds of noises all the time! Absolutely drove my Mom nuts. She would yell at him to stop!

Now, Mom makes all these same noises all the time. I ask her why she does this.....either 1) she has no clue what I am saying...2) she has no ability to give a coherent answer...3) she is baffled and really does not know why... or 4) she doesn't know she is doing it.

Pick one

But, it is interesting that this is the same behavior she used to yell at him for doing.

Ok. So it's dementia and old age huh? I'm at the point of admitting her. No doctors have helped me with this problem. Took her a neurologist, he suggested a psychiatrist. Psychiatrist gave her a pill for agitation???? and for repeating. Meds broke her out in blisters and red patches on her thighs. I discontinued immediately. We have an appt tomorrow to discuss the situation. If the psychiatrist cannot give me meds for her the noises (chanting, yelling, banging) then I will leave, happily. Trazadone is supposed to "calm" her down and used to work. It's working less and less, but seems to work around bedtime better. Except lastnight when she didn't get to sleep until after 11 pm, but went to bed at 6:30 pm. She mentioned that she had never gotten asleep. Right now she is banging on the kitchen table and yelling. It is not in a melodic tone either. Oh yes, one doctor said to admit her to a facility that will allow her to do what she's doing. I immediately pictured Geraldo Rivera's news story on Brookhaven in upper NY. I will continue to search for a facility that fits her budget and still cares about her. And, oh yes, closer to home.

I agree. The noises are unnerving. It gets so bad when my mother in law eats that I say something to her about it. I try to be nice and say that she is humming or singing to me while we eat. She says that she is aware of doing it but she does not know how to stop. Does anyone know why they do this?

I am a caregiver for a lady with Alzheimer's & dementia, she makes the noises too, it can be unnerving at times. I have found that if I tell her to take deep breaths & talk her through it, it seems to help a bit, although I have to say it several times a day. The noises that she makes drives her crazy, she's always telling yourself to shut up.

Oh yes..my mother in law makes noises as soon as she is awake and then until she sleeps. They get louder towards the evening and night. It is unbearable. I know exactly how you feel. My husband watches tv with her after dinner. I make dinner for us as a family nightly and I won't stop this. But, I do exit after dinner and hide in my offices or bedroom. Some days I am affected worse than others. She mumbles instead of completes a sentence in the evenings now. She growls, groans, mmmmm's up and down. I take an anti anxiety med, two anti depressants (my mom died last year after 5 years with cancer and my dad was hospitalized for 3 months...now he just says he wants to die..) and once in awhile I take Xanax. Better living through pharmaceuticals. I find that taking a walk at some point during the day is wonderful. we have a part time helper two-three days a week for a few hours and I get a walk in here or there. I eat healthy and I take deep breathes. My husband and I stay in a hotel every weekend. My neice stays here one night and my sister in law another. I was pretty angry for awhile...it comes in waves. We haven't had our house to ourselves for 8 months. We are going to try an experiment next week...beginning next week. I think my hubbys sister can help more than she does. I am the primary caregiver. She doesn't work....anyhow, I have moved past anger and gotten productive. Beginning next Wed, mom will stay at our nieces house for three nights a week. Our niece and sister in law will be required to care for her during those days. My husband and I will get a break from having to welcome all these people into our home, leaving my kitty,. making all their plans etc. We also have to visit dad an hour and half away every weekend ....on one of our current 'days off.' So, I am hopeful. I made the choice to do this. I love my husband and care about his mother being safe and secure while aging. She is 91 so who knows how long this will go on.

I think I explained this somewhere else but here goes again, sorry if I did: my Mom makes these noises with her mouth closed like humming (but not that pleasant) and when she gets upset it gets louder and faster its as if she doesn't think anyone can hear her. I wonder if that is a part of dementia or if anyone knows what causes this and if there is any help? I'll ask the dr next time, I'm just curious. thanks a lot. Michele