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She imagined a small boy came to visit her also...I think that was just a dream.
Hearing voices...is that due to her severe hearing loss or could it be some early sign of dementia? She is 91 and mentally still pretty sharp.

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I, once in awhile , will get a signal that tries to change the volume in my aids. It only tries to increase the volume. This signal also interferes with a motion sensor I have to let me know that someone is near the front door. I have been thinking it is some one attempting to connect to a wireless network.
And back in the day when you could get hearing aids in your glasses, I knew a person that could receive the broadcast of the San Francisco Giants ball game on his old aids while waiting at a corner to cross to the parking garage.
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Get your hearing test. Send it to an ebay programmer who sells cheaper or reconditioned aids. I have seen 3 sizes on ebay.
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It's part of a condition called musical ear syndrome. My mum has had it for a few years now after she lost her hearing. it's something similar to the phantom limb that a person feels after they lose an arm or leg - more of the brain sending out signals to a body part that isn't there. In the case of deafness, the brain starts creating it's own sounds when it can't hear any and this results in auditory hallucinations. The doctors told us that it could also be the result of clots, lesions or tumors in the brain, so it's a good idea to get a thorough check done.
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My Mum was having a little child visiting her in the home she is in. He tells her he is being molested. His entry is through a very high window. I guessed she had a problem and was hearing things but my sister just kept on angrily telling her to stop making up stories. This was in 2012 when we visited the UK from South Africa. Apparently her dementia has progressed and the only person she has recognised is a cousin who grew up with us in Malawi. She doesn't remember her kids or her second husband who died about 10 years ago. The cousin visits once a year because she lives in the UK too. I worry about her but living in SA I can only go by what I hear from others and the home.
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*** sorry..I said if it was military, it'd sound more like hums...yes.
And, can be voices. New high-tech stuff being tested, supposedly can make people hear voices in their heads, used for crowd control, etc....but as far as I know at this time, it's experimental. Without hearing aids. It's broadcast like radio signals. If they bring this Tech to broader use, we might all be hearing voices in our heads!
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It can be from any one of numerous causes, including:
==It could be a radio signal to her hearing aids--I had a patient, years ago, who experienced that. Had to get his hearing aids adjusted. I'd think the modern ones wouldn't do that, but hey, with HAARP etc. military stuff, who knows? [but those would sound like hums in various patterns, not voices]
==Drugs can cause visual and auditory hallucinations or delusions; her Doc should know of this, and look at perhaps side effects of one or more of her meds.
==Hearing impairment, especially when it is 1/2 gone or more, causes a form of mental isolation; the mind can be triggered into various memories that are so clear, it's like they were really happening again.
==As an elder's autonomy decreases, fear [a very strong survival instinct], can increase, which can trigger thoughts, visuals and auditory sensations that are out-of-suynch with our reality.
==Yes, some can sense they are in the presence of previously deceased relatives and friends, see angels, hear messages, etc. I would not count those out, but, would sure rule-out physical triggers, first.
Reassuring someone, is important; let them know you are there for them, and, that you are trying to help figure out where it is coming from. Always get as many details as you can, to help figure what it is.
---If it's visual, look around to see if there is anything that even remotely resembles what they describe, that could have been embellished by their minds.
---If it's auditory, check hearing aids, neighbor's activities [it really might be neighbor's audio equipment, or construction nearby, etc.]..even a baby monitor used to monitor an elder. It's unlikely tinnitus could cause anyone to hear voices speaking words, but it could cause noises that vaguely resemble voices making some sons-like hubbub, more like in a distance.
---If they believe someone's coming into their house, or room: what does the person look like, when did it happen, what did they say or do while there, etc.
Once you have enough details, it's easier to figure out the source.
Sometimes the elder just needs more 1:1 time to keep them better connected with here and now.
They often need reassurance that it's 'just the bolts holding the TV bracket to the wall' [for instance], or, their hearing aids need new batteries or repaired, or the baby monitor is picking up outside signals.
If their mind is playing tricks on them, and it's not medication related, and, if those are benign tricks, do what you can to reassure them, be supportive. Encourage them to talk with you about what they see or hear, of angels, dead loved ones, etc.
Let them tell you as much as they are able; do what can realistically be done.
You might learn something amazing, or you might learn the elder needs their meds adjusted. Or you might just get to spend a few more precious moments with them.
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Wireless hearing aids that use the same 2.4 GHz ISM (Industrial, Scientific, Medical) band as WLAN (think WIFI) and Bluetooth networks could potentially experience "crosstalk" from nearby sources, such as an adjacent room.
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My mom hears music, she has had numerous small strokes and they have destroyed some of the audio nerves so her hearing aids don't work very well, nothing can be done about it so I just suggest to her that she enjoy it because she can't listen to real music anymore it sounds all distorted to her.
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Mom is 85. She too wears hearing aids but hears music even when not wearing them. Dr says she has dementia but I dont see it. I told her neurologist about the singing and he said if it doesn't bother her don't let it bother you. At that time she heard it sometimes. Now its all the time and it does bother her. Always gospel music. Used to be Elvis mostly, now she doesn't recognize who is singing but she often sings along. I have no answers but i dont think dementia is it and its not her hearing aids. Meds maybe? Memantine?
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wayststion, what a cool story!!! I enjoyed it..
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The REAL solution to this problem is to get hearing aids WITHOUT batteries. Mine are Zounds, have a re-charging stand where I can put them both along with their remote control. Never have to change batteries, and NEVER get batteries stuck in my ears. Try them, they are great!
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Yes I believe "dementia" does exist. My comments about listening to songs or music from "somewhere" ... Sometimes it is from "the other side. " Many people - all ages - "hear" violins, other string instruments , buzzing like that of bees, harps, sounds like hums or HU, choral voices etc.

Other side communications - they do happen.

When my father crossed over, someone helping me with his house 3,000 miles away, that next week, commented that the toilet wouldn't shut off. On closer exam she noticed the chain came loose from the ball lever so she fixes it. Next day the chain was off again and the second bathroom had the same problem.

She reported it to me and I had had the same problem happening in my condo - for the first time, fixed it, and it had happened a second day.

In the middle of grumbling fixing it the second time I tuned into the possible "message": he was letting me know my "ball and chain", my endlessly needy father, had made it across.

After I said an out loud "Thank you for letting me know you made it. " - neither his house nor my condo had any repeat episodes of the ball and chain or anywhere else.
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Have the hearing aids checked as it could be a volume problem, but anyone who has reached 91 yrs. has some memory impairment. I wear hearing aids too and if I have the volume turned up (I have a remote control) too loud and then put my hand very close to my ear, it will whistle somewhat (no voices). My volume control in looped over my ear with the bud inside my ear canal. Congratulations to your mom for living so long, and keep her well-hydrated (with plain water), and she can eat anything! Best wishes.
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My Mom also hears music in her ears. When I researched it on the computer I found that it is a real syndrom called "Musical Ear Syndrom and nothing to be worried about.
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Oh my goodness, I am somewhat concerned about some of these responses. I also believe in the possibility of "spirit guides" etc. etc. but having gone through increasing dementia with my mom I would assume, rather, that this is in fact the beginning of dementia and not visitations from the other side. It is usually the simplest and most reasonable interpretations of situations that turn out to be correct. For example, the people repeatedly breaking into my mom's house and leaving margerine tubs in her refrigerator may have been spirit guides but--just guessing here--probably weren't. People were also breaking in and making her TV screen bigger and bigger each time. Spirit guides? Hmmm. Maybe, who knows? It took me forever, it seems, to catch on that Mom's increasing oddities actually were dementia; for one thing we just don't want to believe this could be happening to our loved one. Then when it dawned on me and I looked back, I could clearly see the progression of dementia from various incidents. Definitely an immediate checkup with the audiologist is in order here, as are some conversations with her to see if you can learn more about what she is experiencing or thinks she is. Love and prayers.
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Hallucinations are either visual or audible, but seldom both. My grandfather saw people, movies, birds with sticks as his kidneys failed. My daughter heard music with her brain cancer, but had no visual problems. This can be caused by: lesions on the brain stem (often resulting from a stroke). A CT scan can determine if the brain has damage.
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SuziQ, your Mom is not nuts nor is this phenomena necessarily related to dementia. It is called "Musical Ear Syndrome," and if you go to Amazon and type Musical Ear Syndrome you will find a book by Neil Bauman, PhD who explains this disorder. In a nutshell, it is not unusual for people who are becoming deaf to "hear" music in their heads. This is very real to them. About two years ago my father began to experience this. He swore he heard a man singing outside in their back yard. This was so real to him that he called the police to ask them to tell the guy to shut up! Of course, when they came, there was nobody there, even though my Dad swore he could still hear him. A couple of times he went outside in the dead of winter in the middle of the night to tell the guy to be quiet! Of course there was nobody there. Dr. Bauman posits that when someone is becoming deaf, their brain makes up noises to replace the sounds they can no longer hear. We noticed that this never happened when Dad would wear his hearing aids, only when he did not.

We bought the book for dad so he could read for himself that there IS an explanation for this. We wondered if what Dad was hearing was a memory of himself singing, since my dad sang tenor in the church choir for about 50 years. When he heard this man singing, it was always church hymns.

He was so determined to prove us wrong that the next time he heard the singing, he said it was a baritone and he didn't know the song. I just laughed out loud at that one! My mother, who also sang in church choirs from childhood, said she heard a choir singing. She thought it was carolers on the lawn, even though it was the middle of summer. But she heard a choir singing Christmas music.

We finally convinced Dad to wear his hearing aids every day, and these events tapered off. The more he hears and is engaged in what is going on around him, the less he hears these sounds in his head. Once Dad stopped hearing music, Mom did too. Can't really explain that...

From time to time if he hasn't been wearing his hearing aids, he will hear singing or hear a man talking to him. He asks if we hear it too, and we tell him "Sorry, no." We don't argue with him about it, because it is very real to him.

Hope this helps! Buy the book and share it with your mom. Good luck!
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What some are calling spirit guides I might call angels - maybe angels are visiting your mother and she can actually see them and/or hear them...I happen to believe that angels accompany us on this earthly journey and if we are willing to see without fearing them, they sometimes will allow us to see them and/or hear them...I would consider it a good thing. Grace
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i have tinnitis and hear sirens a lot. shortly thereafter i almost always run over stop sticks and blow out my front tires. im starting to think the events are related.
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So sorry this posted twice--having tech difficulties here!
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Sorry--this is so long--lots of information...

My Dad was an avid radio operator of many kinds of equipment.
He taught me how to build a transistor radio in a small Tupperware cup with lid, when I was about 10, teaching me much about how things worked, in the process of that, as well as all the time I got to spend with him while he was doing Civil Defense, Ham radio [with crystal sets & tube-filled equipment], CB radio, etc., and encouraged studying various sciences--it was really fun--he coulda given Mr. Wizard & Bill Nye The Science Guy, some real competition!

Historically, hearing aids HAVE picked up radio signals--it's been measured for decades--so have the old silver/mercury tooth fillings, especially if there were dissimilar metals on other teeth--that's been joked about for decades, but it's real.
Not sure how on earth only the batteries could do that by themselves, though--maybe that's kinda like how tooth fillings do it? Dissimilar metals close together, cause measurable electrical charges.

Our modern world is -permeated- with radio signals of all kinds, both man-made and naturally occurring, including cell phones, computer components, radios, TV's, toasters, pacemakers, hearing aids, --anything with wireless-- signal capacity-- just consider how many wireless appliances you have in your possession/use, that signal other things--even simple clock auto-sets! Then there are electrical lines, which, while not "wireless" DO still emit signals, which can be picked up, measured, and CAN interfere with other things, as well as some people.
Certain more easily adversely affected people MAY be those who have a larger number of microscopic particles of magnetite in each cell [these help with ability to sense directions--those who lack enough, get lost more easily!].

In the 1900's, most signals were actual radio & TV.
Houses & buildings had relatively little wiring.
Fewer main trunk lines of various wired Grids covered the land [electric, cable, phone, etc.]
Towards the end of that century, we've developed, built & used so many other appliances, using both wireless & Wired Grids, which also use radio frequencies to travel, or that carry signals of various kinds---it's mind-boggling!

Radio frequencies travel in specified set bandwidths [like controlling traffic] [hope I'm remembering right terms here]; there are only a certain number of frequencies/bandwidths; perhaps more signals than can fit--kinda like rush hour of major freeways-- trying to travel them may cause some overlap/interaction of signals [like accidents on freeways?!].
Particular frequencies may act to push otherwise unheard signals---enough so the brain [which is, after all, electrically & chemically driven] to hear sounds which others may not yet be able to pick up on--particularly in elders who have less-than-fully-functioning bodies & minds.

No, an appliance shouldn't [without intent] signal another sort of appliance to function wrong.
BUT...appliances CAN be interrupted:
Chaney [of Halliburton] recently had a go-'round with Docs & suppliers of pacemakers, I believe? because he wanted one that no terrorist could manipulate via radio signals and shut his off by remote control.

Some folks hear Dog Whistles that aren't supposed to be audible to humans, either!

I recently heard that the British are stopping all FM radio signals there, permanently, imminently. I think this is related to the drastic increases of other equipment wanting to use those frequencies, & that radio can be via internet or cable, instead [though that's maybe not a good idea--the Brits, of all people, should know that--for security reasons!--this measure is also being promoted in the USA, unfortunately]

That said...
There ARE other common causes of hearing sounds that seem not to exist; few go looking for these:
==Pressure compressing ear tissues, or even the neck & jaw areas, reduces blood flow & lymph circulation-- nerves might be pinched, which potentially can cause sounds in the ears--especially if Cranial nerves are compressed. This may include Tinnitus sounds & diagnosed that, or,
==Sounds in ears can be caused by vitamin/mineral/good fats deficiencies, as a nerve malfunction can be related to deficiencies;
==The person could potentially be strongly remembering sounds; the memories are so "loud" it SEEMS as if they are really hearing them again--brains can do this trick;
==The affected person may be taking a number of medications, many of which, alone or in combinations, can trigger the brain into hearing sounds no others can hear.
==MAYbe the person is one who is able to hear "the Hum"--one type is the naturally occurring frequency of the earth. Some are able to hear the hum of the worldwide HAARP arrays [military/gov't use], which resemble a giant generator spinning & carrying variable signals on it almost like Morse Code the way it vacillates---sometimes that can resemble music, or trigger memories of music, those 2 blending in the person's mind. Some buildings conduct these frequencies, even magnify them, better than others. Both can be measured using proper instruments. It can be a bother to hear these, or the person can learn to ignore them. As far as I can observe, the HAARP signaling has not stopped in over 50 years since the first one was built--signaling has increased using this system, only profoundly stopping entirely, for about 24 hours when 911 happened--then it resumed--it's a VERY busy conduit for signals.
==The person has mental issues.

BEFORE calling it a mental issue [which might cause more drastic meds to be used, which could cause more problems], or relegating it to dementia effects:
==I'd put some humor-spin on it, whatever that might be for the person affected.
==I'd also check the meds being used, to see if any of those cause tinnitus, for instance, or, that may cause blood discrasias or other conditions that could cause electrical signaling to be a bit haywire in the brain, or otherwise stimming hearing things.
==Check the ears for wax plugs or batteries, & check the hearing aids to make sure those are working right--they can malfunction & cause sounds, too!
==If they are lucid/coherent: try assuring them that aging may cause brain chemistry to work a bit differently, which might seem like hearing sounds that others may not hear--as long as it's not distressing, it should be OK, but may ask the Doc..
==Ask questions to make sure "voices" are not telling the person bad things.
==See if those sounds "go away" by simply shutting off power mains to the home if they are at home--can't really do that in a facility--
--if one is motivated to try it, one could make a simple, portable Faraday Cage using aluminum window screen, wiring it so it can plug into ONLY the ground hole on the wall socket, then fully cloaking the elder from head to toe with that, to see if those sounds go away.
==If someone is into dementias, reassure them; fear is a constant part of their existence- far better to say stuff like "maybe it's angels singing to you a lullaby" than scarier things.
==PLEASE just avoid "gas-lighting" a lucid person, or saying things that might scare them.
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Sorry--this is so long--lots of information...

My Dad was an avid radio operator of many kinds of equipment.
He taught me how to build a transistor radio in a small Tupperware cup with lid, when I was about 10, teaching me much about how things worked, in the process of that, as well as all the time I got to spend with him while he was doing Civil Defense, Ham radio [with crystal sets & tube-filled equipment], CB radio, etc., and encouraged studying various sciences--it was really fun--he coulda given Mr. Wizard & Bill Nye The Science Guy, some real competition!

Historically, hearing aids HAVE picked up radio signals--it's been measured for decades--so have the old silver/mercury tooth fillings, especially if there were dissimilar metals on other teeth--that's been joked about for decades, but it's real.
Not sure how on earth only the batteries could do that by themselves, though--maybe that's kinda like how tooth fillings do it? Dissimilar metals close together, cause measurable electrical charges.

Our modern world is -permeated- with radio signals of all kinds, both man-made and naturally occurring, including cell phones, computer components, radios, TV's, toasters, pacemakers, hearing aids, --anything with wireless-- signal capacity-- just consider how many wireless appliances you have in your possession/use, that signal other things--even simple clock auto-sets! Then there are electrical lines, which, while not "wireless" DO still emit signals, which can be picked up, measured, and CAN interfere with other things, as well as some people.
Certain more easily adversely affected people MAY be those who have a larger number of microscopic particles of magnetite in each cell [these help with ability to sense directions--those who lack enough, get lost more easily!].

In the 1900's, most signals were actual radio & TV.
Houses & buildings had relatively little wiring.
Fewer main trunk lines of various wired Grids covered the land [electric, cable, phone, etc.]
Towards the end of that century, we've developed, built & used so many other appliances, using both wireless & Wired Grids, which also use radio frequencies to travel, or that carry signals of various kinds---it's mind-boggling!

Radio frequencies travel in specified set bandwidths [like controlling traffic] [hope I'm remembering right terms here]; there are only a certain number of frequencies/bandwidths; perhaps more signals than can fit--kinda like rush hour of major freeways-- trying to travel them may cause some overlap/interaction of signals [like accidents on freeways?!].
Particular frequencies may act to push otherwise unheard signals---enough so the brain [which is, after all, electrically & chemically driven] to hear sounds which others may not yet be able to pick up on--particularly in elders who have less-than-fully-functioning bodies & minds.

No, an appliance shouldn't [without intent] signal another sort of appliance to function wrong.
BUT...appliances CAN be interrupted:
Chaney [of Halliburton] recently had a go-'round with Docs & suppliers of pacemakers, I believe? because he wanted one that no terrorist could manipulate via radio signals and shut his off by remote control.

Some folks hear Dog Whistles that aren't supposed to be audible to humans, either!

I recently heard that the British are stopping all FM radio signals there, permanently, imminently. I think this is related to the drastic increases of other equipment wanting to use those frequencies, & that radio can be via internet or cable, instead [though that's maybe not a good idea--the Brits, of all people, should know that--for security reasons!--this measure is also being promoted in the USA, unfortunately]

That said...
There ARE other common causes of hearing sounds that seem not to exist; few go looking for these:
==Pressure compressing ear tissues, or even the neck & jaw areas, reduces blood flow & lymph circulation-- nerves might be pinched, which potentially can cause sounds in the ears--especially if Cranial nerves are compressed. This may include Tinnitus sounds & diagnosed that, or,
==Sounds in ears can be caused by vitamin/mineral/good fats deficiencies, as a nerve malfunction can be related to deficiencies;
==The person could potentially be strongly remembering sounds; the memories are so "loud" it SEEMS as if they are really hearing them again--brains can do this trick;
==The affected person may be taking a number of medications, many of which, alone or in combinations, can trigger the brain into hearing sounds no others can hear.
==MAYbe the person is one who is able to hear "the Hum"--one type is the naturally occurring frequency of the earth. Some are able to hear the hum of the worldwide HAARP arrays [military/gov't use], which resemble a giant generator spinning & carrying variable signals on it almost like Morse Code the way it vacillates---sometimes that can resemble music, or trigger memories of music, those 2 blending in the person's mind. Some buildings conduct these frequencies, even magnify them, better than others. Both can be measured using proper instruments. It can be a bother to hear these, or the person can learn to ignore them. As far as I can observe, the HAARP signaling has not stopped in over 50 years since the first one was built--signaling has increased using this system, only profoundly stopping entirely, for about 24 hours when 911 happened--then it resumed--it's a VERY busy conduit for signals.
==The person has mental issues.

BEFORE calling it a mental issue [which might cause more drastic meds to be used, which could cause more problems], or relegating it to dementia effects:
==I'd put some humor-spin on it, whatever that might be for the person affected.
==I'd also check the meds being used, to see if any of those cause tinnitus, for instance, or, that may cause blood discrasias or other conditions that could cause electrical signaling to be a bit haywire in the brain, or otherwise stimming hearing things.
==Check the ears for wax plugs or batteries, & check the hearing aids to make sure those are working right--they can malfunction & cause sounds, too!
==If they are lucid/coherent: try assuring them that aging may cause brain chemistry to work a bit differently, which might seem like hearing sounds that others may not hear--as long as it's not distressing, it should be OK, but may ask the Doc..
==Ask questions to make sure "voices" are not telling the person bad things.
==See if those sounds "go away" by simply shutting off power mains to the home if they are at home--can't really do that in a facility--
--if one is motivated to try it, one could make a simple, portable Faraday Cage using aluminum window screen, wiring it so it can plug into ONLY the ground hole on the wall socket, then fully cloaking the elder from head to toe with that, to see if those sounds go away.
==If someone is into dementias, reassure them; fear is a constant part of their existence- far better to say stuff like "maybe it's angels singing to you a lullaby" than scarier things.
==PLEASE just avoid "gas-lighting" a lucid person, or saying things that might scare them.
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What your Mom has is called "Musical Ear Syndrome". It is a form of Virtigo. It is not well known yet to ENT's. My Dad (85yrs) had hearing aids also had Music in his ears (head). It started shortly after my Mom got very ill and we all knew she did not have long to live. The night she passed away, my dad told me about the Music. He was embarrassed and kept it from me, thinking I might find him crazy. What played in his ear (head) was the "Mens Tabernacle Choir" with a beautiful
organist. He could change the song by just "thinking" of a different song. Many nights, I would hear him singing "Old Man River". How strange, I thought! But figured he just was singing and he was not the singing type. It was so disturbing to him because he could not sleep or think or concentrate. It was in his head all
the time. I took him to the best EMT I could find and they could not find anything wrong with him. I know my dad REALLY did here the music and was not making up anything. I decided to research this myself in great detail and talk to everyone I knew. This is what I found out....MUSICAL EAR SYMDROME" is a VERY REAL
CONDITION. It mostly occurs in older people with hearing problems. It is brought on by STRESS/ CHANGES in their LIFE (like loss of spouse/companion) or anticipation of losing someone close & LONELINESS. There are no medications for this. My dad passed away 6 weeks after my mom of "BROKEN HEART SYMDROME" (which is also a VERY REAL CONDITION). I hope this helps you.
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Dear CATSAB, there is less humor and more reality to yourcomment than you believe Angels speak and sing to us all the time.
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May I suggest "forget Mom has 'dementia'." and consider other factors.

Sometimes I think it's the rest of us who have Dementia.... Not the ones closer to the end of their earth life.

From my experience being around seniors, and others, I find the closer one nears the age or medical point of 'crossing over', the 'veil' between the physical world and after life / astral planes/ other planes on the Other Side becomes a lot easier for the person to access visually or auditorially.

Suggestion - ask your Mom if she is getting "visited". She may be seeing people from the Other Side that she knows and some she's meeting coming to help her prepare to cross over.

She may experience this in a lucid / awake state or when asleep or even in the twilight sleep mode.

She might also start " time traveling" and remembering or meeting people she wouldn't know from this lifetime.

It's normal. Nothing to fear. A lot of people don't want to talk about this as they are afraid of getting labeled as "demented", "weird", "schizophrenic", etc.

Anti-psychotic meds can also make it easier for someone to come and go from the Other Side.

There are "spiritual enhancement paths" available if you want to learn more about this sort of experience. Not just seniors have these experiences. Many young children can do this, ("imaginary friends"), and only as we age and society tries to tell us this isn't "real" or to "stop talking about it", do people who do this start blocking out the experience.

If you want to connect more with your Mom on this - interview her and keep an open mind. Keep a Journal. Let her tell you about her Dreams and Journal these. You can help her put together her own dream symbol dictionary to help her interpret dreams. Usually dreams are either: precognitive, information applicable to daily life, past life or karma related.

Can your Mom still write? Ask her to transcribe what she's hearing or listening to. If she is getting visited offer to be introduced to people. My Mom was able to "translate" conversations between relatives on the Other Side and me. It was interesting and I learned a lot later confirmed with research... Things my Mom wouldn't have probably known in this lifetime. ( like the name of the boat her grandfather who died before she was born, came over on from Ireland.)

There is a lot that the field of psychology and psychiatry needs yet to do to help bridge the understanding between mental psychosis and metaphysics. The professional books cry to be updated. I believe a lot of psychic people (clairvoyant or clairaudient ) get mislabeled.

Then there is a lot that is flat out unexplained. As a kid I could pick up radio stations and sing whatever song a certain local station was playing at that time. The tower was near my home. Somehow I could hear it but more at a subliminal level. There are other things I just do that are normal for me and background for my life.

Your Mom may have Dementia but there may be other things she's experiencing that are not Dementia. She may be acquiring spiritual gifts (as listed in the Bible and other spiritual teachings).

If she is scared or concerned - you could teach her to sing HU. ( Hyoooo) Some spiritual paths use that word - which means God - as a meditation focus word for "protection" and "comfort."

For more on out of body experience - you can look into: Unity, Unitarian, Rosecrucians, or ECKANKAR, or any of the "old secret teachings" such as Sufism, Ekumkar, Jesuit, Kabala, Ancient Greek Mystery Schools, etc.

Good luck! Keep an open mind.
You have a rare gift opportunity from your Mom if you accept it.
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I agree this is nothing to be concerned about. Take Mom's word for what she is seeing and hearing and join in if she welcomes the interaction. Once you have the person's trust you will hear all kinds of stories. Some are incredibly outlandish and when you discuss it with the family they will often laugh and have an explanation. Spiritual visitors or guides are very common usually in the last weeks of life and seem to be very comforting. Sometimes other family members can see them too, but the most outsiders will usually feel is a change in temperature . One visiting nurse sat on a chair beside the bed and quickly got up because she thought it was wet. One of the daughters laughed and said that was where the skeleton sat. Apparently the skeleton of a young girl kept vigil at the bedside and the patient refused to be turned towards her. The family employed two Sharmens and they made separate journeys and I don't know where but when they came back they had the same information that this child had met an unpleasant end. When the patient died the skeleton morphed into a beautiful angel and left presumable with the soul of the departed. make what you will of that I was never in the house, the patient was non verbal and only the one daughter said she saw anything
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kisna; Many people (myself included) believe spirit guides can appear when we're ready to see them. I know of individuals who saw them as children, and a few who could continue to see them into adulthood. I think all of us are more likely to see them in our dream state, because we are more receptive when we shut off our conscious programming. (Most of us forget our dreams when we wake up, so we don't remember this contact.) People who are near death are also sometimes more receptive. So in other words, one does not have to be near death to see or hear spirit guides. But it's not unusual to perceive them the closer we are to death (which I believe is a transition into another form of existence). :)
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My Mom, 95, was hearing hymns, too! But she was a church organist for 75 years, so I just thought she was replaying them "in her head". Finally I told her it was the "heavenly choir", and she hasn't mentioned it since!! Humor and distraction seem to work best with her.
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lilac: I've often wondered that myself, but I didn't want to be crazy. do u think they do come and c if they r ready????
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It's also possible she's seeing and hearing her spirit guides.
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