Talking a lot without appropriate consideration for others was an early sign of my LO's FTD. It was like he took a "talking pill." He always loved to talk, but was a great listener and had the gift of making people feel good about themselves. He started having obsessive topics and bored all of our friends and family away. I understand now that his dementia started then. When communication patterns change, it is something to discuss with your doctor. I will say my LO's never did anything until it was much more advanced.
It might be...it might not be. Has your husband had a full physical? This is a good time of year to schedule things like that. I think part of the "Medicare Annual Physical" is a Mini Mental Exam. I think if you express concerns the doctor would refer him for further testing. Send a message to the doctor using the Patient Portal that way they know your concerns without you having to talk to the doctor with your husband right there. Now, before you sent any messages sit and think back over the past year or so and are there ANY little instances that happened that you or he brushed off? has he used incorrect words at times, not been able to come up with the right word, gotten lost, missed appointments, worn inappropriate clothing, given up a hobby that he liked, missed bills, asked you to do something that should be easy to do? These are just a few things. And different forms of dementia have different ways to present. I have said for a long time that piecing this all together is like a puzzle. It is not until you start putting all the individual pieces together that you see the whole puzzle.
"Neurological deterioration is associated with dementia symptoms, like excessive chatting. The dementia patient's brain loses the ability to control verbalizing what goes on in their heads. As a result, the senior automatically says what she is thinking without noticing that it can be irritating to loved ones."
And here is a link to the Dementia Support Forum where folks are discussing non-stop talking issues for elders with Alzheimer's:
In some seniors, yes. My 94-yr old Mom is now doing this. She enters the room and starts peppering me with questions before she even says hi. She literally is barely into the room before she starts talking at me. I have to ask her to stop asking me questions. I think this is her attempt to make conversation since her world is so small now, conversation topics become difficult to find or follow.
She is becoming unaware that she's doing this so I have to put a boundary around it because I dislike chit chat just for the sake of chit chat. I'm not a small talk person. Then she gets offended and asks "Why can't I ask you any questions?!" sigh...
It's especially bad during a car ride where she starts an ongoing narrative about everything she sees outside. I think she thinks she's thinking these things rather than saying them? I put the music on loud or tell her she needs to stop talking until we get home.
Oh my goodness, my MIl does this. She will talk for the entire 3 hour ride which is mostly naming all the things she sees. Like: look at the pine tree. It’s so green. That pine tree is so tall. I haven’t seen a pine tree so tall before. And so green. Oh car. Look at that car. What a red car. Etc etc etc
She talks the entire dang time unless she falls asleep.
Have him evaluated by a medical provider / MD. Research dementia on Teepa Snow's website.
Sounds to me like your husband doesn't have any IMPULSE CONTROL. Look that up. Consider it is anxiety. ... It could be dementia. Different parts of the brain are affected by losing / dying brain cells which manifests in different behavior(s).
While it is important for you to educate yourself on what dementia is - and what it means - it is equally important that you realize you need to develop a plan to manage your husband's changing brain.
For instance,
* Learn to take care of you/r needs. * If / when the talking gets to be too much, set boundaries and leave (for a few minutes to an hour to an afternoon). You need respites. * Learn to 'tune out' while staying tuned in (to important needs).
* Do not leave yourself open for surprises - or unavoidable surprises - as dementia is constant surprises.
Manage 'surprises' by: educating yourself - and learning to take care of yourself. Be nice and self-loving. This is a difficult situation for you.
Now that I read you listen to Christian music, perhaps change the channel to swing or classical.
Consider how your religious views / beliefs control how you think and behave (automatic behavior). Allow your mind to open to new ideas and brainstorming how to manage challenging behavior.
Put on a cha cha and dance for a few minutes.
See how that changes / shakes you up - relaxes you to keep going, with some humor. While this sounds funny / humorous / we all need to get out of our 'automatic thinking' to allow new energy and ideas to flow. It is a reset.
This is not easy. We all need to use all the resources available to us.
He forgets things all the time and misplaced anything he puts down. I have ear buds to cope. Listen to Christian music. Helps me do the right thing and be joyful.
I love all the answers thank you. My father in kaw has advanced dementia and I am learning lots on how to care for him from this site. It's starting to get to the hard part. Got to keep reading. Thanks so much and GOD BLESS
Has your husband had a full physical?
This is a good time of year to schedule things like that. I think part of the "Medicare Annual Physical" is a Mini Mental Exam. I think if you express concerns the doctor would refer him for further testing.
Send a message to the doctor using the Patient Portal that way they know your concerns without you having to talk to the doctor with your husband right there.
Now, before you sent any messages sit and think back over the past year or so and are there ANY little instances that happened that you or he brushed off? has he used incorrect words at times, not been able to come up with the right word, gotten lost, missed appointments, worn inappropriate clothing, given up a hobby that he liked, missed bills, asked you to do something that should be easy to do? These are just a few things.
And different forms of dementia have different ways to present.
I have said for a long time that piecing this all together is like a puzzle. It is not until you start putting all the individual pieces together that you see the whole puzzle.
What other symptoms are you seeing that makes you question whether this might be a sign of dementia?
https://alzheimer.ca/en/about-dementia/do-i-have-dementia/10-warning-signs-dementia
"Neurological deterioration is associated with dementia symptoms, like excessive chatting. The dementia patient's brain loses the ability to control verbalizing what goes on in their heads. As a result, the senior automatically says what she is thinking without noticing that it can be irritating to loved ones."
And here is a link to the Dementia Support Forum where folks are discussing non-stop talking issues for elders with Alzheimer's:
https://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/threads/non-stop-talking.99858/
Hope this sheds some light on the situation you are experiencing with your hubby. Best of luck to you.
She is becoming unaware that she's doing this so I have to put a boundary around it because I dislike chit chat just for the sake of chit chat. I'm not a small talk person. Then she gets offended and asks "Why can't I ask you any questions?!" sigh...
It's especially bad during a car ride where she starts an ongoing narrative about everything she sees outside. I think she thinks she's thinking these things rather than saying them? I put the music on loud or tell her she needs to stop talking until we get home.
She talks the entire dang time unless she falls asleep.
Is your mom diagnosed? My MIL is not.
Research dementia on Teepa Snow's website.
Sounds to me like your husband doesn't have any IMPULSE CONTROL.
Look that up.
Consider it is anxiety. ... It could be dementia.
Different parts of the brain are affected by losing / dying brain cells which manifests in different behavior(s).
While it is important for you to educate yourself on what dementia is - and what it means - it is equally important that you realize you need to develop a plan to manage your husband's changing brain.
For instance,
* Learn to take care of you/r needs.
* If / when the talking gets to be too much, set boundaries and leave (for a few minutes to an hour to an afternoon). You need respites.
* Learn to 'tune out' while staying tuned in (to important needs).
* Do not leave yourself open for surprises - or unavoidable surprises - as dementia is constant surprises.
Manage 'surprises' by: educating yourself - and learning to take care of yourself.
Be nice and self-loving. This is a difficult situation for you.
Now that I read you listen to Christian music, perhaps change the channel to swing or classical.
Consider how your religious views / beliefs control how you think and behave (automatic behavior). Allow your mind to open to new ideas and brainstorming how to manage challenging behavior.
Put on a cha cha and dance for a few minutes.
See how that changes / shakes you up - relaxes you to keep going, with some humor. While this sounds funny / humorous / we all need to get out of our 'automatic thinking' to allow new energy and ideas to flow. It is a reset.
This is not easy. We all need to use all the resources available to us.
Gena / Touch Matters
Or is this completely new behavior? I would say to schedule cognitive testing for an accurate diagnosis.
Does he have other significant behavioral changes that you’re concerned about?
My mom had dementia later in her life. She was never a ‘Chatty Cathy’ with or without dementia.
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