Startled / not able to identify common noises?

shiawase12 · January 1

Hello everyone. My DH shows signs of being in stage 5, but is able to do most daily care tasks on his own. He is aware he has Alz and often talks about how he's been reading about all the Alz research and how they are coming up with cures.

Anyway, I'm curious to know if others experience their person having issues identifying common sounds? My DH often seems startled or worried about them.

I should probably add that he does have a hearing defecit, but refuses to wear his hearing aids, doesn't think he has any hearing issues and I chose not to fight him on that.

He hears something and I always get the "what was that?!" It can be the ice dispenser in the fridge, or a jet flying over the house, or neighbors talking outside. Really most any common sound that most would just not worry about as we almost subconsciously identify what it is so don't worry about it.

I always just answer that it's just this or that which usually is enough for him. Although sometimes if it's outside noise he'll have to go check it out to make sure all is well.

Is this a common thing?

Call me Gram · January 1

My DH does that, as well. He used to be more intense about it, but based on advice from others here on this forum, I asked his neurologist about medication for anxiety. Now that we figured out the best timing for his medication and he has been on it for a couple weeks, it seems to be helping the anxiety. He still asks about every noise, and still looks to see what’s happening, but he’s less stressed by it, so it’s easier to take.

I must admit that anxiety meds for myself have made it a lot easier to deal with everything. It doesn’t keep me from worrying, but it buffers my body’s physical response to the stress… easing the racing heart and overall feeling of panic.

I’d rather not need to take them, but it’s like taking ibuprofen when you have a bad headache - it gets me through the day.

charley0419 · January 1

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/262338#Comment_262338

I agree 100% on the anxiety meds and I was never a fan of them. Take Zoloft and has made tremendous difference on how I feel , as far as sounds everytime ice maker goes on I get same question

jgreen · January 1

Dear @shiawase12

One of the behaviors in stage 5 is difficulty interpreting background noise. I think you are doing great in letting him know what it is, and helping him ‘investigate’ if he feels the need. Yes, it is exhausting, but know that you are his ‘safety net’ and are executing your caregiver role with style and grace.

Dementia Behavioral Assessment.pdf

Hugs! 💝

CindyBum · January 1

Oh yeah. This started really early on with my DW. I can't even count how many times I've answered the question about some noise she heard, "What was that?"

shiawase12 · January 1

Thank you all for your input and support. ❤️

I'll check in with his doctor about meds. I can see that as things progress they may really help, so even if we don't start them now it will be good to start the conversation.

What a fun journey we are on! <sigh> yes, I'm being sarcastic. ;)

Leesee · January 2

Yes, my DH started this early in his diagnosis (3 years ago). We live near a US Airforce base and part of the Great Lakes; between the jets and coast guard helicopters, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, ice maker, dishwasher , furnace etc (LOL)…I am constantly answering the "what is that noise" question. I've learned to give quick answers "it's just the ice maker" and it seems to be fine.

Unfortunately, very recently he started misinterpreting what he sees. In the past couple of weeks he's pointed out that someone is sitting on the neighbor's roof (it's the top of a tree that can be seen from our house) and hundreds of birds "marching" in the yard (winter brush stalks sticking up in the fence between houses).

Just when I get use to his symptoms, a new one appears! it's like playing an endless game of whack-a-mole!

He is not on any anxiety meds yet, but we're going on a cruise in Feb and I think I'll talk with his neurologist about getting him on something in the next couple of weeks.

annie51 · January 2

It’s kind of a Déjà vu for me reading this…my DH was the same about the ice maker, dishwasher, air conditioner, any noise or voice he heard outside, on and on. And my DH has excellent hearing so add to that all the things he could hear that I couldn’t 🥴. Many times we had to get up and I’d show him where the noise was coming from, although most of the time I think he was just curious, not anxious about it. It takes a lot of patience to deal with the repetition and the interruptions.

SiberianIris · January 2

Yes, my mother would do that. She is also hard of hearing and wore hearing aids. Now that she is in stage 6, she doesn't do it much anymore. This is because she no longer wears her hearing aids (because with the progression of dementia can no longer tolerate or understand what they're for), so she doesn't hear much of anything unless you are speaking directly at her.

justbreathe2 · January 2

Any kind of noise bothers my DH. Placing a plate on counter, or toilet flushing. One day I was tearing aluminum foil from the roll and he asked why I had to be so noisy. It drives me crazy. This has gotten worse over the last couple years. He is on Zoloft.

debriesea · January 2

My DH, also stage 5, not only asks what the noises are but also hears noises that aren’t there and asks about them.

H1235 · January 2

Mom startles very easily and will sometimes ask what a sound was. It do really cause problems, but then she doesn’t wear her hearing aids so maybe that helps. I never considered that this was related to the dementia even though I have read through the dbat many times. She is a solid stage 4 with no other symptoms from late stage 5 so I never made the connection. Thanks for bringing this up.

Startled / not able to identify common noises?

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