My DH lately is having alot of visual perception issues on yesterday we had to take my mom for her cataract surgery follow up appt and since I picked my DH up from daycare and was running late instead of taking him home I thought he could go with us since it wouldn't be that long being in there...oh well once my mom went back when they called her name my DH started looking around the whole room and would scrunch up his eyebrows as if he was trying to figure something out and he then his outburst was "this is a nice lounge " and I said what? he said " there is the dancefloor and the counter where the receptionist sits he insisted that food was behind there and the lights were dancing lights..it was th weirdest thing because everytime I told him that we are in a doctor's office and tyou could clearly see all the nurses had on scrub uniforms and the waiting room was filled with patients, he said no this is a lounge you know like where you go to dance. He has done similiar things like this where it is obvious has this happened to anyone and what does this mean? I mean sometimes it get's a little scary to know he is seeinig and interpreting something totally different and I mean it is obivious to see what is going on. Because he wouldnt let up on it I said let's go sit in the car until mom comes out...once we walked out he goes to the rear of the car eventhough he is 6f 6 and couldnt fit because he just had rode there in the front sit and it was pushed backed he insisted of getting in the back and of course he doesnt know to move the seat up to give room. Again he is 59 and he is doing things more and more what could this mean
There are various types of visual problems associated with AD. I am not sure if these articles will help you, but copy and paste these links for a start: http://www.laurenscharff.com/courseinfo/SL02/visual_agnosia.htm
It took my computer awhile to find it, but this link should bring you to all the comments about visual agnosia -http://thealzheimerspouse.com/vanillaforum/search.php?PostBackAction=Search&Advanced=1&Type=Comments&Keywords=visual+agnosia&Categories=&AuthUsername=&btnSubmit=Search
If it doesn't, start with the topic divvi brought to the top, and try putting "visual agnosia" in the search, with "comments" circled in.
My DH has great vision but his depth perception is really bad. They say it is not perception but that the brain does not understand what he is seeing. On our walks, I usually have DH holding onto the back of a wheelchair and I have to guide it or we would go into the grass. Funny when he is sitting and just using his legs to move, he does great! (he does this when we go to the market so I can use the cart)
As for sitting at the table, we don't do this any longer, it is just too frustrating. He has a TV tray in front of his lounge chair. When we have company (not very often) I bring in the wheelchair and it works very well and he feels secure (I think it is the arms on the sides). It is too difficult to get in/out of a no arms chair.
When we got our car, I made sure it was high enough (or low enough) for him to get in/out without too much of a problem. Vans and SUV's are impossible.
Talking to someone seems to be the new phase.
Thank goodness I was able to find information on both perception and self talk. I feel so much better.
brindle...I moved my computer chair that has the arms into the dining room. He was having problems moving his chair up the the table. The computer chair has worked really good.