I've searched this site and searched through google and other search methods but NOTHING seems to fit the change, in the past couple of weeks, in DH's language. It started with him behaving and sounding like a 'giddy drunk'. Drawing out his worrrddsss and etc. THEN he made 'auctioneering' sounds before a word or phrase would 'come out'. We've noticed and laugh that he's sounding like an auctioneer..and he laughs. I've reported this to his dr. with no response. Night now he sounds like TONTO (if any of you are old enough to remember the Lone Ranger).. 'Me Like Bed. Me No Go Walk'. This is included with the auctioneering jargon when he's trying to say something.. it comes out like TONTO. Simplified language and mixed with the fast tongue movements of sound similar to the auctioneer's rhythm before he states a bid. DH has never been an auctioneer. He has never played like he was an auctioneer.
Has anyone ELSE out there experienced ANYTHING like this? I don't think it is medication. Nothing new. A few months ago, the risperadol was reduced to one pill at night. I can't connect this to anything in medications. Zocor, Aricept, Effexor, Norvasc, aspirin, metaprolol and vitamin. I can't find anything in the books that comes close to describing this situation.. Yikess.
Aren't brains weird? No, nothing that interesting. Although we are increasingly stumbling and stuttering over launching a thought into words. We get a lot more false starts where we can't quite get the words out than we used to.
Found this-Language Problems Language is another cognitive function that is changed by dementia. The Mayo Clinic states that the language problems that arise from dementia make it difficult for the patient to communicate. In the early stage of dementia, the patient has trouble finding names for familiar objects, according to the NIH. As the dementia advances, the patient has increasing difficulty expressing herself verbally, resulting in the patient speaking in confusing sentences. The patient can also have problems reading or writing. In the late stage of dementia, the patient can no longer understand written or spoken language.
Back before DH dx he was humming as he talked. Very strange. It lasted about a month or so. We also get Tonto talk when he is tired. Some days are better than others. The other day I was writing a letter and he asked, who I was penning to? Some days he talks almost normal.
I'm sorry to hear about your husband's speech problems.
As far as the "tonto" aspect of his speech, this study seems to indicate that laconic speech (terse , few words, lacking syntax) is associated with stroke dementia, as opposed to alzheimer's dementia http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0093934X85901245
But I guess, it could also be normal AD speech regression.
Since it seems to have come on suddenly, I would definitely take him in to the doctor and ask about it.
Gord uses whole strings of unrelated words. They tell me that he has the correct words in his brain but they don't come out. It is so hard to figure out what he is saying. Most of the time, I have to use my standard phrases such as, " I don't know," " we will have to look for/into that." " probably tomorrow". Most of the time he is OK with my answers. When he isn't, I find I can quickly change a negative into a positive without his noticing. He frequently doesn't understand what I am saying either. It is so frustrating and must be a nightmare for him.
My DH has had no trouble with language or talking until this past week. Now he is having a problem finding the right word. I usually can fill in for him. But also for instance, he was looking at the huge trees behind our house and he told me to look at the big "bush" that the wind was blowing. Many times this week, he has substituted a word that is similar, but not the correct one.
Thank you all for your help. Thankfully, DH seems to happy in this new mode. He's more outgoing and cheerful at meals. NOW that he's got his new auctioneer voice, the ALF workers are laughing and joking with him more. I also wondered if it could be a stroke of some kind. Overall, its just so different that I had to ask. Evidently, whatever the cause, it has progressed over the past two weeks. I'll look up the links you mention. DH also misnames things a good bit. He also has the visual/spatial issues that seem to be common enough to many of us. Again, thank you.
My dh has also been using very strange words to express himself....He will use a word that sounds like the word he wants and usually I can figure out what he is trying to say. Sometimes he just can't get the word out. Also, this past week I noticed he seems to be getting hard of hearing....or maybe what I am saying just doesn't register with him.
When I say to my DH don't water the flowers, I already did. He will water the flowers. I don't think he understands what I am saying. The other day he kept pointing at the window for me to look. I said is it a bird, no, a bug, no. I was not sure what he was seeing. It was a raindrop. He could not find the word. He often substitutes different words or does not talk if he cannot find a word. Sometimes, I can fill in the blanks, but not always. Even harder is when I refer to one of our children by name and he has no idea who I am talking about.
My husband cannot hold a conversation of any type. He doesn't speak very much. He doesn't seem able to access the words he needs. I can usually figure out what he needs/wants but sometimes it's just not possible and then I feel bad. I really miss conversation.
Judy--YES YES YES on the auctioneer thing! My husband has been doing that, off and on, for several years now. He only does it when he's in a particularly good mood. I have wondered whether that's what people talking sounds like to him and he is imitating it! Whatever the reason, he enjoys himself doing it.
Last week one of the helpers at the ALF commented on the recent changes in DHs language and behavior and expressed concern. It WASN't the nurse or supervisor.. They believed that he WAS an auctioneer in the past and this was just some repetition of that 'training'. Eeghadds. Thanks MarilyninMD. Although I've been reporting these things to his dr. I made an apt. so that the dr. can SEE him today. I took him for a haircut last week and he was being so 'funny' that the hairperson could hardly keep her scissors straight. It is funny and he has always been witty. HOWEVER, its almost like he's stuck on some phrases...PRETTY WOMEN and PINCHing BOOTies! Mix that with auctioneering and 'Me Like Pretty Women!! Me Like to Hug Em.' This phase will probably evolve into something else but he does seem happy and happily 'entertains' anyone he's around. He lays in bed the majority of every day except for meals or if we are visiting and attempt to get him to go outside to walk. He doesn't want to sit in a chair although he can sit AND walk without difficulty. As a result, he has gained weight and looks puffy and swollen. I suspect he's retaining fluid.. SO aside from the new language, it will help to have the dr. look and listen. Thank you all so much..
From reading other discussions on this site and others as well as experiences w/my support group, speech is a major problem w/some who have Alzheimer's. This was the first noticeable problem with spouses of two of my group members.
Judy--the women thing sounds like something they call "disinhibition". My hb hasn't experienced it--thank goodness--but it happens when the brain's filtering system gets damaged and then anything and everything comes out. I have heard of women who were previously very ladylike and after dementia were apt to use very raunchy language.
The last several months my husband has been using"me" instead of "I" quite a bit.Also has trouble finding the word he wants to say. But, today,for the first time when he tried to tell me something, the words came out all mixed up.Took himr 4 tries before he could say what he wanted to say.Was a little scary.He has trouble for the past 2 or 3 years had trouble understanding what is being said to him,at first I thought he wasn't hearing but that was not the problem.So we do have a big problem communicating.And he ,too will do the opposite of what I ask him to do.It is a very frustrating disease for both of us.He will not stay home with anyone,has to be with me constantly
My sister has aphasia and this is so frustrating for both of us. It seems if she doesn't stop to think about what she wants to say all comes out right. But if she has to think of a word it just won't come. The rehab folks told her to use word association which usually works for her. She doesn't have AZ but has had several TIA's .
I was thinking the possibilty of a stroke too! My DH is getting slower with his speech and doesn't finish any of his sentinces. I just have to guess what he is saying or wanted to say. He is however, having a lot more trouble reading out loud.