I was unable to find anything about this in my search. I'm just wondering if anyone else's lo does this. My hb is contantly tapping something...if he is doing his wordsearch, then he is tapping the pen, watching tv, he is tapping with his hands or picking his skin. He will even put a hard candy in his mouth and rattle it against his dentures. It's all becoming "white noise" to me, does it soothe them or distract them or is it like a tic they can't control? Anybody else experiencing this?
Yup, my hb is a tapper as he sits as he walks, etc., etc. He walks around the kitchen tapping on the counters, taps on the TV screen, etc., etc. Don't know why.
My SIL who had AD did the picking you mention. My dh whistles,not a melody but a screeching noise. Probably doesn't remember any song as such. Drives me nuts but in the scheme of things, it isn't serious.
My DH rubs his hair almost non stop and I think it does sooth him. Of course it makes me nervous but I guess that doesn't matter as long as he is soothed.
My hb rubs, smooths, and pats things in addition to tapping his fingers. It occurred to me he might like to "work" w/different textures. So, having many, many potholders from my grandmothers to ones granddaughters made, I got them all out and just set them where he'd find them. My my. He's "played" w/them for 3 days so far. Wears one of the mitten type pot holders.
My dh likes to take all the tissues out of the box-one at a time-then usually throws them in the trash. He also likes to unroll toilet tissue and fold it neatly-then throw it into the trash. I try to watch and stop before we get to the trash part-it can get expensive.
Mine made noises. Constantly. Uh uh uh uh, two or three per breath. Later on he yelled whenever he was touched, to be changed or shifted in the bed. There is even a term for the noises. Google "disruptive focalization" and search here for it.
Any of the behaviors described above probably fall into the "compulsive" category--as in OCD. I've read that they are often present with dementia. When my husband was going through the picking stage, his neuro said I'd just have to live with it--no way to medicate to eliminate it. Fortunately, it was a stage that lasted a while but did, eventually, stop.
ttt - for emily, he still will not leave any rough spot on his skin alone, picks until it bleeds. Being winter and wearing long sleeves has saved his arms, but look out face.....I guess I could get him a mask!! I remember his mother w/AD picking at her skin.
Mine taps, clicks his partial, wrings his hands, runs one hand through his hair until he looks like a mad man, and collects dirty socks. The hair and the socks drive me a little crazy. We have teenaged boys who take off their socks every time they flop on a couch and toss them on the floor. And miraculously, the socks still match up on laundry day!!! Thank you, Jesus!
a good while ago, i bought an apron at the alzheimers store-late mid stages as the need for 'tactile' seems to be a common trait. this apron had zippers, soft spots of fur, silky materials, a large button, and various sensual touchy things all sewn into it. it entertained DH for some time, you just put over them and they mess it it all day. some of you ladies who sew this may be a nice project to give to spouse or a worthy cause for dementia units.