Excessive speech, also known as garrulity, is associated with or . It is often associated with an older person repeatedly asking questions or talking about the same event or story over and over again.
These speeches can be tedious for caregivers and family members to endure. But they may be an inevitable mode of communication that manifests with dementia.
Non-stop talking can also be a coping mechanism for a dementia patient who is slowly losing their memory.
In this article, we discuss the types of dementia, and how garrulity and vocal repetition can manifest as a symptom of dementia.
We also discuss ways for the patient and their caregiver and family to address and care for this common symptom.
Contents
Five Common Types of Dementia
(AD) is the most common type of
Alzheimer’s symptoms consist of cognitive and psychological changes, which include memory loss, difficulty communicating,
Early symptoms of AD in an include depression, hoarding, forgetting names, inability to recall recent events, why they entered a particular room, or what they were supposed to do with a familiar object.
The of an begin to die as the chemical functions of the tend to change. This is why seniors get confusion and immediate mood shifts.
They may experience like difficulty in speaking, choosing the correct words to convey their thoughts, and garrulity or vocal repetition. A with could also develop physical impairments like forgetting how to walk properly.
In late stage dementia, brain damage may lead an Alzheimer’s patient to have more significant memory problems and loss of mental function than before, difficulty eating or swallowing, challenges walking, and may require full-time personal care or hospice care.
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2.
is another common type of . It is caused by insufficient blood flow to the .
Seniors with severe heart are at high risk for . The for getting is higher in old age and after a stroke.
may appear suddenly or slowly, depending on its cause. An early sign of this type of is confusion. The senior adult may often look perplexed as you talk to him/her about regular, daily tasks and events.
During moderate to severe stages of dementia, the may experience trouble accomplishing a task. Similarly, seniors may find it difficult toconcentrate for a long time as starts getting a hold on them.
can also cause vision impairment, as well as hallucinations with .
3.
or with Lewy bodies is a result of protein deposits in nerve cells. This causes an interruption in function and results in and disorientation.
This type of shares a lot of manifestations of ‘s and Parkinson’s diseases. Fainting, wandering off, and getting lost is common among patients suffering from Lewy Body dementia.
They also suffer from shivering or shaky hands, have trouble walking, and feel weakness in the limbs.
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4. Parkinson’s
Problems with reasoning ability and poor judgment are major indicators of early Parkinsons Disease.
A senior with this type of suffers from and has difficulty understanding visual information and comprehending doing simple tasks of daily life. Another rather distressing is that they may face confusing and frightening hallucinations.
Advanced PD can cause seniors to be very irritable and depressed. The may suffer from paranoia as they progress to .
The shows ; they may often leave sentences unfinished, forget a word in the middle of talking, and even show signs of , leading to complete a withdrawal.
is caused by a family of diseases known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). It is estimated to account for up to 10 percent of all cases of .
Frontotemporal dementia is usually more common in younger people when compared with the other types of . According to statistics, about sixty percent of people with FTLD are between the ages of 45 and 64.
In the early stages of frontotemporal disorders, people may experience only one . But as neurons in more and more parts of the become affected, other symptoms may manifest.
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How Does Garrulity Manifest in an Individual with Dementia?
Garrulity, or excessive talking, most often manifests as an early symptom in Alzheimer’s, although it is also seen in other forms of dementia.
Due to the deterioration of brain cells that lead to cognitive decline, a patient with dementia may find that they often forget that they have already asked a question, discussed a topic, or completed a task. This is when repetition of the question or topic occurs, normally with no recollection of previous conversation.
Some common questions or topics of conversation that dementia patients may repeatedly pose can include asking about their doctor’s appointment, whether they have an appointment that day, and when it will be.
It is important in these cases to not confront the patient about their forgetfulness or lapse in memory, but rather to “join their reality” and point of view by politely replying that you have checked and they either do or don’t have an appointment.
Subsequently, it can help to break this cycle of repetition by giving your loved one with dementia a simple and engaging task to do to hold their attention, such as folding laundry or sorting belongings.
Another way that garrulity can manifest is with the person repeatedly telling a story.
Although repeatedly listening to the same story can become tiring for a caregiver after some time, telling stories can actually help an individual with dementia to provide personal information that can help guide your caregiving process.
When an individual repeats a story, ask them to elaborate more so that, not only will they know that you are interested and engaged, but so that they may share more useful details within their recollections.
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Why Do Dementia Patients Talk Non-Stop?
You, like many family members and caregivers of people with , often feel drained after listening to the elderly talk for hours on end. And sometimes, they do not even make sense of what they say.
If you are wondering why they have become so chatty all of a sudden, there are a couple of explanations that you might want to go over.
The for your elderly adult behaving like a is because they see you as the one who is always leading the conversation.
They may have a deep desire to converse with you, and yet they tend to also wish to lead the conversation, as otherwise they may feel incapable or depressed by their state.
This is also one of the reasons why often tasks about old stories that they remember; it is because they can have dialogues with other people instead of being the one who is listening to someone all the time.
As the goes through , is inevitable and communication abilities decline.
As the , you can encourage a dementia patient’s attempts at conversation, as these will help them to maintain relationships and prevent feelings of helplessness or loneliness.
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How Can You Encourage Someone with Severe Dementia to Communicate Better?
When a person with moderate to starts showing signs of wanting to talk, you can respond at certain times by asking them to elaborate further. This is a supportive method that lets them know you want to talk with them.
Now, as a family member of a dementia patient, you can also have someone take videos of them reminiscing about old times.
Dementia patients tend to gradually decline in their ability to recall their stories. In the meantime, the videos you captured may provide useful information about them to help improve or guide you in your caregiving.
The best thing you can do is to listen to a loved one’s stories so that you and the whole family get to know the better. This is a great way of reestablishing connections.
Repeating things is also a sign of worsening .
patients’ brains are incapable of remembering things that have already been saying. If the is a factor, it’s likely that the repetition will only get worse, so mastering empathy and self-control is paramount for caregivers.
Research suggests that verbal repetition is more common among individuals in the earlier stages of and among those with ’s versus other types of .
Elderly patients with will often repeat a word, statement, question, or activity over and over.
While this type of behavior is usually harmless for the person with , it can become frustrating and stressful to caregivers. Sometimes the behavior is triggered by anxiety, boredom, fear, or environmental factors.
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What Can You Do as a Caregiver of a Garrulous Dementia Patient?
Caring for a loved one who has developed dementia can be emotional challenging for family members and caregivers and requires work on the part of everybody to help manage, but there are certain things you can do to provide reassurance and comfort:
Firstly, you can try distracting the patient with a snack or activity such as busy boards, and other games. Give them their favorite snack to munch on, or play the music that they love. You can even ask them to help with small chores like folding laundry.
The next thing is to avoid reminding them that they just asked the same question.
For instance, if they somehow got it into their head that they had a doctor’s appointment, and keep asking when to go even after you said they don’t need to, you can simply say that the doctor called in a couple of minutes ago to say that they are not expected to visit until next week.
Thirdly, if your elderly loved one with dementia keeps asking about the time to go to an event, don’t discuss plans until immediately prior to an event.
Learn to accept certain behaviors. An agitated state or pulling at clothing, for example, could show a need to use the bathroom.
We understand how trying and difficult it can be to accommodate a dementia patient’s repetitive conversation and questions, but the key is to understand that the reason they are behaving this way is because of a disease and its effects.
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What Treatments Are Available for Dementia?
Currently, most forms of are not curable, but symptoms can certainly be managed with certain medications, therapies, and a multi-faceted .
Common medications for dementia include cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine.
Cholinesterase inhibitors work by increasing neuronal signaling involved in memory and judgment and is most often used for Alzheimer’s disease, although may also be beneficial for Parkinson’s disease dementia, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia.
Memantine helps to regulate the chemical messenger glutamate, which is involved in cognitive functions like learning and memory.
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Non-medical Treatments of Dementia Symptoms
Dementia symptoms and behavioral problems may also be treated with non-medicinal therapies.
Occupational therapy seeks to help individuals with dementia regain independence in various areas of their lives by removing barriers that can affect the individual’s needs.
This can include modifying the home environment to make it a physically safer space, and practicing how to cope with social and emotional needs. Another non-medicinal practice is to simplify tasks so that they’re broken into steps that are easier to succeed at.
A physician will be able to guide an with through their treatment options, and this will likely consist of a combination of and non-medicinal therapy.
Additional Alzheimer’s treatments are in the pipeline of development, some of which have entered clinical trials.
Potential strategies for treatment include preventing beta-amyloid from clumping into plaques, keeping tau protein from tangling, controlling inflammation in the brain, and other efforts.
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Non-stop Talking and Dementia – Parting Words
If you are a caregiver to a garrulous dementia patient, do not despair. It is just the elderly person trying to express themselves. This is probably the only way they know.
Patience and gentleness will not only help them, it will also help you control your frustration and maintain your piece when talking care of a constantly talking dementia patient.