My husband has difficulties -- such as inability to tell the difference between an event next week vs. one 3 months in the future. He cannot make simple phone calls (i.e. to refill a prescription). He often can't find what he's looking for in the refrigerator. He DOES shower, shave, brush teeth, dress himself, stay current with TV news, yet he seems "absent" much of the time. For instance, we recently met with and hired someone to help with lawn care, but two hours later he didn't remember "shaking hands on the deal" and kept thinking we needed to call the man. I don't know whether he's not paying attention in the moment when events occur, or if it's a memory issue concerning recent events. I spend a lot of time explaining things to him, answering the same questions over & over. He also has anger issues -- is impatient, moody, accusatory, just plain mean. He complains all the time -- and I mean ALL THE TIME. He has Tourette-like vocalizations: makes anger sounds, misery sounds, wounded animal sounds, mumbles & grumbles, mutters under his breath. Yet I can't get him to agree to any kind of mental screening! I've been trying for years to get him to see a neurologist or psych, but no luck. How on earth do you get someone evaluated and into treatment???????
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these are long term memory skills.
the other things like "did I have lunch already" or "did I request lawn care"
that is short term memory(loss)
my mom still showers, dresses herself, tries to read paper (like she has for over 50 years)
those are her long term memory skills.
so my mom reads the paper. and she can not remember anything she just read.
that is her short term memory.(loss)
my moms short term memory is less than one minute. so whatever happens, she is constantly forgetting what happened. its a constant circle of forgetting.
he may sense the loss of memory, and that may cause him to be moody.
but could be other things too I guess....
My doctor knew aspergers after 1/2 hour due to the way my dH answered questions, (or did not answer them).
Your dH may need a neurologist, a geriatric neurologist.
You can be wiley, say come with me to my appointment so we can go get In N Out burgers afterwards. Come inside to sit, it is much too hot outside. Etc.
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