Hi
I'm living-in caring for a lady with Alzheimer's. By nature she's always been dramatic about things, but her illness has exacerbated the trait.
She yelps and groans if she sneezes or has hiccoughs, groans and sniffs and says she has a cold all day etc.
Now she says she can't hear. But in the shower she will do what I say even if her back is to me, so she CAN hear. She closes her eyes if she sees me approaching then jumps and yelps if I gently touch her to get her attention. Walks staggering if I watch her but if I'm not in the room walks normally.
We get in well, and gave good fun doing crosswords and playing patience - but that's gone now, as each clue/word has turned into a saga.
Is this part of her illness I wonder, or is her manipulative streak showing through? Do I act like she CAN hear and hope she gets over it, or continue this constant acting things out or writing messages to communicate ?
Frustrating.
Shame, I wonder what's going on in her muddled mind. Thanks for all the replies.
About the hearing -- people with dementia may not understand what they hear. My mother is hard of hearing. I have to say things several times to her. Many times she hears, but she doesn't understand. She has a hard time processing the words. I try to keep sentences short and words simple.
I doubt if the hearing is manipulation, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if she was being overly dramatic on the other things. She wouldn't be the only one who does that.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/dementia-behavior-manipulation-154554.htm