She needs to know so she can move forward. Something happened to my G'ma approx. 4 months ago, no one is sure what yet. Docs say nothing is wrong w/ her memory, she does not have dementia or AZ. They are very impressed with her being 91 and so "with it." They think she may have had a stroke, we are waiting for MRI. She's fully functional, cooks her own meals, take vitamins, showers, etc., everything the same EXCEPT she is having auditory hallucinations that are frightening her. First we thought it was true (neighbors bothering her), we installed 10 cameras outside, lit her place up at night so bright you can see it from space, we've staked the place out etc. Every time something happened we'd watch the tapes w/ her and show her nothing's there -it didn't happen, well, she has a hissy and can't take it. We've now been told by docs and everything I read on this site "to go w/ it" "don't argue with her", but my G'ma is not dumb, in fact she’s a brilliant super being and there's no tricking her! She knows we are patting her on her head, that we are non-believers. Now she's just mad at all of us, is always on the defense and very argumentative, nothing anyone says is right. She's even looked up the meds the doc gave her on the computer and said she wasn't going to take them anymore (they aren't working anyways) ... that they have no evidence of anything and they shouldn't just give her such a powerful drug w/o further testing (she's right!). And they make her sleep. Her time on this Earth is precious and sleeping it away is not the answer.
Honestly, I'm scared to tell her again - our relationship is already rocky right now, I don't want to lose her. She's already mad b/c she thinks we are all faking that we don't hear it... I just need guidance. (or someone else to do it, lols)
your trippin balls granny " .
meh, im kiddin. my moms hallucinations are visuals but probably just as frustrating. the other day there were several people in the yard and a couple of em were black people. really? shes so blind she couldnt tell if i were black from 4 feet away and there wasnt anyone in the yard as usual..
I wonder if it would help her shut out the sounds if she had something to play music she could listen to through a headset?
Hearing things when you are otherwise "not crazy" would be very frightening and disturbing, wouldn't it? Poor dear.
I ask because my MIL also has auditory hallucinations and although in HER case it's most likely part of her disease (a progressive neurological disorder with dementia) I did some research on the subject, just out of curiosity. There is a phenomenon called "musical ear syndrome" (try googling it). I can't say how well accepted this "syndrome" is within the medical community...when I brought it up to my MIL's neurologist she pretty much shrugged it off....but I told MIL about it anyway figuring that at the very least it might ease her mind. Being told there's a "name" for it and that she's not the only person affected by it really helped her cope. There isn't anything that can be done for it as far as I know. MIL's been hearing this man singing to her for nearly five years now, off and on, and she's grown accustomed to it. In fact, I think if it were to stop at this point she might actually miss him!
Jeanngibbs suggestion of listening to music she enjoys through a headset is excellent advice - it may help "drown out" the hallucinatory sounds.