My MIL has (i believe mid-stage) dementia. I'm noticing she laughs spontaneously at absolutely nothing. I also notice that when she attempts to speak she does an odd, constant little chuckle. I used to think this was a way to buy time while she tried to find her words, but now with the odd spontaneous laughter and increasing decline I'm just thinking it's part of overall dementia symptoms (She has a lot of trouble with language and it's sort of impossible to have much conversation so i assume there is some form of fronto-temporal damage going on). Anyone else notice this laughter issue with loved ones? Since it's basically "inappropriate " do you just ignore it or do you ask the person if they are recalling something funny? I ask because sometimes she will look at us expectantly after doing it so I don't know if she is trying to communicate something? Thanks in advance!
Thank you.
Expect the unexpected.
Watch Teepa Snow Videos to get a "picture" of dementia.
Get as much education as you can.
I think each person with dementia will develop what I call "quirks".
My Husband moaned...a lot!
Some people get caught in what I call a "word loop" and will say "help me" or "come here" or any phrase that at one time brought someone to them and now it is just words and they really don't need help or someone to "come here" as there are people near anyway.
Keep conversations simple.
Do not offer many choices. Don't just say what do you want for dinner? Maybe say do you want chicken sandwich or a ham sandwich.
That may get to be more than she can answer at some point.
PBA , not BPA so sorry
Best of luck to you. At least she isn't crying.