Overreactive behaviour

I have seen this in my husband. He is 82 and I noticed a few years ago that the things you mentioned would make him jump, yell, get upset. Something like dropping a spoon on the counter was enough to elicit this response.

This was long before I realized he was dealing with dementia. I never made the connection until now. I wish I could go back in time and see when symptoms actually began. I'm guessing as long as 10 years ago but I've only been clear about the problem for about 2 years.

My mother-in-law told me that when my husband was an infant any loud noise upset him. He would even startle in the crib when someone folded a newspaper.
He's nearly 81 and was diagnosed with Alzheimer's five years ago. He has a good disposition and is appreciative. Loud noises throw him and he's not able to identify them. Lawn mowers, construction equipment, power washers, a pot clanging in the kitchen, all cause for alarm. Everytime there's a noise like that he cries out, "What's that?" and I have to answer. It does get tiring after a while, but I always tell myself it could be worse.
He hates the rain too, like it's his personal enemy. Everytime it rains I have to listen to "Look at that gd rain!" Good luck with that. We live in one of the rainiest places in the US!

UhOh. This website program doesn’t add these things… I’m adding of what I wrote under each these… the Questions for me…

A) Husbands problems:
Q. Sudden noises
A. Yes, that happens to me - somewhat. Most time, I can’t here or can’t understand of what someone asked me.
Q. Cur fingers
A. I hate it, but opening cans of anything, gets me.
Q. Dropped dishes
A. Accidentally in my dish washer, dropped a few time every few mths.
Q. Few minutes after it’s gone in his mind
A.. My seconds is best for me when helping or talking, but 2 days later is not here…
Q. How about “dementia”
A. If I’m right, there 10 different ways of dementia; I’m there #10. In my mom’s family has at least 4 sisters had the same thing of memory loss, zero understanding, zero cooking anymore, eating s hard to help other pro folks, loosing their body to go to a bathroom, falling down over-and-over, no more showers unless somebody helps them even they no idea of the word ‘showers” and on…

Thx,
Greg D. @greg1956

@4goakley, I can imagine his behavior upsets you more than him. It probably startles you, too. Are you able to let it go a little sooner each time? Is it happening more often?

Thank you, Colleen, for responding. We were out walking recently when a cyclist zoomed by too quickly on the pathway . My husband screamed "Idiot !! " I was embarrassed, but your advice to "let it go sooner" is excellent. Since he doesn’t remember his reaction, why should I dwell on it ?
I’m thankful for all the times he’s still gracious and caring.
Good luck to all those sharing these experiences.

…sadness…love…triumphs…

Very much the same. Noises, especially from the kitchen - dropped pot lid, silverware going the floor, send him into a panic. I try to get ahead of it and announce the event as it's happening, since the sound itself is not something he associates with the event. It is tiring - so much is tiring- even more so because it's Groundhog Day: he'll have the same reaction every time, over and over. But he's sweet and not angry and never complains. It could be a lot worse.

Every loud noise startles him and is cause for alarm. My husband's disposition is similar to yours. We're fortunate not to be facing verbal abuse, anger , or violent behavior.

In 2022 and 2023, when I've visited my parents, who were 88 (my dad) and 84 (my mom), my dad had these kind of upset reactions to the kind of loud noises you mention. His reactions would upset my mom, because the loud noises were unintentional or unavoidable, and there was no reason to be so upset. It probably goes on still. But my dad doesn't have dementia. It seems to be just an exacerbated sensibility.