Need an area to seek more advice on mental conditions that involve stringing words together.

[Frustratedlady]

I have a family member who knows the words, but isn't always able to make meanings of or string the words together with meaning. I don't know what to call that.

For instance, if I were to say, "I had a bologna sandwich and strawberries for lunch," this might not register as a sentence. It sounds like there is some disconnect, but I'm not sure where. This doesn't happen all the time, but is happening more often of late.

Can someone help me with a category to search for more information. Is this the early signs of Alzheimer's? Dementia?

I'd appreciate any guidance I can get.

[janterry]

1. aphasia maybe

Here are two links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_language_disorders
and
http://alzonline.phhp.ufl.edu/en/reading/memory/guide_ch6.php

[Frustratedlady]

4. Thank you for that chart. I will look through it to see if I can pick up any information.

He reads a lot and seems to comprehend pretty much of what he reads, but I can see him wandering off from the text from time to time. I do that, myself. But, he has been having difficulty following long instructions or thoughts...not so much in the quantity, but in not being able to put the words together to mean anything. Like the example I mentioned...bologna sandwich and strawberries were words he knew, but he couldn't make any sense out of them in a sentence. Not all the time, but often enough to cause problems. That really bothers me.

I also know there can be complicated problems with a lack of B-12 in your system. They are so busy, they don't eat like they should. I have taken B-12 when I was low and couldn't believe the difference in just a few days.

My fear is a brain tumor. He served in the military plus reserves...and just retired a few years ago. However, he is beginning to see problems related to the military, such as hearing and has been using a hearing aid for the last few years. Thus, hearing isn't an easy fix.

They are trying to figure out which type of dr. to consult and neurologist was the only one they came up with. I hope they are able to find a solution to their problem. Aside from this situation, he is healthy as can be and strong as an ox. He is 56.

[3Hotdogs]

6. Has the hearing aid been tested?

There are also new hearing aids that have been released in the past couple of years.

[Frustratedlady]

9. His first set didn't work very well and the military finally let him change it.

He hasn't complained about the new one at all. I'll ask.

[Raven123]

2. I would make an appt with a Neurologist

In my personal experiences with Alzheimer's, other memory impairment symptoms are very obvious before this occurs. If it only occurs when someone is speaking to him or her consider the circumstances. Could there be a hearing problem?

[3Hotdogs]

3. That happened with me. My uncle has a hearing problem. We usually go to restaurants with high noise

levels. His responses to conversation sometimes didn't make sense. I thought it was the beginning of dementia. He got hearing aids and the problem went away.

[Frustratedlady]

7. He wears a hearing aid due to damage from the military.

This can be when someone is carrying on a conversation with him, following a GPS, following long instructions, etc. He said he knows the words, but can't always put them together in a sentence that means anything. Really strange.

As for the GPS, I can relate. The voice is irritating enough that I tend to tune her out. His problem is not knowing which way to turn even though she just told him. That doesn't happen all the time, but from time to time during a trip. His wife keeps him on track, but what about when he's by himself? So far, so good.

I thought part of the problem might be that his wife tends to be too explicit in her suggestions or instructions...when telling a story or occurrence that is very detailed. I thought he might be tuning part of her story out and missed some important facts/instructions, but it is more in not being able to string the words along in a sentence to mean anything.

Just never heard of this situation. A neurologist is probably the place to start. There are so many specialties now that it is hard to know and you don't want to waste time. Takes too long to get an appointment as it is. Our VA hospital is exceptional and he is already a current patient of theirs due to kidney stones. I'm sure there is no connection there, but maybe she can refer him and get him in sooner. Thanks!

[3Hotdogs]

5. Another thought about the reading - drifting. I have an eye problem that developed about 10 years

ago. I can't read for more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time.

The point is, there may be several unrelated things going on. Don't limit your answers to just a neurologist.

[Frustratedlady]

8. That's true. I'll mention that. Thanks!

[phylny]

10. I'm a speech-language pathologist.

Ask the neurologist or family doctor for a prescription for a speech-language evaluation. SLPs are trained to find out deficit areas, and plan treatment.

Best of luck.

[Frustratedlady]

11. Thanks. I'll pass on that information.

It isn't actually the speech, but making sense out of what others are saying. He speaks just fine. But, that's another avenue to explore.

The human body is a mysterious machine.

[phylny]

12. Auditory processing can be treated by an SLP or audiologist. Nt

Sometimes a stroke or a TIA can cause problems with understanding what IS said, even if speech and language are retained.