Again, a simple hearing test and hearing aid may resolve these difficulties. ![]() People with hearing difficulties may appear to show signs of dementia because they have difficulty following conversations. A simple eye test – and new glasses – may be all they need to overcome these problems. They may struggle to read or follow television programmes. Older people with poor vision can appear to show signs of dementia, including poor spatial awareness (for example they may bump into furniture, or fall over chairs and other objects in their home). Thyroid, kidney, liver, heart and lung problems, urinary and chest infections and strokes are among the many medical conditions that can produce dementia-like symptoms. I think this is because I don’t feel it’s an illness, and to tell people would just be like saying “oh by the way, I’m a complete idiot and want you to feel sorry for me”, even though I know that’s silly. I can’t bring myself to tell my family or most of my friends and I feel so alone with it. I also get extremely angry about little things. Then I beat myself up for ages afterwards, and cry and tell myself I’m a horrible person and worthless.īut I just can’t seem to stop. It’s like my mouth goes or my fingers type before my brain has a chance to engage, and at the time I think it’s okay to say the things I’m saying or typing. I worry about how I am perceived by people, because I know I say insensitive and inappropriate things. You can see how some of the things he describes could be mistaken as early signs of dementia. In a video on the NHS Choices website, called Depression – Lawrence’s story, Lawrence, a psychiatric nurse, talks about his experience of living with depression. If depression is diagnosed by a GP, a wide range of treatments are available. ![]() It is not easy to define the symptoms because many people with dementia develop signs of depression, such as feelings of low self-esteem and confidence, tearfulness and appetite, concentration and memory problems. The symptoms of depression are often mistaken for dementia. A change in – or a reaction to – medication or taking alcohol in conjunction with medication, can also produce symptoms of confusion.Ĭare workers should look out for these signs and encourage the person to seek medical advice from their GP to eliminate these possibilities. It is important that an early diagnosis is made to establish whether the symptoms are caused by a treatable illness. If these symptoms of confusion have developed relatively quickly, they may have been caused by a lack of food or dehydration, or by a urinary or chest infection. When someone has difficulty recognising what time of day it is and where they are and becomes over-anxious or agitated, it is often assumed that they are showing the first signs of dementia. Lawrence talking about having depression in the NHS Choices website video Depression – Lawrence’s story Confusion ![]()
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