Mom has been hard of hearing for years, and she has never been a good listener, but lately it's been a little different. Sometimes her responses are incoherent. Sometimes I'll say something and she'll stare blankly at me as if I just asked her "What's 371 divided by 13?" before responding. Sometimes I'll speak at a normal tone of voice and she'll understand from across the room. A while ago I was sitting across the table and said, in a normal tone of voice, "Take your pills, Mom," and it was as if I didn't say anything. I know her hearing isn't that bad. (And she has no problem with taking her pills.)
Is it possible for cognitive decline to cause hearing loss or comprehension problems that seem like hearing loss? Is there a way I can test this through observation?
My own DH is a brilliant man--like genius level smart, but to talk to him (or try to, I should say) you;d think he was "slow". He cannot hear, so by the time the original comment or question has been posed, you get the feeling he's not "all there".
I have heard and read that deafness can cause neural decline--you don't hear, you stop thinking and you don't "get" all of what is being said.
My kids all think dad is showing signs of dementia. He's not. He just can't hear.
Not sure if you can "test" it. One day she could be with it and the next day not. One moment she could be with it the next ...
Dementia is a progressive Disease. My Mom had changes every month. Some decline faster than others.