Here is an approximate transcript of a conversation I had with a resident tonight after bedtime:
Me: What's up, Keith? What are you doing out of bed?
Keith: There's a purple lurple glurple in there. It's been glopping around all night.
Me: Oh really?
Keith: Is it a fish? It's a fish. I can tell. There's copper in the doors. We have a lot to do about this today. For the nation.
This type of speech is known as aphasia, sometimes known by caregivers as "word salad". This side effect of Alzheimer's is one of the most interesting parts of my job. Because I can listen to this type of speech all night, wondering what they are really trying to say.
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1 comment:
i love this. great blog.
have you ever read The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks? it's about all manner of interesting neurological disorders, and there are some interesting pieces on aphasia and memory loss, in their various forms.
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