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Repetitive Questioning and Conversations |
| What is the best way to
respond to someone who keeps repeating the same question or conversation? Repetitive
questioning is a result of the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease. Damage to the temporal lobe of the brain causes
echopraxia, the repetition of the same word over and over again. The person loses their ability to think and speak
in a logical way. Try the following
listening strategies to help preserve the self-image of the person: 1. Avoid discussing the
abstract. Keep the conversation concrete. One way to do this is to use nouns instead of
pronouns. Using names of people or things is
better than saying “him, her, this, or that”. 2. Avoid questions. Instead of answering every question, steer the
person onto another topic. Praise the person
for conversing- use phrases like “that’s interesting” or “is that
right”. 3. Try giving a nonverbal
response to questions- hugs, touch, smiles, eye contact, attitude, etc. 4. Mimicking the
person’s body movements, breathing, and facial expressions may also prove helpful in
some communication. This will affirm the
individual and make them feel like you are listening, you understand, and you empathize. Link the behavior to a need the person may have and may not be able to express directly- three basic needs are to be loved, to be useful, and to express feelings. Try to meet that need by giving a hug, directing the person to a project they are able to complete, or by actively listening to the person express their feelings. |
