8 JUNE 2024ELDERCARE REVIEWWhy do some elderly people continually experience visual or auditory hallucinations? This question plagues caregivers and clinicians as our loved ones experience dementia while aging. Whether it is a face, a sound, or some non-distinct object, we have all heard about and consequently investigated the fictitious presence reported to by an elderly loved one.A complex visual hallucination has been clinically defined as seeing a recognizable thing that is not there nor perceived by others. An auditory hallucination is naturally defined as hearing a recognizable sound that is not there nor perceived by others. Over the past two decades, scientists have struggled to concisely map out a single brain pathway to visual and auditory hallucinations. However, many agree that these events are a direct result of compromised visual and auditory neural connectivity and/or processing, weakened attention networks, and poor perception. In the elderly population, these states are believed to be a direct result of physical aging. They also possess the ability to enhance symptoms of dementia.Since we all agree that several physiological and cognitive factors can collectively influence the presentation of visual and auditory hallucinations, we must be creative and strategic in planning care interventions for our clients and loved ones. What does this mean? It means asking a series of poignant questions about the quality, frequency, and severity of the hallucinations. Common questions include when hallucinations occur. Are they typically noticeable at particular times of day, and are they partnered with a preexisting event or activity? How frequently do they occur? Are they rare and sporadic, or are they persistent and unwavering? Finally, are they characteristically uniform when compared to what is reported by other elderly patients of EXAMINING AUDITORY AND VISUAL HALLUCINATIONS OF THE ELDERLYBy Joanne Nicholls, Director of Clinical Research, Novant HealthJoanne Nicholls
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