Page 33 - Changes and Challenges

Dementia
Changes and Challenges
This made me recollect my previous experiences in the Northern Hemisphere
and a similar experience I had recently in Longreach, QLD. Everything in
Longreach was on the opposite side of the street to how I remembered it from
the past. This made me think, what does Longreach in the Southern
Hemisphere have in common my experiences in the Northern Hemisphere.
My answer and explanation relate to the angle the lines of the Earth’s
Magnetic field have. In the Northern Hemisphere their polarity is reversed and
in Longreach while of ‘normal’ polarity, they are much steeper than at home
o
because Longreach lies on the Tropic of Capricorn (~23 South whereas home
o
is ~35 south).
I believe my disorientation is due to the differences in the Earth’s magnetic
field. I may be wrong, but nobody can offer me any explanation, yet alone a
better one.

Sound and Hearing.
My hearing is relatively normal. That is to say, I can hear pretty much over the
normal range of volumes and frequencies. My problems are not uncommon
among people with Dementia.
Loud sounds are not a problem, though my preferences for things like a
Television or radio is to have the sound turned down, generally a little lower
than other people would. This does aid me when someone speaks, it makes it
easier for me to distinguish them from the background sounds. Now a very
necessary exception to this practice is music. Good music needs to be played
loudly! Unfortunately, very little good music has been produced since the
70’s.

What I do find distressing is sudden and unexpected loud noises, such as the
sound of a glass being dropped on the floor. Likewise, low level reflected
sounds you commonly find in restaurants when sound is being reflected from
hard surfaces can become distressing. In my conversations with other people
living with Dementia, this experience is not uncommon, though rarely
recognised by others.

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