Compulsive swearing - coprolalia

[FertilityFairy]

Anyone have any experience of this? My dad (78) has various chronic illnesses and is on lots of medication. He has always been a bit of a mutterer but has been getting worse and worse at this and swears, just about under his breath, though audibly, a lot. Not quite all the time but enough to worry me and has definitely deteriorated in the last 6 months. It doesn't seem to be related to his mood as he will answer questions or engage in conversation perfectally genially immediately after an episode. When he is on his own in the room the volume goes up and he starts shouting a stream of swear words. He also sits banging the arm of his chair with a clenched fist at the same time. He does it sitting in his armchair while watching the telly, in the car and at the dinner table. Have had a quick look at the internet but not found anything useful yet.

My father started swearing for the first time in his life at the early signs of dimentia, im not saying for a second that this is whats wrong with your own father but didnt want to not mention it.

Thanks bittersweet - my dad has always been a bit of a swearer but never this uncontrolled. Dementia has crossed my mind and Mum says he is getting forgetful. Time will tell I s'pose.

This also makes me think of the early signs of dementia - sorry FF. Wonder if it's worth flagging to GP - think that early intervention may make a difference, though should stress that I've no personal experience. Good luck me dear.

Yes, am sure you're right, thank you. Both parents downright stubborn when it comes to the GP and what they will and won't discuss but I will start a slow campaign.

If dementia affects the frontal lobes of the brain it can lead to changes in behaviour like this. My MIL was a real lady all her life with very careful language and she would suddenly start saying things like 'them biscuits, nah, all gone, I've troughed right through the lot'. Nothing shocking but not her at all.