I bet she has no idea what she is doing @Rob_E

I had a friend who was quite ill and she made heavy sighing sounds. I realised her partner was making the same sounds as if mirroring my friend`s emotions.

I know it`s not the same as your mother and do understand how irritating it can be. I wonder if these sounds are her inner feelings but she is unaware they can be heard.

 

With mum it was constantly shuffling her feet on the floor. I could cope when it was the hard kitchen floor but when she sat to watch TV she shuffled the rug (a thick one, with a lining to prevent slipping) into a ruck and it drove me mad. She had no idea she was doing it.

 

Mum didnt do this, but there was a lady in her care home who did.
I gather that vocalisation is often used as a self-soothing mechanism, like thumb sucking in babies. Have you tried something like a cuddly toy which might work as a substitute for self-soothing? I wonder whether medication for anxiety might help?

 

For yourself get some headphones and listen to what ever you like, tune out the noise and try to relax a bit

 

Dad sings a little tune every time he moves Bom di bom bom bom Di de de de de

It drives me nuts.

 

Oh yes! Mum lives with me and aside from the constant crying and wailing, also grunts and groans. I know she can't help it but it is dreadfully annoying! She also tap dances with her feet on the floor constantly, or if she wants attention keeps banging them together loudly on the floor, especially in the bedroom at night. I have wooden floorboards everywhere as live in a cottage so it's really noisy when she does this. She has also started tapping her fingers on the candlesticks and coasters throughout mealtimes at the table, and the basin in the bathroom and headboard in bed. It's definitely a cacophony of sound in my house. Sigh.