Most of my adult life, when I am nervous/anxious, I tend to crack a joke. I was told there is actually a name for this type of behavior, anyone know what the name is?

The reason I am asking is this: Around Aug 1, 2008 I started detoxing off of years of using pain meds. Morphine/Oxycodone/Demerol/Fentanyl, etc. In early Sept I went to a VA clinic to have my hearing checked. I told the doctor I had just started the detox and wasn't feeling too good, but VA appt are hard to get, so we pressed on.

In the write up from my hearing test, this Dr. said she thought I was malingering because I took so long to answer some of the test questions. I was actually having trouble processing the questions. My Cognitive Abilities were poor. I wrote her up for slanderous comments towards a Veteran and pointed out she was apparently not qualified to examine someone just starting detox, as I was. She could not understand how the detox would effect my hearing.
I told her boss it was probably not effecting my hearing so much as my ability to process information and give back a response.

The Audiologist also said I did not take the exam seriously since I was joking a lot. I would be happy to mention her name, but don't want to break any forum rules.

Long story short, her boss gave me the test but understood my problems. I got the disability award, but still want to put a letter in my file as to why I think the term "malingering" should be deleted. Anyone know if there is a name for this joking around?