ABSTRACT
References 201
Communication is integral to successful living (Lubinski, 1991), however in dementia its breakdown is well documented. In 1991, Bourgeois reviewed dementia articles in journals of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) (Bourgeois, 1991). These articles focused on how cognitive-linguistic profiles influence dementia diagnosis. People with dementia, who live for up to 20 years after diagnosis, also need help with communication to optimize quality of life (Bourgeois, 2002). Moreover, in dementia, communication difficulties predict problem behaviours which in turn affect caregiver burden (Savundranayagam et al., 2005). In the past 15 years, research exploring how to optimize interactions in dementia has emerged (Ripich et al., 2000; Haight et al., 2006; Alm et al., 2007). A dynamic interplay exists between executive and language dysfunction in dementia (Byrne and Orange, 2005). Hence, speech and language therapists (SLTs) (speech pathologists) should work with other disciplines in assessing and managing this interplay. This chapter outlines cognitive-linguistic deficits seen in dementia and assessments SLTs use to examine these. It also explores how SLTs can help people with dementia, significant others and care staff, to participate in real-life communication. As eating and swallowing often decline in dementia (Logemann, 2003), the SLT’s role in managing these processes will also be outlined.
