ABSTRACT
Assessment can be seen within the context of a speech-and-language-therapy model of care for elderly people. Initial assessment tells the clinician whether the patient has a communication disorder, how severe that disorder is its type and whether treatment is indicated. It is generally recognized that language abilities change with age. These changes are not always negative in nature. Age effects on communication skills are subtle and reflect intelligence, education, life history, motivation, sensory integration, mental status and vigour. Many non-linguistic factors potentially influence performance by an older patient on formal speech and language assessments. Most of the formal assessments used with geriatric patients are those used to assess speech and language in adults with acquired neurological damage. Therapists are already involved in making the differential diagnosis of aphasia/language of dementia and in assessing the language skills of demented people. This will increase in the future and so appropriate tools will have to be developed to ensure valid assessment.
