ABSTRACT
T he specifi c cognitive, communicative, and functional strengths and defi cits associated with dementia are important to assess for appropriate functional management. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA; 2005), “[S]peech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a primary role in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of … adults with cognitive-communicative disorders” (p. 3; see also ASHA, 2004). Factors to consider in planning for assessment, types of assessment procedures to consider, and specifi c tools will be described. This chapter will briefl y outline the assessment of dementia, from a global dementia-rating perspective, to a more comprehensive diagnostic perspective; the focus will be on assessment for treatment planning and treatment potential.
