Dementia is a group of symptoms related to memory loss and overall cognitive impairment. Most types of dementia continue to worsen and are usually irreversible. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common and well-studied cause of dementia.
People with dementia often need help taking care of themselves. They may have difficulty communicating with others. Everyday activities, such as grooming, preparing meals, and driving, may become difficult.
Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a central role in the screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of persons with dementia. SLPs manage the cognitive, communication, and swallowing deficits associated with dementia. SLPs help individuals with dementia function at the highest level of independence throughout the underlying disease course. Specifically, they treat the cognitive aspects of communication, including attention, memory, sequencing, problem solving, and executive functioning. An SLP can help the person with dementia use strategies to preserve communication and cognitive functioning for as long as possible.
This video will show an idea how to work with patients seriously affected by dementia.
