Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term for a group of progressive neurological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia, that cause a decline in cognitive function severe enough to interfere with daily life. Communication difficulties are among the earliest and most distressing symptoms for both individuals with dementia and their families.

As dementia progresses, individuals may experience increasing difficulty with word finding, topic maintenance, comprehension of complex language, reading, writing, and the social rules of conversation. In later stages, verbal communication may become severely limited, and individuals may rely more heavily on nonverbal communication, gestures, and emotional expression.

Speech-language pathologists work with individuals with dementia and their caregivers to maximize remaining communication abilities, implement compensatory strategies, and adapt the communication environment. Caregiver education and support are central components of intervention, as modifying communication partner behavior can dramatically improve interactions and quality of life.