This text-based course is a transcript of the live seminar, “Dementia Management: Practical Strategies for the SLP,” presented by Susan Curfman, M.A., CCC-SLP.
>> Susan Curfman: I think that dementia management as a speech pathologist is sometimes difficult for us. It is a population we know we can serve. It is a population we know that we have skill sets to make a difference not only in helping that individual be more successful, but to help the team and the family who are in the position of caregiver, and supporting them to make life a better experience. That is our goal for today.
Program Objectives
- Define the key guidelines for a diagnosis of dementia as differentiated from mild cognitive impairment (MCI), depression and delirium.
- Describe three types of memory and memory impairments with dementia because the memory that we can access through spaced retrieval is one of the key elements that make a skilled procedure for us.
- Outline the deficits and functional abilities of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias for each of the three stages (mild, moderate and severe).
- List 10 different strategies and techniques for improving functional abilities for communication, swallowing and general activities of daily living.
- Design a skilled treatment program for a patient with dementia with functional and measurable goals and appropriate intervention strategies.
- Train innovative communication techniques for other health care professionals, including Physical and Occupational Therapists, to unlock the communication barrier and elicit desired outcomes.
Diagnosis of Dementia Guidelines
When you look at the definition of dementia, it is not a specific disease, but a group of symptoms that last six months or longer. It has occurred from a higher level of function and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with the usual activities in daily life. It also affects more than one of the following four core cognitive domains. When you look at the more recent literature, and this has changed in the last three years, the four core cognitive domains they consider are recent memory, language (either comprehension or expression), visual spatial ability, and executive function which comes under abstract reasoning, problem solving, and focus despite distractions (i.e. the ability to zero in on the task at hand and block out distractions). We will start to see that minimize and go away even in MCI.
Symptoms of Dementia
There are many symptoms of dementia and they can vary depending upon the type of dementia. There are over 70 different types of dementia. The most common signs and symptoms include:
- Memory loss (this is the most classic symptom)
- Difficulty communicating
- Inability to learn or remember new information
- Difficulty with planning and organizing
- Difficulty with coordination and motor functions
- Personality changes
- Inability to reason
- Inappropriate behavior
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Hallucination
The last three symptoms may be a prevalent feature or may be a later stage feature depending on which form of dementia they do have.
