Communication Skills: Speech Therapy as a Treatment for Dementia
Each year, there are 9.9 million new cases of dementia. This disorder poses financial strife for both patients and our health care systems. Its economic impact is huge- the fight against dementia costs nearly $818 billion per year.
Many patients opt for rehabilitation or occupational therapy, in addition to cognition-enhancing medication. An increasingly popular option of the treatment for dementia is speech therapy.
Learning how to effectively communicate with others is imperative for dementia patients. But, speech therapy doesn’t just treat lost speech and language function, as many think.
It also improves memory loss deficits and many other cognitive functions. If you or a loved one is experiencing communication challenges due to Dementia, it’s important to get the professional help that’s available. Click here to schedule a free introductory call with Great Speech. This way, you will know you are addressing your concerns in the most direct way possible.
Let’s take a further look into why speech therapy is a viable treatment option.
What is Speech Therapy? How is it Done Online?
At its core, speech therapy is an intervention service focused on improving both verbal and non-verbal language. There are two basic components that a speech pathologist teaches.
- Addressing articulation, fluency, and voice-volume recognition through mouth coordination
- How to use and express language through a variety of traditional and alternative communication forms (i.e. written, body, sign, social media, computer, etc.)
- By meeting with a therapist online, you aren’t limited by local options or availability that doesn’t work for your household. Here at Great Speech, we match all our clients with the right specialized speech therapist on our team, so you are guaranteed a perfect match.
Dementia patients tend to seek speech therapy to improve their current functions. It’s common for speech-related issues to progress with the onset of dementia.
Our team of Great Speech therapists are trained professionals who can help you or your loved one communicate with ease and confidence. The first step to connecting to one of our specialized online speech therapists is to book a free introductory phone call by clicking here.
In some instances, patients with Alzheimer’s and other dementias speak just fine. They still often seek an individualized therapy to combat their cognitive deficits.
Stages of Dementia
Before we discuss the benefits of speech therapy, let’s look at the stages of dementia.
Early Stage
Gradual confusion and mood/personality changes mark the early signs of dementia. It’s common for patients to become irritable or frustrated over unusual things. You also may notice your loved one to develop anxious and/or antisocial tendencies.
Routine chores become far more taxing, as initiative slowly declines. Not only does it take longer for patients to complete tasks, but they’re also less focused to finish.
Patients tend to get lost more easily, so going out in public also becomes more challenging. You may also notice your loved one is commonly misplacing their personal items. They could accuse others of stealing or hiding and grow more irritable.
Middle Stage
The middle stage of dementia is more of an ongoing progression of early symptoms. You’ll notice their confusion is much more evident than before. Their memory loss has heightened, so they’re forgetting even the most recent events.
Dementia symptoms are much more prevalent in the late afternoons and nighttime. You may find your loved one struggles more right before bed. It’s common for them to be suspicious, irritable, fidgety, and restless.
They start forgetting who their family members and close friends are in this stage. They may be more talkative towards strangers or mistake strangers as someone they know.
Final Stage
The final stage of dementia is very distressing for both patients and caretakers. Most patients have lost the ability to recognize those closest to them. They may even not recognize themselves in the mirror.
Without treatment, patients may lose the ability to communicate with others. You’ll notice they hardly use words to interact, but rather groans, moans, and screams.
Even with a good diet, it’s common for them to lose weight. They grow self-conscious about their eating habits because they’re more fidgety and shaky. They may also sleep more than usual.
Speech Therapy Treatment for Dementia
Dementia affects a variety of cognitive functions, including memory, attention, and visual perception. This accumulation of symptoms often leads to impaired judgment, disorientation, and even depression.
Speech therapy is a great way for patients to maintain a level of independence for longer. It helps stimulate cognitive ability through activities related to the underlying cognitive domain.
Individuals working with a speech pathologist learn how to compensate for their deficits. They learn to modify their environment, which is crucial. This helps them adapt to the ongoing cognitive changes caused by dementia.
There are several different memory regurgitation techniques such as spaced retrieval, errorless learning. Many dementia patients also rely on the use of memory Books and other types of external memory aids.
Speech-language pathologists can also assess how a patient eats, drinks, and swallows. If there appears to be any dysfunction, they’ll offer management strategies for mealtime.
They can also gauge the individual’s capacity to consent to treatment and care. Caretakers should rely on this person to communicate relevant information to the patient. This ensures they’re able to process the information as accurate as possible.
Caregivers of Dementia Patients
If you care for someone with dementia, you could also learn quite a bit from a speech therapist. They offer support to caretakers who wish to learn how to manage their loved one’s symptoms.
Learning how to communicate with your loved one can make a world of difference. After all, dementia patients’ behavior is hardly random. It’s often triggered by specific conditions related to their direct environment.
Improved communication among patient and caretaker can also lead to a better quality of life on both ends. It minimizes stress and anxiety and fosters a stronger sense of peer relations.
Final Thoughts on Speech Therapy
Dementia is a heartbreaking condition that claims millions of new victims each year. Patients eventually lose the ability to communicate and use other cognitive functions. That’s why it’s imperative they find the right treatment.
Great Speech delivers speech therapy services virtually to clients of all ages. Those seeking treatment for dementia no longer have the need to go into an office. They can tap into the power of speech therapy right from their homes.
Reach out to the team at Great Speech. We’ll help you identify your unique needs and goals, and put together an effective speech therapy plan. You can get started with an introductory call by clicking the link below to discuss how a licensed speech and language pathologist on our team can help you achieve your goals.
