November is Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people worldwide, bringing with it challenges to communication, memory, and activities of daily living. As a Speech Language Pathologist, I am often asked, “Can speech therapy help Alzheimer’s?” While Alzheimer’s is not reversible, my answer to this query is–“Yes.”
How Does Speech Therapy Help Alzheimer’s Patients?
Three areas that are often affected by Alzheimer’s are communication, cognitive abilities, and swallowing function. A Speech Language Pathologist is trained to address each of these areas, implementing strategies to mitigate and compensate to maintain quality of life.
Understanding Alzheimer’s Impact on Communication
Alzheimer’s can lead to difficulties in:
- Finding the right words.
- Following conversations.
- Remembering familiar names or concepts. These changes often cause frustration for patients and their families. Speech therapy provides targeted strategies to address these issues, helping patients communicate more effectively
How SLPs Address Cognitive Challenges
SLPs also work on cognitive skills such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. By using exercises and tools tailored to each individual, they help patients maintain as much independence as possible.
One of my clients writes birthday checks out to her grandchildren. This is a task she has done for decades, and that has become more difficult as she has aged. For the first few minutes of our session, she practices writing out a fake check to a given grandchild. I challenge her to find the date using visual aids, and provide a sample for her to use as she is writing a (fake) check for her grandchild. We have found that she does better with large checks that have no pictures in the background to distract her from the task.
Improved Communication Skills
SLPs use strategies like visual aids, repetition, and simplified language to make communication easier. For example, patients might learn how to use picture boards or keyword prompts to express themselves. Caregivers can also benefit by learning techniques to better interact with their loved ones. A client I am presently working with loves to go on walks. It is much easier to to have back-and-forth conversation with her when her legs are moving. We practice word-finding and attending to conversation as we stroll through her neighborhood. When she from our walk, she is in a better mood, motivated to converse with her husband, and feels more confident talking about her children because we have reviewed their names and things about each of them.
Addressing Swallowing Disorders
As Alzheimer’s progresses, patients may experience dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), which increases the risk of choking or malnutrition. SLPs can provide assist with identifying safe foods and textures for the client to eat and drink. Environmental factors should be considered, such as where and when the person with dementia eats. A certified VitalStim provider such as myself can also use Neuromuscular Electro-Stimulation to support swallow function.
Bottom Line
While no treatment can stop the disease, speech therapy helps patients retain cognitive, communicative, and swallow for longer, improving their overall quality of life. If you think your loved one may be in need of speech therapy, send me an e-mail at jackie@livewellspeechtherapy.com. Early intervention can make a world of difference for both patients and their families.
