Often times dementia is thought to be an interchangeable term for Alzheimer’s disease. However, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are two similar yet different terminologies that should not be used in exchange for the other. Dementia is a broad term that is frequently used to describe people with underlying brain disorders who experience memory, communication and cognitive deficits. Neurodegenerative disease is usually the underlying factor that causes dementia. People who have dementia are affected differently depending on what part of the brain is affected or symptoms worsens over time. Dementia that progress over time are known as progressive dementias and are not reversible (“Dementia,” n.d., para.3). AD is the most common known disorder
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However, because this disease affects people in different ways individual’s symptoms and rate of progression will vary. Brain changes can occur many years before any signs of the disease is present. This period of time is often referred to as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease ( “Stages of Alzheimer’s, n.d., para.1). In the early stages of the disease, individual may still be able to function independently, partake in social activities, and keep up with activities of daily life. First symptoms usually include temporary spatial disorientation and short-term memory loss. Despite their independence, the person may experience word finding or receptive language deficits, and errors of judgement ( “Stages of Alzheimer’s, n.d., para.1). The middle stage of Alzheimer’s is recognized to be the longest stage and carry over for many years. Individuals in the middle stage start to rely more heavily on caregivers. Personality and behavioral changes like delusions, compulsive, suspiciousness, temper outbursts, depression and agitation emerge. Memory lapses and general confusion are more frequent as well as an increase in expressive language deficits. As the disease progresses, individuals will require a greater level of care. Patients during this stage will also have an increased risk of wandering or becoming lost. The last stage of this disease is characterized by inability to walk and …show more content…
In recent studies by Savundranayagam and Orange ( 2013) show an indirect treatment approach to educate and train caregivers on strategies to successfully resolve communication breakdowns. In this study, caregivers found that with across all stages of AD, resolution included repetition, simplification, and rephrasing. Conversely, the least helpful communication strategies found by caregivers in the study were writing, pretending to understand, filling in missing information, and continue talking (). In spite of these findings, it should be noted that one set of communication strategies is not sufficient to repair communication breakdowns across all stages of AD. Instead, there should be future education and training programs that include a wider range communication strategies targeted for all stages of AD. In a similar study by Gentry and Fisher (2007), also hope to evaluate listener response as well as indirect and direct repairs. From this study, researchers found that responses from that indirect repair function to reinforce speech by decreasing the risk of excess verbal deficits in individuals with AD. These direct and indirect treatment forms, thereby will improve quality of life for persons with AD and slowdown the progression of this neurodegenerative
However, because this disease affects people in different ways individual’s symptoms and rate of progression will vary. Brain changes can occur many years before any signs of the disease is present. This period of time is often referred to as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease ( “Stages of Alzheimer’s, n.d., para.1). In the early stages of the disease, individual may still be able to function independently, partake in social activities, and keep up with activities of daily life. First symptoms usually include temporary spatial disorientation and short-term memory loss. Despite their independence, the person may experience word finding or receptive language deficits, and errors of judgement ( “Stages of Alzheimer’s, n.d., para.1). The middle stage of Alzheimer’s is recognized to be the longest stage and carry over for many years. Individuals in the middle stage start to rely more heavily on caregivers. Personality and behavioral changes like delusions, compulsive, suspiciousness, temper outbursts, depression and agitation emerge. Memory lapses and general confusion are more frequent as well as an increase in expressive language deficits. As the disease progresses, individuals will require a greater level of care. Patients during this stage will also have an increased risk of wandering or becoming lost. The last stage of this disease is characterized by inability to walk and …show more content…
In recent studies by Savundranayagam and Orange ( 2013) show an indirect treatment approach to educate and train caregivers on strategies to successfully resolve communication breakdowns. In this study, caregivers found that with across all stages of AD, resolution included repetition, simplification, and rephrasing. Conversely, the least helpful communication strategies found by caregivers in the study were writing, pretending to understand, filling in missing information, and continue talking (). In spite of these findings, it should be noted that one set of communication strategies is not sufficient to repair communication breakdowns across all stages of AD. Instead, there should be future education and training programs that include a wider range communication strategies targeted for all stages of AD. In a similar study by Gentry and Fisher (2007), also hope to evaluate listener response as well as indirect and direct repairs. From this study, researchers found that responses from that indirect repair function to reinforce speech by decreasing the risk of excess verbal deficits in individuals with AD. These direct and indirect treatment forms, thereby will improve quality of life for persons with AD and slowdown the progression of this neurodegenerative