![Page 1: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
1
Communication Problems of the Elderly
DementiaLaryngeal and Vocal FunctionHearing and BalanceVision Problems
![Page 2: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
2
Dementia
• What is Dementia?• Different Types of Dementia• Common Causes of Dementia
![Page 3: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
3
What is Dementia?
• Impairment of short and long term memory
• Impairment of abstract thinking, judgment and other higher level cortical function
• Personality change• Severe enough to affect work, social
activities or relationships with other (Am. Psychiatric Association, 1987)
![Page 4: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
4
Types of Dementia
• Reversible• Irreversible• Partially Reversible
![Page 5: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
5
Reversible
• Drug toxicity• Metabolic imbalances• Infections• Alcohol abuse, etc.
![Page 6: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
6
Irreversible
• Alzheimer’s Disease• Multi-infarct dementia• Parkinson’s disease• Type 2 adult onset diabetes
![Page 7: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
7
Partially Reversible?
• Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA).. Aka stroke
• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)• Tumor
![Page 8: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
8
Common Causes of Dementia
• Alzheimer’s Disease• Parkinson’s Disease• Multiinfarct Dementia• Type 2 Diabetes• Aphasia
![Page 9: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
9
Alzheimer’s Disease
• Accounts for 65% of all dementias• Gradual and steady onset• Hereditary predisposition• Plaquing of neurons, loss of
neurons, neurotransmitters, etc.
![Page 10: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
10
Communicative and cognitive problems
include …• Loss of intellectual abilities such as
memory, judgment, abstract thought and other higher cortical functions
• Changes in personality• Depression, delusions
![Page 11: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
11
Parkinson’s Disease
• Dementia occurs in about 40% of Parkinson’s patients
• Can cause damage to the “deep brain” which is responsible for memory.
• Fewer language problems than Alzheimer's
• More overt speech and writing problems
![Page 12: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
12
Multi-infarct dementia
• Second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's
• Secondary to cerebrovascular disease (i.e., circulatory disorders)
![Page 13: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Type 2 Diabetes
• Type 2 diabetes is typically found in elderly adults and is linked with genetic predisposition and obesity.
• Elevated blood sugar can cause metabolic changes and may result in mini-strokes to the deep brain, important for memory.
• Can also cause neuronal swelling exacerbating Alzheimer's and multi-infarct dementia.
• Speech and language not as affected.
13
![Page 14: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
14
Aphasia
• Usually related to single even (e.g., CVA, TBI)
• Left cortex is affected• Is more focal than Alzheimer's
![Page 15: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
15
Aphasia (continued)
• Language Disorders is dependent upon site of lesion
• Possibly recall, word association, general language disorder, auditory comprehension. Patient may be fluent or non-fluent
![Page 16: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
16
Aphasia (continued)
• Memory usually not impaired• Difficulty with language tasks.
Much better for non-language tasks.
![Page 17: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
17
Laryngeal and Vocal Function
• Degeneration of vocal folds due to loss of blood supply
• Lowering of Pitch• Loss of motor control (tremulous
voice)
![Page 18: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
18
Laryngeal and Vocal Function (continued)
• More likely to have weak voice, hoarse, gravelly, or breathy
• More likely to have tumors of larynx that peaks between 50 and 70 years.
![Page 19: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
19
Hearing and Balance
• Presbycusis• Auditory Processing Disorders• Balance Problems
![Page 20: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
20
Presbycusis
• Hearing acuity decreases and is more prevalent in males vs. females and more common in whites when compared to other racial groups.
• Rapid decrease in hearing acuity after age 60.• Due to loss of blood supply to the cochlea• Smoking and “non-healthy” lifestyle may
hasten onset.• Elevated blood sugar in diabetes may affect
neurotransmission of auditory pathways.
![Page 21: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
21
Ethnic/Racial Diff. in Hearing Impairment in
Ages 20-29Prevalence of Hearing Impairment for Ages 20-29
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Non-Hisp. Whites Non-Hisp. Black Mex Am
Racial/Ethnic Group
Percent Prevalence
Males
Females
![Page 22: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
22
Ethnic/Racial Diff. in Hearing Impairment in
Ages 50-59Prevalence of Hearing Impairment for Ages 50-59
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Non-Hisp. Whites Non-Hisp. Black Mex Am
Racial/Ethnic Group
Percent Prevalence
Males
Females
![Page 23: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
23
Auditory Processing Disorders
• Thought to be secondary to neuronal degeneration which can be part of the aging process.
• People with this disorder can hear speech but may have difficulty with processing or understanding what is being said.
![Page 24: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
24
Balance Problems
• Due to atrophy of neurons important for carrying information between inner ear and cortex, and degeneration of sensory cells important for balance in the inner ear.
![Page 25: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
25
Vision Problems
• Affects reading and speech reading ability
• Types of vision problems– Macular degeneration– Glaucoma– Cataracts– Visual processing
![Page 26: 1 Communication Problems of the Elderly Dementia Laryngeal and Vocal Function Hearing and Balance Vision Problems](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062408/56649e4a5503460f94b3e1b1/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
26
Summary