Many abilities are lost as time passes with Alzheimer’s disease. Cognitive functions decline, behaviors become unpredictable and communication deteriorates to the point in which the individual can no longer express one’s self or receive incoming information. Effective communication is one of the most important functions involved in the caregiving process and as the disease progresses, caring can become more challenging and frustrating.
The old saying “You don’t miss something until no longer have it” couldn’t be more appropriate concerning communication and Alzheimer’s. Communication is necessary to relay our wishes, needs and feelings. It helps us preserve our sense of self and is a large part of who and what we are as human beings. Most communication, up to 90%, is non-verbal and only 10% is verbal. Both are eventually impacted.
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The inability to communicate or understand others can lead to other serious problems. Conflict, isolation, fear and paranoia, depression or anxiety, anger and aggressive behavior are just a few negative outcomes of declining communication skills. Many caregivers rank the inability to communicate as one of the most stressful aspects of providing care for an individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Stages of Alzheimer’s and Communication Challenges
During the early stages Alzheimer’s, the individual experiences difficulty following conversations. More time is needed to form thoughts and responses. Other challenges include staying on topic, finding the right words, losing one’s train of thought and frustration.
By the middle stages, challenges to communication become greater. Reading becomes a problem and long conversations are too difficult to follow. Abstract thinking diminishes, and apathy sets in. The individual experiences difficulty reading facial expressions and associating them with emotions. Volume of voice becomes hard to control, sentences go unfinished and rambling begins.
During the final stages of the disease, the individual no longer understands the meaning of most commonly used words. Grammar skills once used in regular conversation become lost. The individual may not acknowledge that he or she is being addressed by others. This can be mistaken for hearing loss or simply ignoring conversations, but it is fact, most likely another loss in communication skills. Eventually, the individual will become mute and will neither speak nor understand others.
Other Communication Challenges
As Alzheimer’s progresses, there will be more losses, deficits and changes in communication, cognition and behavior. Short-term memory problems will be one of the first signs that Alzheimer’s is chipping away at cognitive abilities. One’s attention span will decline over the years, and the ability to follow multiple steps or instructions will fade. The environment will become too overwhelming and distracting. A decline in sensory abilities, especially sight and hearing, add to communication problems. The individual with Alzheimer’s as well as those caring for him or her, will face many frustrations simply trying to communicate.
Final Words on Alzheimer’s and Communication
Alzheimer’s is a progressive, irreversible, and neurological disease that affects multiple areas of functioning, including communication. Over time, verbal and non-verbal communication skills will decline and fade away. Communication skills deteriorate as the stages of Alzheimer’s go by. Despite challenges and frustrations associated with these losses, it is possible to find other ways to communicate. Ultimately the best approach will include patience, understanding and love.
More About Dementia
- Elopement in Senior Care
- Managing Dementia-Related Behaviors
- Alzheimer’s and Depression
- Ethics in Dementia Care
- Alzheimer’s and Nutrition
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