Can Speech Therapy Help Dementia Patients?

When most people think about dementia, memory loss is often the first symptom that comes to mind. While that is indeed a major part of the condition, it’s important to mention that dementia can also impact communication. Many people with dementia struggle to find the right words, follow conversations, understand information, and express their thoughts and feelings in a way that is clear and understood by others. 

The communication struggles that come with dementia can be frustrating for the person living with the disease and also for their loved ones, but luckily, speech therapy can usually help the person with dementia keep their communication skills longer, slowing down their deterioration, which also improves their quality of life.

At Great Speech, we believe that communication is valuable at every stage of life. While speech therapy cannot cure dementia, it provides individuals and their families with strategies that can help them communicate more easily and with confidence throughout the various stages of the disease. 

Great Speech connects people of all ages and challenges, including adults and seniors with dementia, with speech therapists who are experts in their field. Schedule a call to get started. 

Understanding the Communication Challenges That Come With Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term that is used to describe a group of conditions that affect memory, thinking, reasoning, and daily functioning. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 57 million people worldwide were living with dementia in 2021, with nearly 10 million new cases diagnosed each year. The WHO also notes that dementia is the leading cause of disability and dependency in older adults.  

As dementia progresses, the areas of the brain that are responsible for language and communication may become negatively affected, leading to a variety of communication-related difficulties. Common communication issues that come with dementia are:

• Difficulty finding familiar words
• Repeating words or phrases
• Losing track of conversations
• Difficulty understanding complex/multi-step instructions
• Trouble organizing thoughts
• Problems with reading or writing
• Increased frustration during conversations

These changes can make everyday interactions harder and can lead to the person having feelings of isolation and anxiety, which can also cause them to withdraw from social situations.

How Can Speech Therapy Help People with Dementia? 

Speech therapists are experts in evaluating and treating a wide range of communication disorders. The goal of speech therapy for people with dementia focuses on helping the individual maximize their current abilities and develop strategies that support them in having meaningful communication, and not necessarily to restore communication skills to their previous level.

Every person with dementia will have different needs and goals, so speech therapy will be individualized to their needs; however, some common areas that the speech therapist will evaluate are speech clarity, language comprehension, word-finding abilities, memory-related communication challenges, and cognitive communication skills.

Speech Therapy Offers Many Benefits for People with Dementia

Improved Communication Skills

One of the main goals of speech therapy is to help people communicate as effectively as possible, despite cognitive challenges, and therapists may teach strategies such as:

• Using simpler language
• Breaking information down into smaller steps
• Using visual cues and reminders
• Practicing conversation techniques
• Developing different ways to express their wants and needs

Keeping Social Connections

Communication is needed for people to maintain relationships, and when communication becomes hard, many people begin to completely avoid conversations or social situations altogether. Speech therapy can help dementia patients keep actively participating in family gatherings, community activities, and everyday conversations for as long as possible. 

Supporting Family Members and Caregivers

Family members and caregivers of people with dementia can also benefit from learning strategies that can help them communicate more easily with their loved ones. These strategies can reduce stress for everyone involved. Some of these strategies include speaking slowly and clearly, asking one question at a time, reducing background distractions, allowing extra time for responses, and using visual support when appropriate.

Keeping Independence

People with dementia need to be able to express their needs, ask questions, and advocate for themselves to keep their independence. Speech therapy helps to provide tools and strategies that support this for as long as possible during the various stages of dementia. 

Can Speech Therapy Help in All Stages of Dementia or Only in The Early Stages? 

It’s easy to assume that speech therapy is only helpful for dementia patients who are in the early stages of the disease, while in reality, speech therapy can be valuable in most stages. 

Speech therapy for people in the early stages of dementia usually consists of helping them to strengthen and keep their existing communication skills. The focus of speech therapy in the later stages may shift towards helping their family members and caregivers learn alternative approaches to communicate with their loved one.

Regardless of the stage of this heartbreaking disease, the goal is always to maximize the quality of life and teach skills appropriate for their abilities. 

Is Virtual Speech Therapy Effective for People With Dementia? 

Virtual speech therapy is a highly accessible option for families. People can receive support from speech therapists without needing to travel to a clinic. 

For many dementia patients and their loved ones, virtual speech therapy has many advantages: 

• Convenient
• Reduced need to travel
• Greater access to high-quality speech therapists who specialize in dementia patients
• Sessions can be done at home, where everyone feels most comfortable
• Easier for families and caregivers to be involved

Every person’s experience with dementia is different, and so are their communication needs. If you’re wondering whether speech therapy could help you or a family member, we’d be happy to discuss your situation. Schedule a call to learn more about our virtual speech therapy service and how we can help you or your loved one with their communication and quality of life at every stage of the journey.

Looking for information about insurance coverage? Great Speech has the answers. Our speech therapy services are covered by most major insurance providers nationwide, with plans accepted from Cigna, Health Net, Zenith America, UHC, Aetna, Centivo, Curative, Priority Health, Optum, & more! Check out our insurance page to find out if you’re covered.