The loss of communication skills is one of the most recognizable symptoms of dementia. Losing the ability to communicate causes anxiety, fear and confusion in dementia patients. Caregivers must understand nonverbal cues and use different words to communicate with patients. Communication problems progress as dementia worsens. It is important to check vision and hearing to rule out all potential causes of hearing and vision difficulty. Always keep sentences simple, and focus on one idea at a time when talking to a dementia patient.
Early Dementia
During the early stages of dementia some people have difficulty finding the appropriate word when describing an object. Verbal expression and communication slows down due to the increased time required to find correct words. Always give a person enough time to find the correct word and do not interrupt speech or finish sentences. A person may have difficulty following a conversation if it is has been interrupted or recalling a passage that was just read. Forgetting common names of items is associated with aging and may not be a cause of concern during the early stages of dementia.
Middle-Stage Dementia
Recognizing names becomes difficult in the middle stages of dementia. A person with dementia may use repetitive phrases or ask the same question many times. A person repeatedly asks questions about the time of day or when an event will occur. The same story is told several times during the same conversation. Some patients become angry when told they are repeating themselves. Caregivers should use a communication board and write down the date and events for the day to avoid repetitive language issues. The Alzheimer's Association suggests always answering a question, even if it has already been answered several times.
Late-Stage Dementia
Many dementia patients have difficulty recognizing faces in the late stages of dementia. For example, a person may believe her spouse is a sibling, or even a total stranger. When looking into a mirror, a person may not recognize himself. In extreme situations, some patients may divert back to first language, or baby talk. Language in the later stages may consist of repetitive phrases or even babble or grunting that cannot be understood. A person is unable to express wants and needs during the final stages. Muscles become contracted and rigid, and most people are bed-bound and dependent on care staff for all needs. Using body language to communicate needs is impossible. However, patients are able to understand tones of voice, to recognize their own names and to appreciate the physical presence of family members and caregivers.
