Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Effect on Communication

Communication difficulties are common problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The affected person may not be able to make him/herself understood or may not be able to understand what others are trying to tell them. You may have noticed that your loved one substitutes a word that sounds similar to the word or uses a word with a similar meaning. They may try to describe an object they cannot name or may invent new words to describe thoughts or objects.

If the person with AD can remember only a few key words, he/she may use them over and over, even if the words have no meaning. If your loved one has been covering up problems with communication, he/she may become angry or defensive at times when they cannot find the words to respond to a question or comment. If communication is difficult for the individual with AD, it can also become frustrating and depressing to them as well. As a result, they may cry or become angry. If they do, hold back your response - or change the subject – so they will feel less frustrated.

It is important to assume that your loved one can understand more than they can express. Never talk about them as if they were not there.

As the disease progresses, your loved one will be less able to communicate. Dealing with this will take extraordinary patience and understanding on your part. Here are some suggestions that may enable your loved one to get the message across:

• Be calm and supportive.
• Maintain eye contact and use touch to reassure and show that you are listening.
• Show your interest in what they are saying or feeling. Pay attention to their voice and gestures for clues to what they are feeling. Sometimes, their emotions are more important than what they are trying to say.
• If you don’t understand what they are trying to say, let them know and encourage them to point or gesture. If they cannot find a word, they may be less frustrated if you offer a guess.
• If they use the wrong word and you know what they mean, you may try supplying the correct word. If this upsets them, it would be well not to correct future mistakes.
• If they are upset and cannot explain verbally, offer comfort and reassurance. Trying to get an explanation may increase the level of distress. Perhaps the most important tool is the sense of touch. People who are agitated will often respond to body contact – a hug, a handshake, or a neck massage. These gestures let the person know that you are there and that you care.

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