About 500,000 Canadians live with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada. With Canadian seniors expected to account for one-quarter of the population in three decades, and one in 11 having a form of dementia, approximately 50 per cent of Canadian families will be coping with a family member with dementia.
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists, represented by the national professional association the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), have an important role to play in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementias such as Alzheimer's disease.
"There is a close connection between communication and cognitive aging in healthy older adults and those who have combined impairments such as hearing loss and dementia," says CASLPA member and audiologist Kathy Pichora-Fuller. "Speech-language pathologists and audiologists must develop new roles in partnership with other health professionals to improve the early identification, diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairments at all stages."
Alzheimer's is not just a disease of the elderly and can start in your early 40s, according to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada. Early indicators include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks and problems with language and communication.
"Hearing loss is found in up to 90 per cent of cases with dementia," says Pichora-Fuller. "If hearing loss and other communication disorders are not addressed, they can lead to withdrawal from social interaction. Good communication function and social interaction in combination with an active lifestyle are key to preventing or slowing cognitive declines that can develop into dementias such as Alzheimer's."
According to the Alzheimer's Society of Canada, 36 per cent of Canadians know someone with Alzheimer's disease. If someone you know has dementia, CASLPA suggests consulting a speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist to find out how to help prevent or alleviate communication problems.
CASLPA represents the professional needs of more than 5,500 speech-language pathologists, audiologists and supportive personnel. For more information about the role speech-language pathologists, audiologists and supportive personnel play in the treatment of communication disorders or to find a S-LP or audiologist in your area, visit CASLPA's website at www.speechandhearing.ca. Additional information about Alzheimer's and related dementias can be found at Alzheimer Society of Canada's website, www.alzheimers.ca.
CASLPA recognizes September 21 as World Alzheimer's Day
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