Speech Therapy

Biggles · December 3

I am just wondering what are the thoughts on speech therapy. My DH has VD about stage 6 and advanced aphasia. I am beginning to feel like a bad person because I have not taken him to a Speech Therapist. It was brought up in conversation with a Dementia Support worker. He can’t remember instructions and definitely finds doing anything very difficult. I can just imagine the frustration of saying repetitive phrases or words over and over. But I’m willing to try if I thought speech techniques might help?? Any insight would be appreciated.

CindyBum · December 3

My DW had a speech therapist for a year when she was probably late stage 4. We gave up at stage 5. It was beyond her at that point. Don't feel bad. I would never consider it now that she's early stage 6.

Biggles · December 3

Thank you CindyBum you’ve settled my guilty conscience.

SDianeL · December 3

My husband had 2 visits from a Speech Therapist and the therapist stopped it. Speech Therapy works if the person can remember the tips. Most dementia patients can’t.

Biggles · December 3

Thankyou SDianel your insight spares me my guilt trip. It’s so hard to know what to do and the knowledge here is greatly appreciated. I ask the question why would the Dementia Association even suggest this when they have face to face contact with my DH they must know that speech therapy probably wouldn’t work. Extremely exhausting and emotionally draining.

tboard · December 3

Speech therapists can also help with swallowing. A common problem for people in the later stages of dementia.

suvi · December 3

About 18 months ago my dh was evaluated by his current neurologist, who suggested a speech and language evaluation. My dh has EO and logopenic aphasia and was considered to be at stage 5. I did take him for an evaluation, and the therapist said that therapy at this point would only be frustrating for him. She gave us resources for the future and a few strategies to use then, but that was it. About a year later at my dh’s neurology check in, the Physician Assistant wanted me to take him to a different speech therapist that he knew and thought was great, but I disagreed, felt guilty, and came here for input too. It was reassuring that skipping it made the most sense. I already felt guilty that he had to go through the initial assessment for nothing, and it was grueling.

Maru · December 3

Our daughter is a speech therapist who works with eating problems…swallowing and such. This might be helpful for dementia that is not AlZ. But, with AlZ the problem is the brain not the mechanics. As to helping with language skills, I am afraid that i have the same response, the broken brain that is the problem and if the LO cannot learn new info, then this would just become another responsiblity on the caretaker if they do it and another thing to feel guilty about if you don't.

Vitruvius · December 3

DW was referred to a speech therapist in mid Stage 6. We tried one session but it did not go well. The speech therapist imagined she was going to provide DW with techniques to improve her communication. Something like that might work in earlier stages but was ridiculous for someone in the stage DW was in. It was doubly ridiculous as DW has Semantic Dementia, noted for problems with words and communication.

It made my DW very confused and depressed. On the way back from the appointment she expressed this in several ways.

I don’t see how speech therapy can possibly benefit those with later stage dementia. I decided not to go back again. The therapist called me asking for her to come back assuring me she could help my DW, but I was convinced it would not help and would only distress my DW.

Speech Therapy

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