Survey Results of Speech-Language Pathologists Working With Cognitive-Communication Disorders: Improving Practices for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early-Stage Dementia From Alzheimer's Disease.

Autor: Lanzi AM; Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark., Saylor AK; Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark., Cohen ML; Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, University of Delaware, Newark.; Center for Health Assessment Research and Translation, University of Delaware, Newark.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: American journal of speech-language pathology [Am J Speech Lang Pathol] 2022 Jul 12; Vol. 31 (4), pp. 1653-1671. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 May 23.
DOI: 10.1044/2022_AJSLP-21-00266
Abstrakt: Purpose: As the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to rise, there is a need for interventions that focus on risk reduction and early disease management. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) can contribute to risk reduction efforts and deliver cognitive interventions; however, the nature and frequency of current clinical practice in those areas is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to conduct an exploratory survey of the cognitive-communication practices and needs of SLPs for adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and early-stage dementia from AD, to inform future research and clinical training efforts.
Method: SLPs completed an online survey that assessed five areas of practice specific to cognitive-communication and MCI and early-stage dementia: (a) education and training, (b) MCI subtype knowledge and consideration, (c) goals and treatment practices, (d) assessment of everyday living skills, and (e) general clinical practices and needs.
Results: One hundred fifty-seven SLPs completed the survey and represented a range of practice experience. Results revealed a discrepancy between the number of SLPs who provide services to adults with MCI or early-stage dementia and those who have received formal training to do so, suggesting a reliance on clinical practice experience. Participants primarily reported using interview and informal methods to assess daily activities and often described using compensatory-based treatments.
Conclusions: These findings contribute to the limited knowledge about SLPs' cognitive-communication practices to help improve early-disease management for AD, a rapidly growing population in need of SLPs' services. More research is needed to support SLPs in being maximally effective when working with clients early in the AD continuum.
Supplemental Material: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19787728.
Databáze: MEDLINE
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