Description
Book SynopsisMCI and Alzheimer's Dementia: Clinical Essentials for Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive-Communication Disorders is the ideal choice for instructors who teach an adult language disorders course that includes a unit devoted to cognitive-communication disorders of adults with dementia. It succinctly presents the critical information about the cognitive-communicative disorders associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease. The population of individuals with Alzheimer's is exploding (a new case is diagnosed every seven seconds), and MCI has emerged as an important condition that SLPs can help identify and treat. MCI and Alzheimer's Dementia: Clinical Essentials for Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive-Communication Disorders is unique for several reasons: It focuses on the most common dementia-producing disorder, Alzheimer's disease. It contains cutting-edge information about MCI, a very early stage of Alzheimer's disease that has gained worldwide interest because early identification provides options for early behavioral and/or pharmacologic treatments and because SLPs have a role in its identification and treatment.It covers the clinical essentials that students and practicing professionals need to know - definition, assessment, and treatment of MCI and AD. It is written by individuals who have had decades of funding to study the cognitive-communication disorders of dementia and who have developed standardized tests that are widely used by SLPs. It is smaller than a text and larger than a book chapter and thus provides an economical way to learn the clinical essentials of this, the profession's fastest growing clinical population. MCI and Alzheimer's Dementia: Clinical Essentials for Assessment and Treatment of Cognitive-Communication Disorders is a must have for clinicians and students working with the ever-expanding population of patients struggling with MCI and Alzheimer's disease.
Trade Review"It is a practical resource and the layout allows for dipping in and out to reference information or provide information to others. - [MCI and Alzheimer's Dementia]helpfully relates intervention to assessment by discussing assessment results in sample cases and provided both long and short term goals based on the assessment results. The book provides an overview of available cognitive intervention programmes and their associated research, outcomes and recommended intensity and duration. It relates the direct interventions to neural plasticity principals and the direct and indirect intervention chapters provide plenty of practical environmental strategies for intervening with this population (e.g., linguistic modification, reminiscence therapy). The indirect interventions described may also be useful in supporting education of staff and carers in settings such as Nursing Homes (i.e. benefits of maintaining social engagement, supporting orientation and benefits of nurturing). - With the increasing prevalence of Dementia this book is a good go to summary guide to have available in the clinic." -- Aine Lawlor, Speech and Language Therapist, HSE Community Adult Service, Dublin South West. Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists Update Magazine (Spring/Summer 2014)
Table of ContentsIntroduction Definition and discussion of the dementia syndrome and its significance in terms of prevalence and cost. MCI Defined Explanation of MCI, its various forms, the recently revised diagnostic criteria established by the NIH and the Alzheimer's Association, information about rate of conversion to AD, and a review of early changes in language and cognition. Alzheimer's Dementia Defined Diagnostic criteria, neuropathology, risk factors, effects on cognition and communication by stage of disease, and samples of the language of affected individuals by stage of disease. Assessment of MCI and AD The process of assessment, reviews of commonly used tests and severity measures, recommendations on tests for screening and comprehensive assessment, and differential diagnosis. Rationale for intervention Evidence from cognitive science for the involvement of SLPs in identifying individuals with MCI and AD and treating them directly and indirectly through caregiver counseling to sustain, improve, and/or maximize functioning. Treatment of MCI Options SLPs have for helping clients sustain function, including cognitive wellness programs. Direct Treatment of AD Treatment guidelines and evidence-based techniques for facilitating learning and information retrieval. Indirect Treatment of AD Modifications that SLPs can recommend and oversee regarding the physical and linguistic environment that will enable affected individuals to function at their highest level of ability. Specific recommendations are included about how to communicate with affected individuals and how to improve their ability to comprehend and express language.
