SPTH3002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Dementia, Weight Loss, Constipation

• School: University of Newcastle
• Department: Speech Pathology
• Course: SPTH3002
• Professor: Rachel O'Brien

Document Summary

"any organic condition where there is an irreversible loss of cognitive capacity and memory, such that there is a decline in person"s ability to function socially, physically and emotionally over time" It is degenerative and irreversible - it will get worse over time; considering the impact it has on both the patient and their family members. Cognitive disturbance in: memory, thinking, orientation, comprehension, calculation, learning, capacity, language and judgment. Really need to consider a patient with dementia"s learning capacity when considering compensatory and rehabilitative strategies for dysphagia management. Not only with their ability to learn the strategies but also remember the strategies implemented to them should be considered with management. Often accompanied by deterioration in emotional control, social behaviour or motivation (who health organisation, 2007) Can affect family members and others around the patient as the person they may become might be completely different than who they were. Dementia results in deterioration of communication and/or swallowing.