Investigation of language skills of individuals with Alzheimer's dementia specific to different stages

In Alzheimer's type dementia, the most common type of dementia, language disorders resembling aphasia are observed as a result of structural damage. Since it is a progressive disease, it is thought that different language and speech characteristics will be observed at different stages. Determination of these speech and language characteristics has an important place for speech-language pathologists who work or want to work with individuals with Alzheimer's Dementia to recognize Alzheimer's Dementia and create an intervention program. The aim of this study is to determine the language skills seen in different stages of Alzheimer's Dementia. In this context, 24 participants with Alzheimer's Dementia and 24 healthy elderly participants were administered the Test Your Memory-Turkish (TYMTR) and Aphasia Language Assessment (ADD) Test. Of the participants with Alzheimer's Dementia, 4 had mild stage, 10 had moderate stage and 10 had severe stage Alzheimer's Dementia. The data obtained as a result of the application were statistically analyzed. When the findings were analyzed, the TYM-TR and ADD scores of the participants with Alzheimer's Dementia were lower than the scores of healthy elderly participants. There is a correlation between the TYM-TR and ADD scores of the participants.It can be said that language skills are affected after dementia.As the severity stages of the participants with Alzheimer's Dementia increased, there was a continuous decrease in all subtest scores of the ADD test except the Writing subtest. Language domains were most severely affected in severe stage Alzheimer's Dementia.Auditory Comprehension, Naming, Reading, Grammar and Verbal Actions skills were affected more than Spontaneous Speaking, Repetition and Writing skills in individuals with Alzheimer's Dementia.