Are there any tools, workbooks, etc., I can buy to help my mother who has problems with her speech?  She is in the moderate-severe stage of dementia. This problem began a few months ago.  She is active and mobile with a walker.  This new development is causing her to experience frustration and has resulted in her talking less.  She lives with me, and while I have some help caring for her, I am, of course, her primary caregiver. Please help me to help her. Thank you

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The best thing I'd recommend would be to have your mother see a Speech Language Pathologist (Speech Therapist) if possible, they could guide you through this.  In the meantime, I recommend that you use visual aids to assist her communication.  A visual communication system uses visual pictures and/or words to assist communication and can be VERY helpful with individuals who have Autism and/or developmental delays/disabilities. .

For your mother, this can include writing out the alphabet for her to spell words that she has difficulty saying (if spelling is not impaired).  You can also have pictures of common objects and verbs that can be used for one-word answers or to complete short sentences.  You can make sentence strips such as "I want __________."   Or, "I need to _________."   Offer her pictures of food, drinks, toiletries, clothes, etc.  from which she can choose to fill in the blanks.  You can make dedicated posters/pages for various big topics and come up with possible questions surrounding those topics.  Television, for example, could include: turning it on/off, changing the channel, too loud, too low, pictures of certain channels (mine would be HGTV!). .

I once worked with a man in a long term care facility whose speech was unintelligible.  Since he had lots of visitors (including children) I made him a notebook.  The first page was a table of contents listing different categories.  He loved to sing, so in addition to writing the word 'Songs' in the table of contents, I also drew musical notes next to the word 'Songs.'  When he or someone else turned to that chapter, I had pictures for songs that he enjoyed.  Another category was for 'games.'   I also had a category for asking questions, such as "How are you?"  "What's new?"  "What did you do at school/church today?"   "How is _______?"  Family and friends provided me with pictures of themselves so he could point to the person about whom he wanted to speak.  The nurses/direct care staff had a page for medical needs.  For him, it worked very well. .

There are also visual schedules to help people do routines.  Some examples can be found  here.

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The example at that site will give you an idea of what to do, and you can tailor them to your mother's specific needs.  There are also computer devices and programs where she can touch the picture and it says the word/phrase/sentence.  You can find a great deal more on this entire topic if you do a google search for visual pictures/communication and autism.  Below are some examples that you may find helpful: 

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090430111637.htm   (the first paragraph says it all)

http://www.nursingtimes.net/picture-cards-improve-nutrition-among-dementia-patients/5003100.article

http://www.ehow.com/list_6884205_products-assist-alzheimer_s-patients-home.html

http://www.barchester.com/Healthcare-News/Home-decorations-%27can-help-dementia-patients%27/376/1992

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You are a blessing to your mother.  She may not be able to verbalize it, but she knows.  

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All my best, 

Debbie

Debra C. Lowsky, MS, CCC-SLP.

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