Alzheimer's disease. Physician-patient communication.
The number of cognitively impaired elderly in Canada has increased greatly during the past two decades; nearly all have Alzheimer's disease (AD). The memory problems and changes in language and communication of these patients place tremendous strain on physicians who are searching for a differential diagnosis and are trying to communicate with them. Reviewing the salient language and communication features of AD patients leads to strategies for improving effective physician-patient communication.
Department of Communicative Disorders, University of Western Ontario, London.
J B
JB
Orange
D W
DW
Molloy
J A
JA
Lever
P
P
Darzins
C R
CR
Ganesan
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005544:Forecasting; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007697:Kinesics; D007802:Language; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012720:Severity of Illness Index