title: Vocalizations among cognitively impaired elders: what is your patient trying to tell you?
abstract: Unpleasant vocalizations are prevalent among cognitively impaired elders and often are considered disruptive and problematic by their families and caregivers. However, another way to perceive such challenging vocalizations is as a communication attempt by these patients to make their needs and feelings known. This article identifies possible meanings underlying these vocal behaviors and suggests strategies to help reduce their occurrence.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Home Services, St. Paul, Minn., USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Clavel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D014705:Verbal Behavior