title: Disruptive vocalizations: a means to communicate in dementia?
abstract: Disruptive vocalizations (DVs) constitute a serious problem in geriatric nursing homes. The current literature suggests that DV can be interpreted as a way for demented persons with language limitations to communicate with others. In an attempt to test this hypothesis, 59 participants were recruited from six nursing homes to form two groups: one group of individuals with preserved language skills (PLS) and another group with altered language skills (ALS). They were compared on the frequency and types of DV. The results indicate that individuals with ALS manifest DV at a greater frequency than those with PLS. These persons also present a greater number of distinct DV forms. The results are interpreted in terms of language deterioration associated with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Centre Hospitalier Robert-Giffard, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Evelyne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matteau
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Landreville
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laplante
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laplante
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014705:Verbal Behavior