Changes in communication of Deaf people with dementia: A thematic interview with a close family member.
OBJECTIVE
Learning about changes in communication of Deaf with dementia (DWD) is important in order to improve services and support DWD and their families. We explored family members' views on the changes in communication DWD have and the ways communication was adapted due to progression of dementia.


METHODS
A qualitative content analysis of thematic interviews that were conducted with eight close family members of DWD.


RESULTS
With decreasing vocabulary and increasing sign-finding difficulties, conversations became poorer, and DWD tended to diverge from the topic. Nonverbal communication became more important as the verbal communication abilities of DWD deteriorated, and the adult children took a more active role by taking initiative and guiding conversations.


CONCLUSIONS
DWD seem to go through similar changes in communication as hearing people with dementia. Adult children of DWD need to get used to interpreting and assisting their parent's communication through different phases of dementia.
Institute of Health Sciences, the University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland minna.rantapaa@sieppijarvi.fi.
Minna
M
Rantapää
Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Seija
S
Pekkala
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012813:Sign Language
communication; dementia; nonverbal communication; qualitative content analysis; sign language