When should we take the elderly to speech therapy?

According to the Fars News Agency’s health reporter, Seyed Shujauddin Hashemi, a member of the board of directors of the Iranian Speech Therapy Association, referring to the health week and paying attention to the country’s elderly population, said: One of the major demographic issues, generally in the countries of the world, is the issue of population aging and its consequences. It is caused by it. Currently, Iran is also experiencing the stage of transition of the age structure of the population from youth to old age.

The member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Association of Speech Therapy of Iran added: Although the elderly population accounts for a small share of the country’s population, the increase in the growth rate of the elderly population compared to the growth of the entire country’s population and the forecast of the increase of the elderly (population 60 years and older) ) emphasizes the need for forward-looking planning to control issues related to this group of population in the coming years.

He added: According to the documents of the World Health Organization, people 60 years old and older are known as elderly people, and based on this, the elderly are divided into three groups: 60 to 69 years old (elderly), 70 to 79 years old elderly, and 80 years old and older. , the elderly are divided.

Hashemi continued: Considering the special needs of old age, paying attention to the quality of life of the elderly is an important matter that is mostly neglected. Due to the increase in the number of elderly people in our country, special attention to their various needs requires developed programs that match the anatomical, neuroanatomical and physical changes of this valuable group of society.

He added: Maintaining the qualitative and quantitative abilities of speech and language in old age can play a valuable role in their relationship with the society. The greater their ability to communicate, the more marginal problems that may result from this lack of communication.

Hashemi said: With a proper initial examination and diagnosis of the type of speech and language disorder of the elderly, a suitable treatment program can be started, and this treatment and early intervention can lead to the comprehensive development of the elderly’s communication with the outside world. Also, providing communication grounds in the elderly is one of There are suitable and effective ways to prevent and treat many mental illnesses specific to this period. During this period, the nerve cells of the brain, in general, may suffer from underdevelopment, which can eventually lead to a decrease in the cognitive functions of people.

He added: The decrease in the function of the brain and nerves related to the brain may also impair the brain nerves related to hearing, vision, and swallowing. Defects in hearing and seeing, each alone or in combination, can be effective in the level of human communication with the world around him.

Hashemi continued: The decrease in the function of the brain and nervous system mainly leads to a decrease in physical and movement strength. This may cause a decrease in strength in doing physical movements and daily tasks of the elderly. Elderly people may suffer from various physical problems due to the reduction of brain and nerve powers on the one hand and the effect of this reduction on the tissue strength of muscles, tendons, joints and bones on the other hand.

He said: Problems such as not having the strength of physical balance and the injuries caused by it, as well as reducing the ability to swallow, occur in these people. The decrease in the strength of the vital centers mentioned in the elderly may cause his language disorders in various dimensions such as phonological disorder, syntax and semantics, speech rhythm, verbal comprehension, verbal recognition and finally verbal expression, which the degree of reduction of these capabilities They can be measured by conducting special language tests.

Hashemi added: Speech disorders also occur in the elderly due to structural changes in the anatomy and physiology of the related organs, the results of which reduce the power of inhaling and exhaling breathing and reducing the power of speech. Slow speech onset, reduced speech speed, decreased voice loudness, shallow breathing, monotony of speech, decrease in motor power of speech-resonating organs, silence and inappropriate speech pauses can be some examples of speech disorders in the elderly.

A member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Association of Speech Therapy of Iran said: At ages over 65, especially when the elderly have underlying health issues, more severe disorders in the structure of their language and speech appear in the form of speech ataxia or even paralyzed speech. Another thing that is noticeable in the elderly is the decrease in swallowing ability in these people.

He added: Swallowing disorder or reduced swallowing ability in more than 50% of elderly people can lead to malnutrition and dehydration, as well as suffocation and aspiration, and in some cases lead to lung infection in these people.

Hashemi said: The treatment of oral-pharyngeal swallowing problems is one of the specialized duties of speech therapists who can evaluate, treat and provide specialized consultations for people with swallowing disorders and elderly people with these disorders.

A member of the Board of Directors of the Iranian Speech Therapy Scientific Association said: In addition to the swallowing disorder caused by old age, we also see swallowing disorders in cases of old age diseases such as strokes, Parkinson’s, concussions, MS, Alzheimer’s, and head and neck cancers. It is very important to pay attention to it and the presence of a speech and language pathologist along with the treatment team of these people is necessary and necessary.

In describing the speech and language disorders in old age, he said: disorders in auditory processing and speech understanding, swallowing disorders, reduced speech speed, reduced speech quality and voice disorders, cognitive and memory disorders, and in all these cases consultation with specialists Speech therapy can lead to the control and treatment of these cases.

end of message/