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Communication Difficulties as a Result of Dementia
Banovic S, Zunic LJ, Sinanovic O.. Materia socio-medica, 2018-10-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Introduction Population aging increases the number of people with dementia. Dementia is a set of symptoms that include memory difficulties, learning difficulties, speech and language difficulties, disorientation in time and space, difficulties in understanding and behavioral changes. Dementia is not part of natural aging and needs to be understood as such and have to be recognized at time to provide adequate support for people with dementia. Aim To present the importance of communication: To present communication difficulties which are the result of dementia; To present adaptations in the way of communicating with people with dementia. Material and methods The article has a descriptive character, and represents a review of the literature dealing with this topic. Results Difficulties in area of language are a common symptom in people with dementia. Those communication difficulties are a consequence of nerve cell failure, and person with dementia should not be blamed of the symptoms that arise. People with dementia show lower results in the area of understanding and verbal expression, repetition, reading and writing. Syntax and phonology remain relatively intact in early stages, but semantic abilities are impaired. Conclusion Communication for people with dementia and with people with dementia for all persons involved in care (including family members, medical staff and therapists, and members of the community) can be very challenging. It is often necessary to adapt the way of communication to avoid stress and negative feelings in a person with dementia. As the disease causing dementia progresses, communication problems are increasing as well. Many times caregivers and therapists are in situations where their communicative behavior (verbal, but also nonverbal) needs to show support, compassion, care, and desire to help.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Banovic, S., Zunic, L. J., & Sinanovic, O. (2018). Communication Difficulties as a Result of Dementia. Materia socio-medica. https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2018.30.221-224
Vancouver
Banovic S, Zunic LJ, Sinanovic O. Communication Difficulties as a Result of Dementia. Materia socio-medica. 2018. doi:10.5455/msm.2018.30.221-224. PMID: 30515063.
BibTeX
@article{banovic2018-30515063,
author = {Banovic, S. and Zunic, L. J. and Sinanovic, O.},
title = {{Communication Difficulties as a Result of Dementia}},
journal = {Materia socio-medica},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.5455/msm.2018.30.221-224},
pmid = {30515063},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5455/msm.2018.30.221-224}
}
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Key findings
- Aim To present the importance of communication: To present communication difficulties which are the result of dementia; To present adaptations in the way of communicating with people with dementia.
- Results Difficulties in area of language are a common symptom in people with dementia.
- People with dementia show lower results in the area of understanding and verbal expression, repetition, reading and writing.
Why it matters
This review explains that language difficulties in dementia come from failing nerve cells and are not the person's fault. It supports adapting how caregivers and staff communicate with people who have dementia, but it does not test any treatment or cure.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Materia socio-medica) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Materia Socio Medica: journal h-index 46 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 210 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.0 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 123 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Osman Sinanović: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Tuzla: institution h-index 88 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30515063) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.5455/msm.2018.30.221-224
- PubMed: 30515063
- Original source →
- Free full text: Europe PMC (PubMed Central) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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