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Speech-Language Pathologist Interventions for Communication in Moderate-Severe Dementia: A Systematic Review
Swan K, Hopper M, Wenke R, Jackson C, Till T, Conway E.. American journal of speech-language pathology, 2018-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the evidence for direct and indirect interventions for communication in people with moderate-severe dementia. Method A systematic search of the literature was conducted, as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysed guidelines, across 8 electronic databases. Studies were included if they included direct or indirect interventions, which could be administered by a speech-language pathologist to people with moderate-severe dementia (defined as having Mini-Mental State Examination of ≤ 15; Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975). Studies also were required to include outcome measures, which reported on communication function or participation and/or well-being related to communication. Included studies were evaluated for methodological quality using the McMaster critical appraisal tool (Law et al., 1998). Results Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Ten of these studies related to direct interventions and included cognitive stimulation approaches using group (n = 5) or individual therapy (n = 1); cognitive training, including naming therapy (n = 1) and spaced retrieval training (n = 1); and cognitive rehabilitation approaches using augmentative and alternative communication (n = 2). One study reported an indirect intervention: conversation partner training. Due to the heterogeneity of studies, a meta-analysis was unable to be conducted. A descriptive synthesis of results indicated that interventions generally resulted in positive changes to communication and related quality-of-life outcomes compared with baseline or control groups. Conclusions Preliminary evidence was found to support communication interventions for people with moderate-severe dementia. The use of cognitive stimulation approaches, which use a group treatment model and conversation, as a therapy medium show promise as direct intervention options. Implications for clinical practice for speech-language pathologists and future research are discussed. Supplemental material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.5985241.
Key findings
- Results Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria.
- A descriptive synthesis of results indicated that interventions generally resulted in positive changes to communication and related quality-of-life outcomes compared with baseline or control groups.
Why it matters
This review of 11 studies found that speech-language pathologist interventions generally produced positive changes in communication and related quality of life in moderate-severe dementia. It concerns management of communication, not curing or preventing the disease.
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Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (American journal of speech-language pathology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology: journal h-index 122 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 84 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.4 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Erin Conway: h-index 13 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Griffith University: institution h-index 552 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29554196) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Swan, K., Hopper, M., Wenke, R., Jackson, C., Till, T., & Conway, E. (2018). Speech-Language Pathologist Interventions for Communication in Moderate-Severe Dementia: A Systematic Review. American journal of speech-language pathology. https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_ajslp-17-0043
Vancouver
Swan K, Hopper M, Wenke R, Jackson C, Till T, Conway E. Speech-Language Pathologist Interventions for Communication in Moderate-Severe Dementia: A Systematic Review. American journal of speech-language pathology. 2018. doi:10.1044/2017_ajslp-17-0043. PMID: 29554196.
BibTeX
@article{swan2018-29554196,
author = {Swan, K. and Hopper, M. and Wenke, R. and Jackson, C. and Till, T. and Conway, E.},
title = {{Speech-Language Pathologist Interventions for Communication in Moderate-Severe Dementia: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {American journal of speech-language pathology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1044/2017_ajslp-17-0043},
pmid = {29554196},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_ajslp-17-0043}
}
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