The first signs of dementia in a person's speech

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There are different types of dementia, and each can affect speech in different ways.

Early diagnosis of dementia can help make important decisions about treatment and care support. For this to happen, it is important to recognize the early signs.

The first signs of dementia can manifest themselves in a person's speech and language abilities. And different types of dementia can affect speech differently.

Alzheimer's disease causes the most common type of dementia.

“In Alzheimer’s disease, a person’s ability to form language itself is not affected until the later stages of the disease, but the memory problems that underlie the disease lead to repetitive speech. Problems with language and communication can be early symptoms of some rare types of dementia, such as frontotemporal or semantic dementia. It is often the case that in the early stages of the disease, a person has difficulty finding the right word to describe something, and tries to compensate by using simpler or less precise words. Dementia that affects the front of the brain can cause personality changes that can be reflected in speech, such as inappropriate or socially insensitive comments,” says the neurologist.

Speech problems can arise because a person does not understand what is being said to them. This is sometimes called a “receptive” problem.

The difficulties may arise from “expressive” difficulties, where a person understands a question but cannot find the right words to answer. These problems are called dysphasias. All of these problems can cause confusion, frustration, or disorganization.

Other signs of frontotemporal dementia

Early signs of frontotemporal dementia can lead to personality changes. The reason for this behavior is that dementia causes a lack of social understanding or awareness. Often, patients with dementia may make inappropriate jokes and/or show a lack of tact. People may start to make “offensive” statements or jokes or even think that others are “offensive.”

If you suspect that you or a loved one has dementia, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional to evaluate and diagnose the condition.

Make an appointment with a therapist to discuss your concerns. Before your visit, make a list of the symptoms you've noticed, when they started, and what's bothering you. This will help you provide as much information as possible during your visit.

“Specific examples of memory problems, behavioral changes, and loss of skills or abilities are really helpful to the doctor.”