Special considerations with the elderly client

The nationwide increase in the size of the elderly population is resulting in a significant increase in the number of speech--language and hearing clinicians who work with the elderly client. Certain considerations are required in working with this patient population, among the more important of which is the fact that the speech--language and hearing clinician may need to react to a medical emergency. Such medical problems as angina pectoris, heart attack, stroke, epileptic seizure, diabetic coma, and insulin reaction are discussed with regard to (1) the symptoms that warn of the emergency, and (2) the steps to be taken by the clinician in order to deal with the problem both safely and promptly.