Communication disorders: what to look for, and when to refer

Communication impairments, with or without a swallowing disorder, are common among older adults. Aphasia, which is usually caused by a focal lesion, can affect spoken and written language, auditory comprehension, and reading ability but by itself does not affect intellectual and cognitive abilities. A cognitive-communicative impairment is related to underlying cognitive deficits in memory, attention, or visual perception and is seen with traumatic brain injury and nontreatable dementia. Voice and speech impairments such as dysarthria and apraxia of speech may lead to self-imposed social isolation and depression. Dysphagia may accompany a communication disorder or exist independently. As a primary care physician, your in-office workup can help diagnose a communication disorder and identify candidates for referral to an otolaryngologist and/or speech-language pathologist.