Language and communication difficulties may occur in the elderly population. This
is the case of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon and receptive and auditory
comprehension difficulties. Few studies have focused on examining the effects of
social exposure on maintaining communication in the aging process.OBJECTIVES[1] To describe the communication map of healthy elderly subjects; [2] To
search for associations between frequency and time dedicated to
communication and cognitive and sociodemographic factors.METHODSHealthy elderly subjects were submitted to cognitive screening, the Token
Test – Revised, and the Verbal Fluency test, and answered the ASHA-FACS and
the Circles of Communication Partners questionnaires.RESULTS55 subjects, 67% female, with ages over 60 years and varied schooling were
included in the sample. Interlocutors in the circle of close friends and
acquaintances predominated in the communication map, although the time
devoted to communication with these partners was lower than in other
circles. Overall, the elderly reported no deficits in language
comprehension, with some reports of the tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon. Poor
performances on the Token Test – Revised and in phonemic verbal fluency
along with reports of communication functionality indicated that these
subjects compensate for their problems.CONCLUSIONOlder subjects with lower schooling tended to predominantly communicate
within the family circle. Within other circles, the number of hours devoted
to communication and dialogue partners was not associated with age or
schooling. The time devoted to the circle of communication with friends may
indicate cognitive difficulties.
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