Language changes are associated with several types of age-related degenerative processes and are known to be particularly stressful for carers. Managing language and communication difficulties in older people has been shown to be an important aspect of dementia care. A test such as the one described here, might be a useful tool for health professionals planning care for older people with possible diagnoses of dementia. The information gained could be used as part of multi-disciplinary team assessment. This paper describes the development of a clinically viable assessment tool for the assessment of language and associated cognitive skills in the older population. Data on 43 normal older people were used to establish preliminary means and lower normal limits, as a guide to distinguishing performance associated with normal age-related change from performance associated with pathology. In the next phase data was collected from 43 older people with possible dementia who were attending clinics and hospital departments. The results suggest that the Barnes Language Assessment can profile language skills and difficulties and may be a useful diagnostic tool to contribute to language assessment of older people. Indications for further research are discussed.
This paper describes the development of a clinically viable tool for the assessment of language and associated cognitive skills in the older population which was instigated by the SIG Psychiatry of Old Age (South of England). A series of sub-tests is described. Data from normal older people is used to establish preliminary means and lower normal limits as a guide to distinguishing performance associated with normal age-related change from performance associated with pathology. The importance of allowing for the effects of normal age-related changes on language processing is illustrated. Data from older people with pathology attending clinics and hospital departments is also presented. Quantitative and qualitative language profiling is outlined. Data analysis suggests that the Barnes Language Assessment is able to profile language skills and difficulties. Indications for further research are discussed.
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