Age related changes in speech, language and cognition

Age related changes in speech, language and cognition

1. Cognition

   • During normal aging orientation remains intact.
   • Sustained attention doesn't show any changes in normally again adults
   • Older adults perform slower than young adults during selective attention tasks.
   • Divided attention skills remain fairly normal but can change during more difficult tasks.
   • During normal aging long-term memory remains intact and so does procedural memory.
     • There is also a decline in declarative memory and working memory in healthy again adults.
   • In short-term memory and episodic memory, healthy aging adults can show a decline
   • Tests of executive function, older adults tend to perform more poorly on. However, use of executive function in everyday life remains functional

2. Speech

   • Significant Physiologic changes, however, no negative impact on speech in healthy aging adults.

3. Language

   • Possible delays of processing verbal language during aging.
   • Ability to process verbal language in daily life remains functional.
   • Comprehension remains intact while reading might slow.
   • Word finding ability shows significant change

4. Manasco, H. (2017). Introduction to neurogenic communication disorders (2nd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.