Aging and Communication

Book excerpt: The second edition of Aging and Communication provides a discussion of life-span aspects of communication behavior, disorders, and interventions. Chapters are written in a reader-friendly format, highlighting clinically relevant information. In-depth discussion of the effect of aging on hearing, speech/voice, swallowing, cognition and language are provided. For each clinical area, information includes: * Effects of normal aging * Disorders that occur frequently in the elderly population * Social, psychological, and environmental factors that influence functioning * Evidence-based assessment and intervention strategies * Relevant reimbursement issues Authors from multiple disciplines contribute content that reflects the interdisciplinary challenges of understanding communication and aging. The text is organized around a framework of primary, secondary, and tertiary aging. The book challenges the reader to examine their attitudes regarding aging and provides suggestions for interaction with the elderly. It also includes discussions of end-of-life legal issues, counseling, and hospice care.