Pragmatic Language Disorders Resulting from Semantic Degradation in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to create an inventory of pragmatic language disorders specific to Alzheimer’s disease, to illustrate them by case examples, to determine the severity of disorders according to the stages of Alzheimer’s, and to specify the impact of patients’ demographic characteristics on the pragmatic disorders experienced by them. Method: The study adopted a descriptive research design. The sample was selected using the stratified sampling method. Interviews were conducted with the patients using the free association technique. The feedbacks from the participants were collected as audio recordings and transcribed using the SALT program. The findings were analysed and compared with the control group data, and the conclusion was drawn from the results obtained. Results: In the course of study 19 types of pragmatic language disorders of AD patients were identified. The differences between the pragmatic disorders detected at various stages of the disease were illustrated in detail using case examples, and the effect of the demographic variables on the disorders was determined. Conclusion: As a result of the research, pragmatic language disorders resulting from semantic degradation experienced by AD patients were identified. It was found out that the early stage of AD is characterised by mild pragmatic disorders, which tend to get more distinct at the middle stage and even more severe at the late stage. In addition, it was determined that the demographic characteristics of patients have an impact on the severity of pragmatic language disorders.