The Relevance of Communication Between Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Caregivers. Effective Prosody Strategies to Improve Communication

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the most critical factors in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is communication between patients and caregivers. A relevant part of the way of speaking is what is known as prosody, or the variations a speaker makes when talking. To our knowledge, no research has analyzed the relevance of communication for caregivers when speaking with AD patients or what they consider the most effective strategies to communicate with them. Therefore, this pilot study aims are twofold: to know the relevance caregivers (professionals and family) give to communication with AD patients; and to determine what prosody strategies they consider most effective. Two hundred fifty-two caregivers of AD patients (professional and family) participated in two online surveys, answering different questions about the relevance of communication and the best prosody strategies. They also performed an auditory perceptual assessment. The results showed that caregivers give communication a significant role in the patient’s treatment behavior. They consider Alzheimer’s (AD) patients should be spoken to with authority but with affection and positiveness. The most valued prosodic strategies were marked intonation, speaking affectionately, emphasizing essential words, a medium/low pitch, and a slow speed. This study highlights the value of communication in interacting with AD patients to improve their cognitive and emotional responses.