Speech/Language Comprehension in the Context of Language Difficulties in Persons with Neurocognitive Disorders

Abstract

The article aims to highlight language difficulties and, more specifically, speech/language comprehension difficulties in persons with some neurocognitive disorders. People with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis struggle with cognitive impairment, includinglanguage difficulties. The latter can be manifested in phonology, semantics, morphology, syntax and/or pragmatics. All of these are included within a comprehensive process of speech/language comprehension. Its disruption can have an impact on the individual's daily activities as well as on the quality of life. Therefore, it is necessary also to focus on speech/ language comprehension as part of the cognitive and language assessment.

Keywords

• cognitive abilities
• language difficulties
• speech/language comprehension
• mild cognitive impairment
• alzheimer's disease
• parkinson's disease
• multiple sclerosis