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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2003 May-Jun;18(3):147–153. doi: 10.1177/153331750301800307

Disruptive vocalizations: A means to communicate in dementia?

Evelyne Matteau 1, Philippe Landreville 2, Louis Laplante 3, Christian Laplante 4
PMCID: PMC10833659  PMID: 12811989

Abstract

Disruptive vocalizations (DVs) constitute a serious problem in geriatric nursing homes. The current literature suggests that DV can be interpreted as a way for demented persons with language limitations to communicate with others. In an attempt to test this hypothesis, 59 participants were recruited from six nursing homes to form two groups: one group of individuals with preserved language skills (PLS) and another group with altered language skills (ALS). They were compared on the frequency and types of DV. The results indicate that individuals with ALS manifest DV at a greater frequency than those with PLS. These persons also present a greater number of distinct DV forms. The results are interpreted in terms of language deterioration associated with dementia.

Keywords: disruptive vocalization, language skills, dementia

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Contributor Information

Evelyne Matteau, Psychology Department, Centre Hospitalier Robert-Giffard, Québec, Canada..

Philippe Landreville, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada..

Louis Laplante, Psychology Department, Centre Hospitalier Robert-Giffard, Québec, Canada..

Christian Laplante, School of Psychology, Université Laval, Québec, Canada..

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