Those affected by Lewy Body Dementia face cognitive difficulties with communication including speech and swallowing disorders. Speech therapy addresses communicating, language and swallowing therapy. All three work in conjunction with each other to help the individual speak with more clarity, efficacy and confidence. Verbal exercises and often visual prompts pertaining to individual preferences and environment are used to help the patient identify and verbalize various words. She or he is prompted answer questions and to express him or herself. These communication exercises are taken home and practiced by the person with the caregiver. This repetitive visual and verbally stimulating therapy helps open neural pathways and tap into memory. After a few sessions, taking place twice a week, the person develops confidence and an increased ability for verbal expression. Swallowing therapy is also practiced using key words as prompts for the eating process. This therapy engenders an awareness in functioning of eating and swallowing. Speech therapy addresses: Listening and processing skills, aphasia, swallowing, prompts, naming people and places, sense of familiarity of environment, cognitive functioning, and communication.
