Linguistic Profile in Multi Infarct Dementia – A Case Study

Abstract

Multi Infarct Dementia (MID) is defined as a disorder involving deterioration in mental function caused by changes or damage to the brain tissues from lack of oxygen as a result of multiple blood clots through out the brain. Symptoms can range from amnesia, visuospatial deficits and aphasia from cortical lesions to memory impairment. The main aim of the present study is to draw attention of speech language pathologists, linguists and other professionals towards the nature of the language and cognitive deficits associated with MID and to profile the language deficits in MID. For this study, the authors had taken a subject who was diagnosed as having MID with onset prior to 6 months. The subject was assessed on Cognitive Linguistic Assessment Protocol in Kannada, Linguistic Profile Test in Kannada, Revised Token Test and Western Aphasia Battery in Kannada. The results were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and interpreted. The subject exhibited deficits like word finding difficulty, reduced mental abilities, and syntactic deficits, deficits in executing verbal commands like confusion of colors, sizes and objects. The present study revealed that patients with MID will have significant co-occurrence of language and cognition deficits. There is a greater need to identify them as soon as possible and the treatment should be started to slow down the further worsening of the disorder as there is no treatment that cures dementia. And also we should have more controlled studies to get to know about the language and cognitive deficits in patients with MID so that different treatment programs can be developed.