Page 44 - Changes and Challenges

Dementia
Changes and Challenges
Likewise, a person’s tone of voice and gestures are an important part of my
communications. Hence, I often find it easier to travel to meet with someone
face to face rather than hold a telephone conversation.

I like many people I know with Dementia, find it much easier to read text
printed on paper, rather than text presented in electronic format. My
comprehension is much better that way. Recently I came across a study in a
reputable scientific journal, that suggested this would be true for most
people. My personal experience, and the experience of many of my friends
suggests that this is compounded for people with Dementia.
Three years ago, I purchased a paperback to read on a long international
flight. Needless to say, I didn’t finish the book on the flight, but I continue take
it with me on any long flight (or when I know I am going to have a long wait in
a Doctors surgery). I can pick the book up now, open it to the last page I was
reading, and begin to read. After about one paragraph I can remember the
story line, characters etc and have a very good comprehensions of what is
happening in the book.

Now contrast this to my E-reader. I have had a Kindle for many years (from
pre-dementia days). About the same time as I purchased the book, I
downloaded a book to my Kindle. The book was very interesting, but I found if
I put the Kindle down for ten minutes, then resumed ready, the only way I
could comprehend the story line was going back a relatively long way and re-
reading what I had already read. Since then, my Kindle died, and I don’t mourn
its loss.

Being Semantic About Semantics.
My form of Dementia suggests that the ability to assign meaning to words is
gradually being lost. My reading, spelling, comprehension and expression are
gradually declining. The meanings of words, objects and concepts may
become confused. I experience impaired understanding of single words, when
taken out of context, especially when they are used incorrectly. I experience
difficulty in finding people’s names or assigning someone to a name. For
example, if you asked me, “Do you remember Fred?” I would likely identify a
dozen or so ‘Fred’s’ some of whom I would never have met e.g. ‘Fred

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