LANGUAGE AND AGING

Question 1

How is aging described?

Answer 1

Change as a function over time

Question 2

What changes in an aging body and brain?

Answer 2

Cognitive issues

Body issues

Question 3

Does your own perception of aging have an impact on your body?

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

Where are some of the aging parts of your body?

Answer 4

Temporal Lobe=Memory

Frontal Lobe=Personality

Question 5

What are the three sensory and motor aging places?

Answer 5

Hearing - Hearing loss presbycusis (difficulty hearing high-frequency sounds)
Vision - Clarity of vision
Motor - decline in the speed of processing

Question 6

What are the four cognition points we discussed?

Answer 6

-Processing speed
-Semantic Memory
-Episodic Memory
-Self-reported health
all in which at the age of 75 you see a decline

Question 7

Is there regression in later life?

Answer 7

Yes, You learn things and the later you learn them the quicker they go.

Question 8

Can the amount of regression vary by the individual?

Answer 8

Yes, some older people can do better than some young,

It is important to not overgeneralize the study of the elderly as a whole

Question 9

What are the two ways of language processing?

Answer 9

Phonology (speech sounds)
–> Perception and production
Lexicon (Words and Meanings)
–> Size of vocabulary and accessing words “I can’t think of that word”

Question 10

What is Syntax?

Answer 10

(Grammer and sentences)

–> Demands on memory and speed

Question 11

What is discourse/pragmatics?

Answer 11

(ex. conversation)
- Experience
- Context
- Memory

Question 12

What do we know in relation to memory and aging?

Answer 12

• Older adults intentionally focus on the big picture b/c will get the overall message even if something small is missed.
• Into relational aspects of information.
• Episodic leads and challenges in discourse/keeping track of what someone is talking about over 5,10,15min