A6.1: Project Prospectus

1. Research/Essential Question and Foundation Questions

What is the most common etiology of dementia and how does it change the brain’s structure and function, specifically the function of speech and language?

• What is dementia?
• What is the most common cause of dementia?
• How does dementia change the brain structure?
• How do the changes that occur due to dementia affect speech and language?

    2.  Tentative Point Dementia is a devastating disorder for many reasons. One in particular is the affect it has on speech and language. I’m hoping to provide some information on that area, while focusing specifically on the most common cause of dementia because there are many causes and it would be difficult to research all of them.

    3.  Genres

Newsletter

Potential Voice: Clinician

Potential Audience: General public

Rationale: A newsletter would give basic information about dementia, the most common cause, and how speech and language are affected. This would be a very general yet informative piece of work, and would probably be interesting and also beneficial.

Brochure

Potential voice: Clinician

Potential Audience: Family member or client

Rationale: A brochure explaining the basics of dementia could be given to a client or someone who is concerned that their family member is showing signs of dementia.  It could provide basic symptoms, when and why they should be concerned, and where to seek help.  

Webliography

Potential Voice: Clinician

Potential Audience: Variety

Rationale:The webliography will provide links to useful information for parents, clients, family members, and others who are interested in the topic for whatever reason.

Power Point Presentation

Potential Voice: Clinician

Potential Audience: Family members (might also ne useful to students and clinicians)

Rationale:A power point would be an instructional tool for the family members. It would include basic information about dementia, but also specifically alzheimer’s disease, which is the most common cause, and how it affects speech and language.  

Poem

Potential Voice: Client

Potential Audience: Family, clinician

Rationale:A poem could show a simple but creative insight into what a client is going through.

Podcast

Potential Voice: Family Members

Potential Audience: Others who have family memebers with dementia, clinician

Rationale: A podcast would allow people to express how having a family member with dementia affects them, and could serve as a support system for the other family members or even to strangers.

Journal Entry

Potential Voice: Family Member

Potential Audience: Self, family

Rationale: This would be a very interesting way to understand a family member’s point of view about the disorder. A journal is where we tend to write our most intimate thoughts on any subject.

    4.  Integration of Genres

I’m planning to integrate the genres by following a specific client and their family. Dementia is a devastating disease but not only for the person that is diagnosed with it. It is extrememly hard for the family members and loved ones as well. I think that by focusing on one family I can connect the genres and will ultimately create a nice project.

    5.  Tentative Resources

1.      Resource: Academic Search Premier

Keyword(s): Dementia

Bibliography:

Fernandez, M. (2006). Brain training. Nursing Standards, 20 (52), 26-27. Retrieved September 30, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier Database.

 

2.      Resource: PsycARTICLES

Keyword(s): Dementia

Bibliography:

Jonker, C., Raaijmakers, J. G.W., Spaan, P.E.J., (2005). Early assessment of dementia: The contribution of different memory components. Neurophysiology, 19(5), 629-640. Retrieved September from the PsycARTICLES Database.

  

3.      Resource: PsycARTICLES

Keyword(s): Dementia

Bibliography:

Antione, M., Diaz, M., Kluger, A., Kuslansky, G., Sailor, K., (2004). The effects of alzheimer’s disease on item output in verbal fluency tasks. Neurophysiology, 18(2), 306-314. Retrieved September 30, 2006 from the PsycARTICLES Database.

 

4.      Resource: PsycARTICLES

Keyword(s): Alzheimer’s Disease

Bibliography:

Hodges, J.R., Ivanoiu, A., Patterson K., Rogers, T.T., (2006). Semantic memory in alzheimer’s disease and the frontotemporal dementias: A longitudinal study of 236 patients. Neuropsychology, 20(3), 309-335. Retrieved September 30, 2006 from the PsycARTICLES Database.

 

5.  Resource: Academic Search Premier

Keyword(s): Dementia

Bibliography:

Swenson, C.R.,  (2004). Dementia diary: A personal and professional journal. Social Work, 49(3), 451. Retrieved September 30, 2006 from the Academic Search Premiere Database

 

6.  Resource: MEDLINE

Keyword(s): Dementia (and) cause

Bibliography:

Blennow, K., de Leon, M.J., Zetterburg, H. (2006). Alzheimer’s disease. Lancet, 368, 387-403. Retrieved September 23, 2006 from the MEDLINE Database.

 

7. Resource: Academic Search Premier

Keyword(s): Dementia (and) speech (and) language

Bibliography:

Frazier-rios, D., Zembruski, C. (2005). Communication difficulties: Assessment and intervention. Dermatology Nursing, 17(4), 319-320. Retrieved September 23, 2006 from the Academic Search Premier Database.

 

8. Resource: ERIC

Keyword(s): Dementia (and) brain structure

Bibliography:

Obler, L.K., Gjerlow, K. (1999). Language and the brain. Cambridge Approaches to Linguistics. New York: Cambridge University Press. (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. ED428562). Retrieved September 23, 2006 from the ERIC Database.

 

9. Resource: PsycINFO

Keyword(s): Dementia

Bibliography:

Cotelli, M., Borroni, B., Manenti, R., Alberici, A. (2006). Action and object naming in frontotemporal dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. Neuropsychology, 20, 558-565. Retrieved September 23, 2006 from the PsycINFO Database.

 

10. Resource: PsycINFO

Keyword(s): Dementia (and) language impairment

Bibliography:

Potkins, D., Myint, P., Bannister, C., Tadros, G. (2003). Language impairment in dementia: Impact on symptoms and care needs in residential homes. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18, 1002-1006. Retrieved September 23, 2006 from the PsycINFO database.