Speech and Language Disorders in Neurodegenerative Diseases – Alzheimer’s Dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia – Two Case Studies

Neurodegenerativne bolesti su u suvremenom svijetu u porastu, a broj oboljelih od demencija raste i u Republici Hrvatskoj. Kroz prikaz slučaja demencije Alzheimerovog tipa te primarne progresivne afazije i usporedbu oba slučaja dobila se preliminarna slika o stanju govornojezičnih sposobnosti sudionica istraživanja. Ispitale su se funkcije poput razumijevanja, artikulacije, čitanja, pisanja, verbalne fluentnosti (fonološke i semantičke), sposobnosti imenovanja te semantičko i kratkoročno pamćenje. Osnovna motivacija rada je uvid u govornojezične sposobnosti i razumijevanje vrsta poteškoća s kojima se susreću osobe oboljele od Alzheimerove demencije i primarne progresivne afazije te osmišljavanje terapijskih postupaka u rehabilitacijskoj intervenciji u tretmanu govorno-jezičnih poteškoća. Time će se bolesnicima pružiti dodatan način rehabilitacije te produžiti kvaliteta komunikacije sa obitelji i društvom.There has been noted a sharp rise in neurodegenerative diseases in the world recently. Nonetheless, the incidences of patients with dementia has been increesing in Croatia, as well. Through a case study of Alzheimer's dementia (AD) and primary progressive aphasia (PPA), and a comparis of both cases, a preliminary picture of the state of speech-language ability of the participant was obtained. Functions or skills such as understanding, articulation, reading, writing, verbal fluency (phonological and semantic), confrontational naming, semantic and short-term memory were studied. The basic motivation of the work is to gain insight into speech-language skills as well as the development of therapeutic interventions in the treatment of speech-language difficulties caused by the aforementioned diseases. This will provide patients with an additional method of rehabilitation and extend the quality of communication with the family and society

Utjecaj nošenja slušnog pomagala na kognitivne sposobnosti i subjektivni status tinitusa u bolesnika sa zamjedbenom nagluhošću: pilot studija

There is an increased number of people with hearing impairment and decreased cognitive abilities among the elderly population. Due to the fact that the auditory system and central nervous system are connected, pathological changes associated with aging occur on both levels. With the development of hearing aid technology, the quality of life of these patients can be improved. The aim of this study was to determine whether wearing a hearing aid has an impact on cognitive abilities and tinnitus. Current research does not show a clear connection between these factors. This study involved 44 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. They were divided into two groups of 22 people, depending on whether they had previously used a hearing aid or not. Assessment of cognitive abilities was performed via the MoCA questionnaire, and assessment of the impact of tinnitus on daily activities was evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (ITHQ). Hearing aid status was classified as a primary outcome, while cognitive assessment and tinnitus intensity were associated variables. Our study showed an association between longer hearing aid use and poorer naming ability (p = 0.030, OR 4.734), poorer delayed recall (p = 0.033, OR 4.537), and spatial orientation (p = 0.016, OR 5.773) when compared with patients who had not used hearing aids, while tinnitus did not correlate with cognitive impairment. Based on the results, we can emphasize the importance of the auditory system as an input source for the central nervous system. The data direct us to improve the rehabilitation strategies for hearing and cognitive abilities in patients. Such an approach results higher quality of life in patients and prevents further cognitive decline.Među starijom populacijom nalazimo povećan broj osoba s oštećenim sluhom i smanjenim kognitivnim sposobnostima. Zbog povezanosti slušnog sustava sa središnjim živčanim sustavom, dolazi do patoloških promjena na obje razine. Razvoj tehnologije u području slušnih pomagala poboljšao je kvalitetu života takvih bolesnika. Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi postoji li utjecaj nošenja slušnog pomagala na kognitivne sposobnosti i šum u uhu. Trenutna istraživanja ne pokazuju striktno povezanost ta dva entiteta. U provedenoj studiji sudjelovalo je 44 ispitanika sa zamjedbenim oštećenjem sluha. Podijeljeni su u dvije skupine po 22 osobe, ovisno o tome koriste li slušno pomagalo. Procjena kognitivnih sposobnosti vršila se putem Montrealske ljestvice kognitivne procjene (MoCA), a procjena utjecaja šuma u uhu na svakodnevne aktivnosti putem upitnika Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) i Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (ITHQ). Analizirana je povezanost nošenja slušnog pomagala s rezultatima navedenih upitnika. U našem istraživanju pokazana je povezanost duljeg nošenja slušnog pomagala i lošije sposobnosti imenovanja (p=0,030, OR 4,734), slabijeg odgođenog prisjećanja (p=0,033, OR 4,537) i prostorne orijentacije (p=0,016, OR 5,773). Tinitus nije pokazao povezanost s kognitivnim oštećenjem. Rezultati govore o specifičnim vezama između slušnog sustava i funkcije središnjeg živčanog sustava. Ovi nas podaci usmjeravaju na poboljšanje strategije rehabilitacije sluha i kognitivnih sposobnosti u bolesnika. Takvim se pristupom omogućava veća kvaliteta života i prevencija daljeg kognitivnog oštećenja

How did medical pluralism evolve on my island? : Relations between sickness, health and healing through biomedical and alternative medical practices on Kvarner islands

Cilj rada je istražiti kako se stanovnici otoka Cresa i Lošinja nose sa bolešću, ozdravljenjem i zdravljem kroz prizmu medicinskog pluralizma. Postoji li mogućnost odabira medicinskog sustava na spomenutim kvarnerskim otocima te ukoliko postoji – što otočani izabiru između klasične zapadnjačke biomedicine te alternativne i komplementarne medicine. Što utječe na njihov odabir – dob, spol, socioekonomski status ili nešto treće? Uvidom u način na koji su postavljeni postojeći medicinski sustavi na otocima i način na koji oni funkcioniraju kristalizirat će se narativ medicinskog pluralizma na kvarnerskim otocima Cresu i Lošinju. Prikupljene priče i sjećanja lokalnog stanovništva nastoje se kritički i teorijski analizirati.The goal of this study was to explore how do Cres and Lošinj island locals cope with sickness, illness, healing and health through the prism of medical pluralism. Is there a possibility of choice between different medical systems on these islands and if there is – what do locals choose? Biomedicine or complementary and/or alternative medicine? What is influencing their choice – age, sex, financial status or something else? By gaining insight in the organisation of medical systems on these islands we can discuss the narrative of medical pluralism on the islands of Cres and Lošinj. The collected stories and memories of locals were theoretically and critically analysed and processed

How did medical pluralism evolve on my island? : Relations between sickness, health and healing through biomedical and alternative medical practices on Kvarner islands

Cilj rada je istražiti kako se stanovnici otoka Cresa i Lošinja nose sa bolešću, ozdravljenjem i zdravljem kroz prizmu medicinskog pluralizma. Postoji li mogućnost odabira medicinskog sustava na spomenutim kvarnerskim otocima te ukoliko postoji – što otočani izabiru između klasične zapadnjačke biomedicine te alternativne i komplementarne medicine. Što utječe na njihov odabir – dob, spol, socioekonomski status ili nešto treće? Uvidom u način na koji su postavljeni postojeći medicinski sustavi na otocima i način na koji oni funkcioniraju kristalizirat će se narativ medicinskog pluralizma na kvarnerskim otocima Cresu i Lošinju. Prikupljene priče i sjećanja lokalnog stanovništva nastoje se kritički i teorijski analizirati.The goal of this study was to explore how do Cres and Lošinj island locals cope with sickness, illness, healing and health through the prism of medical pluralism. Is there a possibility of choice between different medical systems on these islands and if there is – what do locals choose? Biomedicine or complementary and/or alternative medicine? What is influencing their choice – age, sex, financial status or something else? By gaining insight in the organisation of medical systems on these islands we can discuss the narrative of medical pluralism on the islands of Cres and Lošinj. The collected stories and memories of locals were theoretically and critically analysed and processed

How did medical pluralism evolve on my island? : Relations between sickness, health and healing through biomedical and alternative medical practices on Kvarner islands

Cilj rada je istražiti kako se stanovnici otoka Cresa i Lošinja nose sa bolešću, ozdravljenjem i zdravljem kroz prizmu medicinskog pluralizma. Postoji li mogućnost odabira medicinskog sustava na spomenutim kvarnerskim otocima te ukoliko postoji – što otočani izabiru između klasične zapadnjačke biomedicine te alternativne i komplementarne medicine. Što utječe na njihov odabir – dob, spol, socioekonomski status ili nešto treće? Uvidom u način na koji su postavljeni postojeći medicinski sustavi na otocima i način na koji oni funkcioniraju kristalizirat će se narativ medicinskog pluralizma na kvarnerskim otocima Cresu i Lošinju. Prikupljene priče i sjećanja lokalnog stanovništva nastoje se kritički i teorijski analizirati.The goal of this study was to explore how do Cres and Lošinj island locals cope with sickness, illness, healing and health through the prism of medical pluralism. Is there a possibility of choice between different medical systems on these islands and if there is – what do locals choose? Biomedicine or complementary and/or alternative medicine? What is influencing their choice – age, sex, financial status or something else? By gaining insight in the organisation of medical systems on these islands we can discuss the narrative of medical pluralism on the islands of Cres and Lošinj. The collected stories and memories of locals were theoretically and critically analysed and processed

Impact of Wearing Hearing Aids on Cognitive Abilities and Subjective Tinnitus in Patients with Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study

There is an increased number of people with hearing impairment and decreased cognitive abilities among the elderly population. Due to the fact that the auditory system and central nervous system are connected, pathological changes associated with aging occur on both levels. With the development of hearing aid technology, the quality of life of these patients can be improved. The aim of this study was to determine whether wearing a hearing aid has an impact on cognitive abilities and tinnitus. Current research does not show a clear connection between these factors. This study involved 44 subjects with sensorineural hearing loss. They were divided into two groups of 22 people, depending on whether they had previously used a hearing aid or not. Assessment of cognitive abilities was performed via the MoCA questionnaire, and assessment of the impact of tinnitus on daily activities was evaluated using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Iowa Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire (ITHQ). Hearing aid status was classified as a primary outcome, while cognitive assessment and tinnitus intensity were associated variables. Our study showed an association between longer hearing aid use and poorer naming ability (p = 0.030, OR 4.734), poorer delayed recall (p = 0.033, OR 4.537), and spatial orientation (p = 0.016, OR 5.773) when compared with patients who had not used hearing aids, while tinnitus did not correlate with cognitive impairment. Based on the results, we can emphasize the importance of the auditory system as an input source for the central nervous system. The data direct us to improve the rehabilitation strategies for hearing and cognitive abilities in patients. Such an approach results higher quality of life in patients and prevents further cognitive decline