Functional communication assessment: the healthy elderly

Abstract

Functional communication is the ability to receive or convey a message, regardless of the mode to communicate effectively and independently in a given environment. The Functional Communication Assessment Scale for Adults (ASHA-facs) is an instrument to evaluate the individual’s basic ability to communicate in an ecological context, considering proper modifications, adaptations and time needed for communication. It can be used to complement traditional language assessment, to plan caregiver orientation, to aid clinical decision-making and to register disease stabilization or treatment progress. This study characterizes the functional communication of the healthy elderly through the ASHA-facs scale. Sixty-six healthy elderly individuals were assessed trough their caregivers (family members). The scale consists of 43 items divided into four domains: 21 items on social communication; 7 items on communication of basic needs; 10 items on reading, writing and numerical concepts; 5 items on daily planning. The scale provides quantitative information in a 7-point scale (with score 7 for the individual who does not need help to perform the activity and score 1 when there is need of maximum help). The ASHA-facs results showed that healthy elderly individuals have better performances in social communication and basic needs. It suggests that elderly individuals compensate possible gaps in hearing comprehension and/or oral expression, which occur during cognitive function decline experienced along the normal aging process. The daily planning domain score showed difficulties in the executive functions of planning and organization. Additionally, there was an important correlation between functional communication and educational background.