Późna dorosłość z perspektywy logopedii

Abstract

Observed demographic changes mean that we are becoming a ‘greying society.’ This makes it necessary to introduce new curriculum content in the vocational training of speech therapists and creates a need for specialists in the area of therapy and functional assistance of seniors. At the same time, this indicates the need for conducting extensive studies in the field of gerontological linguistics, concerning the particularities of speech related to age as well as the specific features of communication with the elderly. In this speech the authors would like to discuss one of the directions of research on language phenomena related to old age, i.e. research on the particular manner of communication of those in the senior’s close environment (family, doctors, therapists, among others) with the senior. The style of communication with a person of senior age, being a result of social stereotypes of elderly people, may increase their discomfort and indicate paternalistic and condescending treatment of those in the highest age group. This may even be a sign of ageism, i.e. social discrimination based on people’s age.