The Role of the Speech-Language Pathologist According to the Italian Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Marco Simoni
Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represent a growing challenge for healthcare systems. This study analyses the Guidelines of the Italian National Institute of Health, «Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia and MCI» (Fabrizi et al., 2024), with the aim of examining the role and contribution of speech and language pathologists in the care of people with neurocognitive disorders (NCD). A qualitative analysis was conducted on the recommendations contained in clinical questions relevant to speech and language pathology practice. The results show that, based on their professional profile and competencies, speech and language pathologists should be directly involved in the assessment and non-pharmacological interventions targeting cognitive-communicative abilities, support for functional communication, and the adoption of strategies for active participation, as well as decision-making processes, throughout the entire course of the disease. However, the analysis highlighted the need for collaborative work among clinicians, researchers, technical-scientific associations, and academic institutions aimed at promoting the integration of Speech and Language Pathologists within educational, diagnostic, therapeutic, and care pathways dedicated to people with NCD
Keywords
Speech and language therapy, Mild cognitive impairment, Dementia, Neurocognitive disorder, Clinical guidelines.
