MANAGEMENT OF THE PATIENT WITH DISRUPTIVE VOCALIZATION

Disruptive vocalization (DV) is a common problem in the management of cognitively and physically impaired older people. This article reports the results of a consensus meeting convened to provide guidelines for clinicians and recommendations for researchers in this difficult and little-studied behavioral problem. DV arises largely in people with co gnitive impairment and generally reflects an underlying need or discom fort. A variety of factors can precipitate and aggravate DV; the key t o management is appropriate identification of all possible factors and development of an individualized treatment plan.