Definition: A deterioration of language abilities, which can manifest in several ways.
Examples: A person with Alzheimer's might have difficulty saying the correct names for people or objects that were previously familiar. Speech might be vague, and the person might use the words "it" or "whatchamacallit" because he or she can't come up with the correct word. The person might also have difficulty understanding what's being said, repeating back what's been heard, or understanding what is read. In the later stages of the disease, the person might repeat a word or sound over and over or echo things that have just been heard.
