Dementia in Conversation: Observations from Triadic Memory Clinic Interactions

Dementia is synonymous with a deteriorating 'memory' in those it impacts. However, it is often in conversation that the neuro-degeneration is revealed. This chapter outlines a memory clinic study which sought to explore how interactional features of dementia patients' talk exhibited 'signs' of their underlying conditions that could be useful for neurologists to notice. The chapter focuses on triadic history-taking encounters between neurologists, patients and accompanying persons (e.g. spouses, family members). Analysis examines the memory recall expectations of neurologists and accompanying persons resulting in public displays of memory failure requiring repair or correction. TThe diagnostic relevance of these conversational practices examines the content of the talk (i.e. what is absent) and the production of the talk, as well how these problems can occur simultaneously.