Normal aging and environmental effects on communication.

This article focuses on the role of communication in the successful adjustments and adaptations to normal aging by elders. It views communication as an essential tool for living safely and independently, for maintaining interests and a sense of purpose, for continuing important social and family relationships, and for exercising active control over quality of life and care. The discussion emphasizes the importance of physical and social environments to elders' communication efforts and suggests that an environmental approach to the communication problems of many elders may be more beneficial than the remediation of specific speech-language skills.