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Challenges with word finding are one of the most noticeable memory changes that come with age. You might know what you want to say but need more time to get the word out.
This “tip-of-the-tongue” phenomenon is something we all experience and tends to occur more frequently as we get older. Word-finding difficulties are typical to a certain extent, but these challenges also can signal a greater problem that might require intervention.
Typical Word-Finding Difficulties
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These are some of the most common challenges with word finding that an individual may experience, particularly as they age, but they are not usually cause for concern:
- Taking longer than usual to remember someone’s name
- Blanking on the name of a place
- Remembering the word later, even if you don’t need it anymore
- Responding more slowly in conversation
- Experiencing more difficulty finding the word when you’re tired, distracted, stressed or multitasking
When Are Word-Finding Challenges Concerning?
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Word-finding challenges become concerning when they happen more frequently. If you’re noticing some of the following issues daily, or if they’re regularly impacting your conversations, you might benefit from speaking with your doctor.
- Difficulty retrieving familiar words (e.g., your son’s name or common nouns)
- Using the wrong word for something (e.g., substituting “phone” for “table”)
- Challenges that impact your daily activities (e.g., work meetings, dinner with friends, scheduling appointments)
- Challenges that co-occur with other difficulties, such as forgetting to take medications, paying the bills or getting lost while you’re driving
- Inability to follow the flow of a conversation or instructions from a doctor
- Increased frequency of not finding the right word (e.g., daily or several times a week)
Strategies to Help With Word Finding
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Whether word-finding challenges are age-related or a true sign of cognitive decline, various strategies can help with word retrieval.
- Describe the person if you can’t recall their name (e.g., to describe Albert Einstein, you might say, “The famous scientist with the wild gray hair.”)
- Describe the function (e.g., for “glucose monitor” you could say, “You know, the thing we use to check my sugar.”)
- Name what it goes with (e.g., for “mustard” you could say, “Can you grab the one that isn’t ketchup?”)
- Think of what it starts with (e.g., for "broccoli" you might say, "The green vegetable that starts with a B.")
- Wait a minute. Sometimes giving yourself extra time can be all you need.
- Reduce distractions. If you’re trying to give your partner detailed information while the TV is on, you might have more trouble finding the right word than if you turn the TV off to focus more easily.
When to See a Speech Therapist
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Talk to your doctor! Your doctor can help you decide if changes to your word-finding abilities are age-related or cause for concern. If your doctor feels these changes require intervention, they might refer you to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). An SLP can help determine what’s typical and provide strategies or exercises to help with word retrieval. You may participate in one-on-one speech therapy sessions with an SLP and receive guidance for practicing word finding at home and in your community.
Meet Our Expert
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Jaclyn Schneider, MA, CCC-SLP, is a senior speech-language pathologist at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Northbrook Outpatient Center. Jaclyn has been a practicing speech-language pathologist for nearly 15 years, working primarily in the adult outpatient setting. Jaclyn treats patients with a variety of diagnoses, including stroke, brain injury and neurological disorders, among others. She lives in Chicago’s northern suburbs with her husband, two boys and their dog.
