Which of the following is one of the most common language difficulties that older adults experience?

• A. Complete loss of grammatical understanding
• B. Sudden onset of stuttering in all conversations
• C. Increased difficulty in word retrieval (tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon)
• D. Inability to comprehend simple sentences

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the question is about common language difficulties experienced by older adults, focusing on typical changes rather than rare or severe impairments.
2. Recall that complete loss of grammatical understanding and inability to comprehend simple sentences are generally not common in normal aging but may indicate neurological conditions.
3. Recognize that sudden onset of stuttering is uncommon in older adults and usually related to other factors, not typical aging.
4. Identify that increased difficulty in word retrieval, often called the 'tip-of-the-tongue' phenomenon, is a well-documented and frequent language difficulty in normal aging.
5. Conclude that among the options, the increased difficulty in word retrieval best represents a common language challenge faced by older adults.