Social Communication Disorder
in Baton Rouge, LA
What Is Social (Pragmatic) Communication
Social (pragmatic) communication refers to the use of language socially to express your ideas, understand others, and navigate social interactions effectively. It does not have to do with understanding words but understanding tone of voice, facial expressions, body language, and other social cues.
Examples of social (pragmatic) communication include:
- Using gestures, body language, and eye contact
- Interpreting sarcasm, humor, and implied meanings
- Following social rules in different settings
- Recognizing emotions based on facial expressions or tone of voice
What Is Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder?
Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) is a developmental disorder that leads to difficulties using language for social purposes. Children with SCD may struggle to understand social cues, engage in conversations, interpret non-literal language, or follow social rules and norms.
Signs of Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
The common signs of SCD include:
- Difficulty understanding social cues, such as facial expressions and body language
- Limited ability to initiate or carry on conversations
- Challenges making or keeping friends
- Inappropriate use of language in social contexts
- Difficulty understanding non-literal language, such as sarcasm or humor
- Challenges in understanding and following social rules
What’s the Difference Between Social Communication Disorder and Autism?
Even though children with SCD can have the same social communication challenges as children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), these conditions are different. Children with ASD do tend to have trouble with social communication, but they also have challenges with repetitive behaviors, intense focus on specific interests, and even sensitivity to sensory input from the environment like bright lights or loud noises. Children with SCD on the other hand struggle specifically with social communication.
How We Address Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder
At Dynamic Therapy Specialists, we take a holistic approach to pediatric therapy. Rather than simply teaching children how to compensate for the skills they struggle with, we take a bottom-up approach by focusing on remediation first. By evaluating the foundational areas of your child’s development, we can identify and address the root causes of their social communication challenges.
Think of it this way: you have to learn to walk before you can learn to run. It’s not that you can’t learn how to run, but if you never learned how to walk first, you’ll be missing the basics that you need to support learning how to run. By prioritizing skill remediation over compensation, we empower children to build a strong foundation for future growth and development.
Schedule an Evaluation Today
If your child is struggling with social communication, our team at Dynamic Therapy Specialists will go above and beyond to help. Call us at (225) 767-5032 to schedule an evaluation, and let’s work together to improve your child’s quality of life.