Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

A Social Communication Disorder is characterized by primary difficulty with the social use of language and communication. The person may have difficulty understanding and following social rules of verbal and nonverbal communication, changing language according to the needs of the listener or situation and following unwritten rules for conversations and storytelling. Oftentimes a young person with a Social Communication Disorder has difficulty greeting and sharing information in a manner that is appropriate for the context and may also have difficulty understanding what is not explicitly stated such as making inferences in conversation. The Social Communication Disorder addresses specifically the difficulties with social/emotional reciprocity and the ability to read others at an emotional level. At Silber Psychological Services, our child psychologists and clinical social workers provide individual therapy and social skills training to address the communication disorder. Learning to read and respond to verbal as well as nonverbal language and learning to initiate and sustain conversations are regularly addressed.