Understanding Social Communication Disorder: A Complete Guide
A social (pragmatic) communication disorder is a problem that affects an individual’s ability to communicate with others. Social communication disorder can significantly impact someone’s quality of life, affecting personal and professional relationships.
This comprehensive guide provides information about social communication disorder, including symptoms and treatment options.
What is Social Communication Disorder?
Signs and Symptoms of Social Communication Disorder
Causes of Social Communication Disorder
Speech Therapy for Social Communication Disorder
5 Tips for Supporting an Individual with Social Communication Disorder
What is Social Communication Disorder?
Social communication disorder (SCD) is a condition that affects a person’s ability to socialize and communicate with others.
The disorder affects verbal and nonverbal communication skills. It is characterized by impairments in initiating and sustaining a conversation and problems with social skills such as sharing interests, making eye contact, and understanding body language.
Social communication disorder often coexists with other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. SCD differs from other conditions that affect social communication, such as pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) — now known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). People with ASD have difficulty with social interactions but may excel in other areas, such as academics or special interests. People with ADHD may have trouble paying attention or controlling their impulses, making socializing difficult.
Signs and Symptoms of Social Communication Disorder
Social communication disorder (sometimes called pragmatic language impairment) can be challenging to spot because its symptoms may look like other conditions or may not be evident at first.
The symptoms of SCD can vary in severity and often appear in early childhood, around the time a child starts school. Parents are typically the first to identify an issue with the child's social communication skills.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the criteria for social communication disorder include the following:
experiencing social communication difficulties, like greeting people or sharing information
challenges adjusting communication to match the social contexts or the needs of the listener
difficulty following rules of conversation and storytelling (like taking turns in conversation, rephrasing when misunderstood, and using nonverbal or unspoken, communication)
challenges decoding what’s not verbally stated and nonliteral meanings of language (like idioms, humor, and metaphors)
You may notice that a person with SCD has trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication, including:
Trouble following conversations, especially if they are fast-paced or involve more than one person
Difficulty understanding jokes, sarcasm, or irony
Trouble understanding verbal and nonverbal communication cues such as body language or tone of voice
Problems with social skills, such as making eye contact, taking turns talking, or starting a conversation
Struggling to make and keep friends
Avoiding social situations or withdrawing from others
Difficulty with change, such as having a hard time adapting to a new school or moving to a new house
Trouble talking about their feelings
Challenges with appropriate greetings, such as saying hello or introducing themselves
If you or your loved one displays these signs of SCD, speak to your doctor or mental health professional. They can help you determine whether the issue is SCD or another condition.
Causes of Social Communication Disorder
The exact cause of social communication disorders is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
Diagnostic and statistical manual research has shown a vital genetic component to the condition, which may be passed down from parents to their children.
There is currently no cure for social communication disorder. However, many treatments and therapies are available to help manage its symptoms.
Speech Therapy for Social Communication Disorder
The most common treatment for social communication disorder is speech therapy. Speech therapy can help children, teenagers, and adults with SCD improve conversation skills.
A speech language pathologist may use role-play, social groups, video modeling, and computer-based instruction to deliver effective speech therapy. In certain cases, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) may supplement or compensate for impairments in spoken language, understanding, or written communication skills.
Speech therapists may use a variety of techniques to help individuals with SCD, including:
Social skills training
Social skills training involves teaching the individual how to interact with others. It may involve role-playing exercises, instruction, and feedback to practice new social skills.
Social skills training focuses on helping an individual improve in the following areas:
Social language skills (pragmatics): Social language includes facial expressions, body language, voice pitch and tone, and respecting and understanding personal boundaries. The therapy may involve activities such as storytelling and conversation starters to help children practice using pragmatic language in social settings.
Emotional cues: Emotional cues are verbal and nonverbal signals that let us know how a person is feeling.
Language Processing: Language processing is using language to express yourself (expressive language or understanding and interpreting a spoken message (receptive language).
Social skills groups
Social skills groups (also known as peer-mediated or peer-implemented interventions) involve bringing together one or more peers with similar communication issues to practice and interact in a supportive environment. The speech pathologist will be present to help guide the activities, provide feedback, and give support as needed. Peer-mediated groups can be used across various ages, including school-age children and adults.
This therapy can foster positive relationships and practice social skills in a real-world setting.
Other types of intervention for social communication disorder
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
CBT can help the individual with SCD eliminate the negative thoughts and behaviors that can interfere with social interactions.
Medication
Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe medication to treat conditions that often occur alongside SCD, such as anxiety or ADHD.
5 Tips for Supporting an Individual with Social Communication Disorder
If you or a loved one has a social communication disorder, there are a few things you can do to help them cope with the condition. Here are some tips:
Seek professional help
There are many effective treatments for social communication disorder. Encourage the person with SCD to seek help from a doctor or mental health professional. A therapist can provide tools and strategies for dealing with stress and anxiety. They can also offer guidance on best supporting the individual with SCD.
Create a support network
Many support groups are available for people with a social communication disorder and their families. These groups can provide valuable information and support. Help the person with SCD find a local support group.
There are also online resources available, such as Facebook groups, that can provide a sense of community.
Be patient and understanding
It’s important to be understanding of the challenges that come with a social communication disorder. Showing patience and understanding will help the person with SCD feel supported. Try not to get frustrated if things don’t go as planned—every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow together as a family.
Educate yourself
Learning about SCD can help you better understand the condition and how it affects your loved one. There are many resources available online and in libraries.
These are just a few tips for supporting a person with a social communication disorder. For more information, please speak to a doctor or mental health professional.
Encourage social activities
While it may be difficult at first, encourage the person with SCD to participate in social activities. This will help them practice their social skills and build confidence. Many community groups and activities can be suited to their interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between ASD and SCD?
The main difference between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Social Communication Disorder (SCD) lies in their diagnostic criteria. While individuals with ASD experience challenges in social communication alongside restricted interests and repetitive behaviors, those with SCD primarily struggle with social communication difficulties without the presence of repetitive behaviors or restrictive interests.
2. Is social communication disorder curable?
SCD is not necessarily curable in the traditional sense, but it can be effectively managed and improved with early intervention, therapy, and support. Speech-language therapy and social skills training can help individuals with SCD develop strategies to navigate social interactions and improve communication abilities.
3. How do I know if my child has a communication disorder?
Recognizing signs of a communication disorder in children involves observing their speech and language development milestones. Telltale signs may include limited vocabulary, difficulty understanding or following instructions, struggles with social interaction or eye contact, and delays in speech production or clarity.
4. What are the red flags for speech delay?
Red flags for speech delay in children may include limited babbling or vocalizations by 12 months, lack of single words by 16-18 months, inability to follow simple instructions by 24 months, persistent difficulty being understood by strangers by 3 years old, and significant speech errors that persist beyond the expected age range.
How Connected Speech Pathology Can Help
Connected Speech Pathology can help an individual with SCD in many ways. We provide individualized therapy sessions tailored to each client’s specific needs. Our therapists are experienced in working with individuals with a social communication disorder and can provide the guidance and support you need to thrive.
By seeking professional help and encouraging social activities, you can create a support network and help them reach their full potential. Connected Speech Pathology is available to help you every step of the way.
Our services are provided online, making our therapy convenient and easily accessible. Our speech-language pathologists are experts with masters or doctoral degrees in communication sciences and disorders.
Schedule a free consultation if you want to learn more about how we can help.
About the Author
Allison Geller is a speech-language pathologist (SLP) and the owner of Connected Speech Pathology. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Florida in Speech-Language Pathology. Allison has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including telepractice, acute care, outpatient rehabilitation, and private practice. She has worked extensively with individuals across the lifespan including toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and adults. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including receptive/expressive language disorders, articulation disorders, voice disorders, fluency disorders, brain injury, and swallowing disorders.
Allison served as the clinical coordinator of research in aphasia in the Neurological Institute at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. She is on the Board of Directors for the Corporate Speech Pathology Network (CORSPAN), a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) certified clinician, and a proud Family Empowerment Scholarship/Step-Up For Students provider. Allison is passionate about delivering high quality-effective treatment remotely because it’s convenient and easy to access. What sets us apart from other online speech therapy options is—Allison takes great care to hire the very best SLPs from all over the country.
