Social Communication Disorder: What Do You Need to Know?

For many people, life goes on normally, without any hiccups or forks in the road. We work, we play, and we balance our health and leisure. However, for some people, life is challenging due to a range of issues, such as physical or mental disorders. Some people have diabetes, others have heart disease, and others still have mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or major mood disorders.

Some people have what is called social communication disorder (SCD), which is characterised by persistent difficulties with the use of verbal and nonverbal language for social purposes. Primary difficulties may be in social interaction, social understanding, pragmatics, language processing, or any combination of the above.

This article will discuss social communication disorder: what it is, who it affects, signs and symptoms, and treatment options. So, continue reading to learn more.

What is Social Communication Disorder?

As defined by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), social communication disorder is characterized by “persistent difficulties with the use of verbal and nonverbal language for social purposes.”

While this condition is usually diagnosed in childhood, adults may also have the condition. A person with social communication disorder might have difficulties with things such as social understanding, social interactions, pragmatics, and/or processing language normally. They might have communication difficulties with the following:

Nonverbal Language

• Understanding nonverbal cues from others (such as body language and facial expressions used to communicate).
• Picking up on nonverbal cues appropriately.

Verbal Language

• Engaging in conversation appropriately (such as taking turns to listen and speak, as well as staying on topic).
• Adjusting their communication style according to various social contexts (for example, who they’re speaking with or the environment they’re communicating in).
• Understanding and/or telling stories.
• Understanding and/or using different tones of voice to convey certain emotions.
• Understanding and using figurative language, such as metaphors and similes.
• Making inferences or drawing conclusions from something that isn’t explicitly stated.

When interacting with someone with SCD, you might notice they give too much information about a certain topic, have trouble staying on topic, or stand too close to someone when talking, with no understanding of personal space.

Who Can Diagnose Social Communication Disorder? 

Someone who has completed the requisite SLP online programs and is qualified can diagnose this condition. SLP stands for Speech-Language Pathology or Speech-Language Pathologists. SLPs are trained to work with people of all ages who are experiencing communication and/or swallowing disorders as a result of illness, injury, or disability. Speech pathologists may work in a range of education and health sectors. They play a primary role in the assessment of social communication disorder, as well as other neurodivergent disorders such as autism.

Who it Affects

As mentioned above, SCD is typically diagnosed in childhood. It is sometimes misdiagnosed as an autism spectrum disorder, which is why seeking a diagnosis from a qualified SLP is incredibly important to ensure that your child receives the right support and treatment for their disorder. 

Signs and Symptoms of SCD

Children with social communication disorder have trouble communicating socially. For example, smiling and saying ‘hello’ when they meet someone or greet a friend, making eye contact while interacting with someone, or showing something interesting to another person, like pointing out something interesting. They may also communicate in different ways with different people, speaking differently to their children, peers, and adults, or communicating differently in various settings.

Kids with SCD may also struggle to follow social “rules” and norms, such as shaking hands or taking turns during a conversation or in class. They might also have difficulty understanding and taking non-verbal cues, such as picking up when someone is bored or wants to change the topic of the conversation. Furthermore, they typically have trouble with inferring sarcasm or wit from verbal communication or interpreting phrases such as “I’m over the moon” or other common metaphors used in speech. 

Children with SCD may also have more general behavioural or emotional difficulties. For example, they might feel anxious, worried, or overwhelmed, particularly in social settings. They may also find it hard to concentrate or pay attention in class, or have difficulty managing their emotions appropriately, leading to meltdowns when they’re emotional or overwhelmed. 

Support for People with SCD

With the appropriate treatment and support from qualified professionals, children with SCD can improve their social communication skills and reduce their distress. 

Speech therapy can help children with SCD. During individual speech therapy sessions, the SLP will support the child in developing strategies for improving their understanding and use of specific social communication skills that they might struggle with. The child can then practice using these strategies during social interactions in various environments, like home, social settings, and school.

Parents should be encouraged to participate in therapy sessions with their children and continue helping them use the tools they learn in speech therapy to communicate more appropriately and functionally during social interactions.

Group therapy programs, such as social skills training groups, can also help children with SCD practice using appropriate social skills during interactions with their peers. These groups, often led by an SLP, teach children with SCD to generalise their skills by engaging in group activities and role-playing different social scenarios within the program.

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