What is Pragmatic Language?

Social communication skills refer to the abilities and competencies that enable individuals to interact effectively and harmoniously with others in various social situations.

Pragmatic language refers to the social language skills that we use in our daily interactions with others.

Pragmatic language disorders, also referred to as social communication disorders, are conditions in which individuals experience difficulty communicating both verbally and non-verbally in social situations.

Social Communication Disorder Symptoms

Characteristics of a pragmatic language disorder or social communication disorder may include:

  • Speech and language delays
  • Difficulty understanding what others mean when they speak
  • Difficulty using language appropriately in social interactions
  • Lack of noticing or understanding non-verbal cues such as body language
  • Lack of understanding abstract language such as jokes, figures of speech and sarcasm
  • Failing to recognise and follow social rules for conversations such as taking turn talking, using and understanding body language

How Speech Therapy can help Improve Social Skills

Our speech therapist provides an assessment of pragmatic language skills and implements a variety of social skills speech therapy activities to meet the specific needs of the child.

Speech therapy helps build social communication skills including

Using language for different purposes:

  • Greeting (“Hello”, “Goodbye”)
  • Informing (“I am eating”)
  • Questioning (“Where are you going?”)
  • Requesting (“May I use the crayon?”)

Changing language based on the listener or situation:

  • Talking differently to a child compared to an adult
  • Talking in a classroom compared to talking in the playground
  • Giving more information to someone who doesn’t know the topic

Recognising and following social rules for conversations:

  • Taking turns when talking
  • Using and understanding non-verbal signals (gestures, body language, facial expressions, eye contact)
  • Spatial awareness
  • Introducing new topics

FAQs

What is a pragmatic language disorder?

A pragmatic language disorder is a condition in which an individual has difficulty communicating both verbally and non-verbally in social situations.

What are the symptoms of a social communication disorder?

People who have a social communication disorder (also known as a pragmatic language disorder) may experience difficulty:

  • Using language appropriately in social interactions,
  • Understanding and using non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and eye contact,
  • Following social conversation rules such as taking turns, and
  • Understanding abstract language such as jokes, figures of speech and sarcasm.
How can speech therapy help with social skills?

Speech therapy involves using social skills activities to develop social skills including using language for different purposes, changing language based on the listener or situation and recognising and using social rules for conversations. These skills empower individuals to communicate effectively in social settings.