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Social (pragmatic) communication disorder, according to the DSM-5, is a mental disorder characterized by individuals having marked challenges with understanding the pragmatic aspects of communication, both in nonverbal and verbal communication. This study guide will aim to equip the learners with the knowledge of the disorder from symptoms, diagnosis, comorbidities, management and treatment, and ethical and education considerations. The study guide for the social (pragmatic) communication disorder is divided into 5 modules. Module 1 will focus on disorder symptoms, signs, prognosis, and development course. Module 2 will focus on diagnostics and differential diagnoses. Module 3 will focus on social communication disorder incidences, comorbidities, and considerations related to culture, gender, and age, among other incidence factors. Module 4 will focus on the treatment and management of the social communication disorder, including both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments and the associated side effects of pharmacological treatments. Module 5 will focus on legal, ethical, and pertinent patient education considerations related to social (pragmatic) communication disorders. The study guide development is consistent with the guidelines provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Signs and Symptoms
Showing difficulties with communication within social settings or socialization (Flax et al., 2019),
Inability to suit or adjust communication with context,
Difficulties in overall use of verbal and nonverbal communication (Swineford et al., 2014),
Inability to sustain a conversation,
Difficulties in understanding nonverbal communication or nonliteral meanings in language, including humor, sarcasm, and metaphors (Flax et al., 2019).
Difficulties comprehending the course of a conversation,
Difficulties with understanding or maintaining sentence grammar and lexical semantics.
Other signs and symptoms may include:
Avoiding social interactions,
Avoiding eye contact,
Difficulties adhering to instructions,
Delayed speech development,
Inability to understand emotions.
A child may develop normally with sufficient language and communication skills,
Semantic pragmatic issues can be identified between the ages of 4 and 5 years (Topal et al., 2018).
Social communication disorder cannot be diagnosed before the age of 4,
SCD can first be diagnosed as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) however, its development into adult age differs from ASD as it is only characterized by the ability to keep close relationships (Swineford et al., 2014).
Diagnostics and Lab
SCD can be diagnosed through the use of interdisciplinary teams, including:
Speech-language pathologist (SLP)
Parents and caregivers,
Teachers, pediatricians, and psychologists.
Diagnostics focus on the evaluation of communication for social purposes generally and through specialized evaluations.
The link between social communication disorder and other developmental disorders such as autism and Asperger’s syndrome.
Differential Diagnoses
SCD can be confused with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disorders during the diagnosis process, as the disorder occurs with other disorders (Hilt & Nussbaum, 2016). The DSM-5 advises differential diagnoses for SCD to focus on the following signs and symptoms in the absence of other developmental delays (Swineford et al., 2014):
Functional limitations in effective communication,
Social participation and nature of participation,
Social relationships,
Engagement in academic activities in and out of the classroom.
Incidence
As a newly diagnosed category of mental disorder, the prevalence rate of social communication disorder cannot be readily developed, however:
Based on the DSM-5 diagnostic guidelines, 7.5% of children globally are prone to pragmatic impairments
4 in every 5 children bet
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