What is social communication?
Social communication, also known as pragmatic language, is using language to interact effectively and appropriately with others. This includes skills like using eye contact, asking questions to engage others in conversation, and using appropriate gestures and facial expressions to convey emotions.
Pragmatic language also involves taking perspective, which simply means thinking about how other people think. We must be able to take perspective to solve problems, work well with others, and understand how people form opinions about us.
Individuals diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, nonverbal learning disorders, and high functioning autism often display difficulties with pragmatic language skills. Children with language delays may also exhibit social communication problems.
How can these challenges impact social and academic achievement?
Children with pragmatic delays often experience difficulties solving math story problems. They may not be able to comprehend the plot of a story or make inferences about characters’ motivations and feelings. These children may seem to lack empathy for others, and they may have difficult initiating friendships and maintaining them.
