Social (pragmatic) communication disorder is characterized by the persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication as manifested by the following:
- Deficits in using communication for social purposes (e.g., greeting, sharing information) that is appropriate for the social context
- Impairment of the ability to change communication to match content or the needs of the listener, such as speaking differently in formal and informal settings, talking differently to a child than to an adult, and avoiding use of overly formal language
- Difficulties following rules for conversation and storytelling such as taking turns in conversation, rephrasing when misunderstood, and knowing how to use verbal and nonverbal signals to regulate interaction
- Difficulties understanding what is not explicitly stated (e.g., making inferences) and non literal or ambiguous meanings of language (e.g., idioms, humor, metaphors, multiple meanings that depend on the context for interpretation)
Adults with this disorder have difficulty with pragmatics. That is, the area of linguistics that dictates the social use of language and communication, and how meaning is created and interpreted in verbal and nonverbal interactions. Adults with this disorder are not impaired in understanding word structure or grammar, or in general cognitive abilities. They may demonstrate the following symptoms:
- Little interest in social interactions
- Go off topic or monopolize conversations
- Not adapt language to different listeners or situations
- Fail to give background information when speaking to an unfamiliar person
- Not understand how to properly greet people
- Unable to request information or gain attention
- Tendency to be overly literal and not understand sarcasm
- Trouble understanding facial expressions