Condition : Social communication difficulties

If your child has trouble following the 'rules’ and cues of social communication like words or body language, they may have a social communication disorder (SCD).

SCD can be described as pragmatic language disorder. Pragmatics are the ways we understand and use language in social situations.

Verbal skills include changing the way we speak, depending on who we’re speaking to and taking turns in a conversation.

Body language, facial expressions, and eye contact are examples of non-verbal skills.

Signs you may notice

Although your child may be able to speak complex sentences, this doesn’t mean they understand how to communicate effectively.

You may notice that they:

• make off-topic contributions to conversations
• don’t give background information when talking to someone new
• have trouble noticing hand gestures or facial expressions 
• read something well, but don’t fully understand its meaning
• talk too casually to a teacher, or too formally with other children
• go into long speeches without noticing the other person's interest 
• find it hard to start, keep, and end conversations
• understand language in a literal way and can’t recognise sarcasm or common sayings (idioms)
• lack imaginative play and language

These challenges can make it hard for your child to connect with people and make friends. This can affect their self-esteem and confidence.

Social communication skills can be improved at any age, so there’s no such thing as it being ‘too late’ to seek help.

SCD is not related to intelligence or problems with the mechanics of speaking, such as pronunciation.

SCD can be present from birth with no clear connection to other problems. It can also be a feature of another condition, such as:

• autism or ADHD
• learning disability
• a specific learning difficulty (SpLD), such as dyslexia
• developmental delay
• brain injury or stroke

Visit our condition pages for more information.

• Conditions and services
• Neurodevelopmental conditions
• Learning Disability Services