What is social communication disorder?

When we communicate, in general, we try to adapt what we say to the context (and also how we say it). We do not speak the same to our teacher as we do to our partner, for example. When difficulties appear in the management of these situations, we speak of a possible social communication disorder (SUD).

But what exactly is this disorder and what are its symptoms? Is it a childhood disorder? What does it imply and what does it not imply? We tell you everything!

What is pragmatics and what does it imply?

Before knowing what social communication disorder is, it is important to talk about pragmatics, the area of ​​language affected. People who do not have this disorder, to a greater or lesser extent, make pragmatic use of language. What does this mean? What are they capable of:

Use the language correctly, so that it is useful or effective in what they want to achieve. Adapt to the personality of the interlocutor (for example, they do not speak the same to their best friend as they do to their boss). Take into account social norms ( for example: they respect the other while they are speaking and do not interrupt them).

Now imagine that you don’t know how to do all this or that you have many difficulties doing it. This is what happens to people with a social communication disorder (a disorder that is diagnosed mainly in children, because it appears at an early age). We tell you more about him!

What is social communication disorder?

Social communication disorder (SUD) It is included, as a new category, in the latest edition of the DSM (that is, the DSM-5; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Specifically, it is included in communication disorders. But what does this disorder consist of? Which are your principal characteristics?

The DSM-5 stipulates 4 criteria to diagnose a social communication disorder, these being the following:

Difficulties in the use of verbal and non-verbal communication.Difficulties that cause functional limitations in communication. Symptoms manifest at an early age. It is not attributable to a sensory, motor or neurological deficit.

How to evaluate TCS?

Thus, in TCS, the altered language area is pragmatics; Therefore, it is an essential area to evaluate. One of the most common tests to assess pragmatics in schoolchildren (adapted and validated to the Spanish language) is the Children’s Communication Checklist (CCC) of Bishop.

Beyond that, also It will be essential to carry out an extensive evaluation of all areas of language of the child. On the other hand, an interview must be carried out with the child and the family (including anamnesis), an evaluation of intelligence, neurological tests to rule out sensory or organic deficits, etc.

What does TCS entail?

As we see, The main affected language area of ​​social communication disorder is pragmatics. Pragmatics is a component of language, which has to do with adapting to each situation we experience to ensure that we are understood when we communicate. Basically it has to do with the ability to adapt our language to the environment. Thus, in TCS there are difficulties when it comes to using language in a way that is appropriate or appropriate to the context.

There are no problems in comprehension or emission of language, but when it comes to using it correctly according to the moment and the context.

On the other hand, there appears a great difficulty understanding metaphorical or implied meaning of the things that are said. There are also difficulties when changing the way of explaining something, to regulate a conversation or interaction, to respect turns to speak or to gesture. That is, TCS affects both verbal and non-verbal communication, as we will see in the next point.

Communication difficulties

Children with a social communication disorder show difficulties when using communication (both verbal and non-verbal). These limitations, as we saw in the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria, cause interference in their daily lives, and can also cause discomfort.

Let’s think that communication is always important, but it is especially so at an early age, when the first bonds are established and when children (and especially adolescents) give great importance to social relationships.

If communication is compromised by SUD, this can cause suffering in children because they may feel isolated or excluded, not understood, different from the rest, etc. Let’s think that Your main means of communication (language) is alteredso the consequences will be evident on a social and personal level.

What does social communication disorder not involve?

In social communication disorder, as we have seen, there are no difficulties in understanding the language or expressing it (neither to articulate nor to speak “well”).

Sometimes it may seem that the child does not understand what they are saying, because they say things that have nothing to do with what is being talked about, for example, but the truth is that they understand everything. What is difficult for the child is to adapt what he says to the context.

Differential diagnosis: what is it not?

Social communication disorder It is not the same as autism or other typical childhood disorders. Thus, it is important to differentiate social communication disorder from other disorders that also have pragmatic involvement, such as:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): pragmatic deficit is common in both groups, but in SUD it is more severe and coherence and comprehension are more affected. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD): the difference is that autistic children show restricted interests and stereotyped motor behaviors, and in TCS these do not appear.

Social communication disorder should not be confused with other language disorders or with certain neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism or Asperger syndrome). As we have seen, it is a disorder that exclusively affects pragmatics, although the truth is that this It has many repercussions on communication and social relationships.

Because? Because a poor use of pragmatics makes it difficult to properly use verbal language but also non-verbal language (gestures, distance from the interlocutor, tone of voice, respect for the speaking turn, etc.). Diagnosing it early and starting a psychotherapeutic process as soon as possible can be beneficial actions to improve the symptoms of this disorder.

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