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Social communication difficulties affect how a person uses and understands language in social situations.
This can include challenges with conversation, interpreting tone or body language, and forming friendships.
These difficulties can appear on their own or as part of another condition such as autism, ADHD, or developmental language disorder (DLD).
Children and young people with social communication difficulties may:
Check signs of social communication difficulties
Learn how to recognise when conversation and interaction skills need support.
Social communication differences may be linked to:
Early assessment and consistent support can help children build confidence and understanding in social settings.
Learn what causes social communication difficulties
Understand how language, emotion and environment interact in communication.
Assessment is usually led by a Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) and may include:
Diagnosis may identify Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SCD) or overlapping needs.
Schools and tutors can help by:
Pupils with significant needs may require SEN support or an EHCP including therapy sessions.
Helpful strategies include:
