Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsDiagnosisSCD vs. AutismWhen to Call a ProviderTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Diagnosis
SCD vs. Autism
When to Call a Provider
Treatment
A speech-language pathologist can use a variety of social-skills training methods to help children with SCD be more socially communicative.
HistorySocial communication disorder became an official diagnosis in 2013 when the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published.Prior to that, children with these symptoms were often diagnosed withpervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), a now-defunct “catchall” diagnosis used for those whose symptoms did not clearly point to another related disorder.
History
Social communication disorder became an official diagnosis in 2013 when the fifth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) was published.Prior to that, children with these symptoms were often diagnosed withpervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), a now-defunct “catchall” diagnosis used for those whose symptoms did not clearly point to another related disorder.
What Is Social Communication Disorder?
A child with SCD will typically have no problems understanding the meaning of individual words, developing a vocabulary, and comprehending grammar. They will, however, struggle with “pragmatic” language—the use of language to communicate appropriately in social situations. Someone with SCD, for example, may not understand how to greet someone properly, how to take turns in a conversation, or how to know when a situation requires a formal versus a familiar tone.
Causes of SCDThere is no known cause of social communication disorder. However, a child is at higher risk if there is a family history of autism, other types of communication disorders, or a specific learning disability. Social communication disorder can also be present along with other disorders, such as speech delay,attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behavioral problems.
Causes of SCD
There is no known cause of social communication disorder. However, a child is at higher risk if there is a family history of autism, other types of communication disorders, or a specific learning disability. Social communication disorder can also be present along with other disorders, such as speech delay,attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and behavioral problems.
Symptoms of Social Communication Disorder
Symptoms of SCD include difficulties with:
Social communication disorder can impact many areas of a person’s life and get in the way of participating in social situations, developing friendships, achieving academic success, and succeeding at jobs.
Diagnosing Social Communication Disorder
It isn’t possible to diagnose SCD in a child who is either too young to use spoken language or who is nonverbal; the child must be verbal and relatively high-functioning. A diagnosis of SCD is usually made after age 4 to 5 years old when the child is old enough to use spoken language.
Some methods of diagnosing SCD include:
Other medical and neurological conditions that can affect speech must be ruled out, such as ASD, intellectual developmental disorder, global developmental delay, or other disorders.
Social communication disorder can also co-occur with other communication disorders, including:
How Social Communication Disorder Differs From Autism
Like SCD, autism involves difficulty with social communication skills. The key difference is that autistic people alsoexhibitrepetitive behaviorsor intensely fixed interests, or they have done so in the past.
Autistic people might demonstrate the following traits that those with social communication disorder do not:
On the other hand, children with SCD have only social communication challenges. So, in order to arrive at a diagnosis of SCD, autism must be ruled out. Social communication disorder cannot be diagnosed in conjunction with ASD and vice versa.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Parents and teachers can recognize signs that speech may not be developing in a typical way. Often, pediatricians are an excellent first line of defense. If you notice your child is displaying symptoms of social communication disorder, schedule a visit with your child’s pediatrician. Make some notes beforehand to gather all your thoughts and concerns.
Depending on their thoughts, your child’s pediatrician may refer them to specialist services, such as neuropsychiatric testing or speech-language pathologists. If your child is school-age, the school might also be able to help connect you to speech-language services.
Treating Social Communication Disorder
The main treatment for social communication disorder is speech-language therapy.Speech-language therapists use a variety of treatment modalities and methods, and can work with kids on conversation skills either one-on-one or in small groups.It’s also critical for teachers and parents to reinforce these skills with opportunities to use them in school and at home.
The key skills for children with SCD to learn include:
How the “Social Stories” Method Can Help Children Learn Social Skills
Summary
Since SCD is a relatively new diagnosis, more research needs to be done to determine how effective therapies are over the long term.SCD is distinct from autism, but both can present in similar ways. If you suspect your child may have symptoms of social communication disorder, ask your pediatrician to refer you to a speech-language pathologist for an evaluation. Getting an accurate diagnosis, whether it’s SCD or autism, will help your child get the appropriate services they need to improve their social interactions.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Child Mind Institute.Quick guide to social communication disorder.
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American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC.Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.About autism spectrum disorder.Gibson J, Adams C, Lockton E, Green J.Social communication disorder outside autism? A diagnostic classification approach to delineating pragmatic language impairment, high functioning autism and specific language impairment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013;54(11):1186-97. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12079Vahia VN.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5: A quick glance.Indian J Psychiatry.2013;55(3):220-3. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.117131
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC.
Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.About autism spectrum disorder.
Gibson J, Adams C, Lockton E, Green J.Social communication disorder outside autism? A diagnostic classification approach to delineating pragmatic language impairment, high functioning autism and specific language impairment.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2013;54(11):1186-97. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12079
Vahia VN.Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5: A quick glance.Indian J Psychiatry.2013;55(3):220-3. doi:10.4103/0019-5545.117131
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