Social Communication Disorder

What it is:
Social Communication Disorder (SCD) is a condition where students have difficulty using verbal and nonverbal communication appropriately in social contexts. Unlike autism, there are no restricted interests or repetitive behaviors, but pragmatic language deficits affect learning and social interactions.

What to look out for:

• Trouble following conversational rules, like taking turns or staying on topic.

• Difficulty understanding idioms, jokes, or sarcasm.

• Challenges adapting language to different settings or audiences.

• Misinterpreting social cues, leading to awkward interactions.

Real-life example:
During a classroom discussion, a student may respond with unrelated information or fail to notice that peers are trying to change the subject. Instructions given verbally in groups may be misunderstood, even though they can perform well with one-on-one guidance.

How it affects learning:
Pragmatic language deficits can hinder participation in discussions, group work, and collaborative projects. Misunderstandings may affect peer relationships and confidence. Academic performance may be impacted if verbal instructions dominate lessons.

Best learning strategies:

• Provide explicit teaching of social rules and conversational norms.

• Use visual supports, written instructions, and role-playing activities.

• Allow one-on-one or small-group guidance for complex tasks.

• Encourage practice of perspective-taking and understanding context.

• Collaborate with speech-language pathologists for tailored interventions.