How Pragmatic Language Disorders Present

Difficulties with receptive, expressive, and/or pragmatic language can exist independently or co-exist with other disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental delay, or specific learning disability. Language development delays are one of the first signs of ASD (Mody & Belliveau, 2013). Specifically, children with ASD  have difficulty understanding and using pragmatic, receptive, and expressive language.

Because  children with ASD have difficulty with pragmatic skills, it is important to consider that social communication abilities will present differently for a child with ASD. Social communication may be more task-driven (e.g., demands, protests) instead of social in nature ( Mody & Belliveau, 2013) . Since we learn language through socializing, some of the precursors of language (e.g., joint attention) may be impacted by ASD as well.

It can be worrisome when a child is not engaging in social interactions as expected. Some pragmatic language difficulties can be spotted early on (e.g., lack of joint attention), while others may be observed once the child begins talking. Some signs that can indicate the possible presence of a pragmatic language disorder include:

• Not reciprocating nonverbal language, such as a smile  
• Preference for objects/independent play versus social interactions
• Difficulty with initiating and maintaining conversations
• Trouble understanding non-literal and figurative language

Here are the some tips to foster social skills in children:

1. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Model Social Behavior

– Be a Role Model: Demonstrate positive social interactions in your daily life. Children learn a lot by observing adults. It can help to explicitly explain social interactions, too. For example: When we are greeting someone we know, it’s nice to ask, “how are you?” It makes people feel good and shows that you care about their feelings.

2. 🗣️ Teach Specific Social Skills

– Practice Greetings and Eye Contact: Teach children how to greet others, introduce themselves, and maintain appropriate eye contact during conversations.

3. 👫 Encourage Playdates

-Organize and Monitor Playdates: Arrange regular playdates with peers and be available to guide and mediate interactions as needed.

4. 📚 Use Social Stories and Role-Playing

– Create and Discuss Scenarios: Write or find social stories and role-play different social situations to practice appropriate responses and outcomes.

5. 🏃‍♀️ Join Group Activities

– Enroll in Clubs or Teams: Encourage participation in group activities like sports, scouts, or art classes to build social skills in a structured setting.

6. ❤️ Teach Empathy and Communication

– Discuss Emotions and Active Listening: Talk about recognizing emotions in oneself and others, and teach the importance of active listening and expressing thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully.