Types of Communication Disorders

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms of Communication DisordersCauses of Communication DisordersDiagnosisTypes of Communication DisordersComorbiditiesAssessing SCDTreatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms of Communication Disorders

Causes of Communication Disorders

Diagnosis

Types of Communication Disorders

Comorbidities

Assessing SCD

Treatment

Close

Communication disorders (CD) are associated with difficulties in language, speech, verbal, andnonverbal communication.This includes impairments in either language comprehension, speech, social cues, facial expressions, gestures, or emotional perception.

Moreover, these verbal and nonverbal cues were not developed during childhood, as normally expected.

Symptoms of CDs usually lie on a spectrum of severity, in which impairments can be mild or more profound. They also tend to coexist with each other, in which an individual is diagnosed with multiple types of CDs.

Types of Speech Impediments

There are various types of CDs. Although they are different, most share common impairments in verbal and non-verbal communication, displaying difficulties in the following areas:

There is no definitive cause of CDs; however, genetic factors and things that affect brain development in the early developmental period can play a role.

For an individual to be diagnosed with a CD they must meet the diagnostic criteria stated in fifth edition of theThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)and other mental health classification books.

Social (pragmatic) communication disorder (SCD) was the most recent CD included in this diagnostic manual, in an effort to distinguish this isolated communication disorder from the requirement for social communication difficultiesandrestrictive/repetitive behaviors that are part of the current autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis.

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for Social Communication Disorder

According to the DSM-5, an individual meets the criteria for SCD if they display the following symptoms:

Social issues in verbal and nonverbal communication regarding:

Symptoms have been present since childhood and create difficulties in:

The final criterion is that an individual mustnotmeet the criteria for autism spectrum or other disorder.

Communication Disorders Are Mostly Diagnosed in Children

CDs can be diagnosed in both adults and children. Most research on social impairment, however, has been performed in toddlers, kids, and adolescents.

CDs are ideally recognized during childhood, during which time the child can receive therapy to help in developing communication and social skills.

Once an adult, it can be more difficult to discover and treat, since these impairments are no longer developmental concerns, but social habits that interfere with communication and societal norms.

Below are the types of communication disorders listed in the DSM-5:

Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder

Social communication disorder (SCD) or pragmatic coomunication disorder, consists of impairments with verbal and nonverbal communication specifically involved in social interaction. SCD does not impact language comprehension, such as grammar or punctuation.

Individuals who have SCD experience difficulties in the following areas of social communication:

Language Disorder

Language disorders (LD) consist of difficulties in the acquisition and use of language across different modalities such as spoken, written, or sign language.Individuals will most likely find it challenging to produce content that involves:

Speech Sound Disorders

Speech disorder is a persistent difficulty with producing speech sounds and challenges with articulating words fluently. It causes limitation in effective communication and being understood. To be diagnosed, the symptoms have to interfere with social, academic, or work performance. It needs to have its onset in early development and it can’t be due to medical conditions such as deafness, a cleft palate, or brain injury.

Childhood-onset Fluency Disorder

Childhood-onset fluency disorder is also known as stuttering. It occurs when a child’s speech is impacted in ways that interfere with normal fluency and pattern of speech. It can include:

The disturbance causes anxiety or limitations in social, academic, or work functioning. Although there can be the development of adult-onset fluency disorder, for this specific condition, the onset needs to be in the early developmental period and not due to a medical or neurological condition.

Unspecified Communication Disorder

Unspecified communication disorder applies to children who exhibit some of the symptoms that are characteristic of other CDs. However, children with unspecified communication disorder don’t meet the exact diagnostic criteria of any of the other communication disorders.

There are instances in which CDs can be present along with otherneurodevelopmental disorders.There can also be overlap, such as those withautism spectrum disorder (ASD), who specifically share common challenges with social communication—as do individuals who are diagnosed with SCD. However, there need to be other symptoms present to meet criteria for an ASD disorder.

SCD and other communication disorders commonly co-occur with other neurodevelopmental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Assessing Communication Disorders

It can sometimes be challenging to diagnose communication disorders. It can involve different professionals, including pediatricians, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and developmental psychologists.

Reports

Since it can often be difficult for clinicians to examine a child’s usual interaction in social settings, reports from parents and teachers are important in the assessment.

Parents and teachers assess the child’s communication and social interactions every day and report the behavior to the clinician.

There are checklist screening tools that both parents and teachers may complete.The clinician may observe and rate the child’s conversational andcommunication skills.

Observations

They also observe both verbal and nonverbal communication between the child and adults. They analyze how the child converses, asks questions, and responds to questions. Examiners additionally examine facial expressions, gestures, and eye movements.

Assessments

Clinicians use certain assessment measures to assess different aspects of a child’s communication skills. This may involve asking them to identify and interpret specific factors of stories and express these narratives coherently. These measures explore how the individual interprets indirect or figurative language; such as metaphors, humor, and idioms.

Treatment for communication disorders may include speech and language therapy and social skills training.

For example, in SCD these sessions may work to try to expand one’s knowledge of linguistics, concepts and storytelling. Interventions may seek to develop metapragmatic awareness (MPA) which is “the ability to identify explicitly and reflect upon pragmatic rules (MP explicitation).”

Speech-language therapists can facilitate sessions, in which they work on developing phonology and monopoly language acquisition.This helps individuals expand their speech and written language skills.

A Word From Verywell

If you or your child is displaying signs of a communication disorder, it’s best to speak to a doctor for a possible evaluation. It can be frustrating for an individual or loved one to experience a CD because symptoms may make it hard to express oneself and build relationships. However, there are treatment options available to enhance communication skills and help you feel more comfortable in social situations over time.

9 SourcesVerywell Mind 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.Definitions of communication disorders and variations.Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.ASHA Suppl. 1993;35(3 Suppl 10):40-41.Topal Z, Demir Samurcu N, Taskiran S, Tufan AE, Semerci B.Social communication disorder: a narrative review on current insights.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2039-2046. Published 2018 Aug 13. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121124Norbury CF. Practitioner review:Social (pragmatic) communication disorder conceptualization, evidence and clinical implications.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014;55(3):204-216. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12154Pennington L, Dave M, Rudd J, Hidecker MJC, Caynes K, Pearce MS.Communication disorders in young children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2020;62(10):1161-1169. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14635National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Stuttering.Swineford L.B, Thurm A, Baird G, et al.Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category.J Neurodevelop Disord2014;6:41. doi:10.1186/1866-1955-6-41Prizant BM, Audet LR, Burke GM, Hummel LJ, Maher SR, Theadore G.Communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.J Speech Hear Disord. 1990;55(2):179-192. doi:10.1044/jshd.5502.179Lockton E, Adams C, Collins A.Do children with social communication disorder have explicit knowledge of pragmatic rules they break? A comparison of conversational pragmatic ability and metapragmatic awareness.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2016;51(5):508-517. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12227Slonims V, Pasco G.Communication disorders in preschool children.Pediatrics and Child Health.2009;19(10): 453-456. doi: 10.1016/j.paed.2009.05.009Additional ReadingBarnard-Brak L, Richman DM, Chesnut SR, Little TD.Social Communication Questionnaire scoring procedures for autism spectrum disorder and the prevalence of potential social communication disorder in ASD.Sch Psychol Q. 2016;31(4):522-533. doi:10.1037/spq0000144Brukner-Wertman Y, Laor N, Golan O.Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder and Its Relation to the Autism Spectrum: Dilemmas Arising From the DSM-5 Classification.J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(8):2821-2829. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2814-5Foley-Nicpon M, L Fosenburg S, G Wurster K, Assouline SG.Identifying High Ability Children with DSM-5 Autism Spectrum or Social Communication Disorder: Performance on Autism Diagnostic Instruments.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(2):460-471. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2973-4Mandy W, Wang A, Lee I, Skuse D.Evaluating social (pragmatic) communication disorder.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;58(10):1166-1175. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12785

9 Sources

Verywell Mind 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.Definitions of communication disorders and variations.Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.ASHA Suppl. 1993;35(3 Suppl 10):40-41.Topal Z, Demir Samurcu N, Taskiran S, Tufan AE, Semerci B.Social communication disorder: a narrative review on current insights.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2039-2046. Published 2018 Aug 13. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121124Norbury CF. Practitioner review:Social (pragmatic) communication disorder conceptualization, evidence and clinical implications.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014;55(3):204-216. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12154Pennington L, Dave M, Rudd J, Hidecker MJC, Caynes K, Pearce MS.Communication disorders in young children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2020;62(10):1161-1169. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14635National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Stuttering.Swineford L.B, Thurm A, Baird G, et al.Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category.J Neurodevelop Disord2014;6:41. doi:10.1186/1866-1955-6-41Prizant BM, Audet LR, Burke GM, Hummel LJ, Maher SR, Theadore G.Communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.J Speech Hear Disord. 1990;55(2):179-192. doi:10.1044/jshd.5502.179Lockton E, Adams C, Collins A.Do children with social communication disorder have explicit knowledge of pragmatic rules they break? A comparison of conversational pragmatic ability and metapragmatic awareness.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2016;51(5):508-517. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12227Slonims V, Pasco G.Communication disorders in preschool children.Pediatrics and Child Health.2009;19(10): 453-456. doi: 10.1016/j.paed.2009.05.009Additional ReadingBarnard-Brak L, Richman DM, Chesnut SR, Little TD.Social Communication Questionnaire scoring procedures for autism spectrum disorder and the prevalence of potential social communication disorder in ASD.Sch Psychol Q. 2016;31(4):522-533. doi:10.1037/spq0000144Brukner-Wertman Y, Laor N, Golan O.Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder and Its Relation to the Autism Spectrum: Dilemmas Arising From the DSM-5 Classification.J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(8):2821-2829. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2814-5Foley-Nicpon M, L Fosenburg S, G Wurster K, Assouline SG.Identifying High Ability Children with DSM-5 Autism Spectrum or Social Communication Disorder: Performance on Autism Diagnostic Instruments.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(2):460-471. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2973-4Mandy W, Wang A, Lee I, Skuse D.Evaluating social (pragmatic) communication disorder.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;58(10):1166-1175. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12785

Verywell Mind 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.

Definitions of communication disorders and variations.Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.ASHA Suppl. 1993;35(3 Suppl 10):40-41.Topal Z, Demir Samurcu N, Taskiran S, Tufan AE, Semerci B.Social communication disorder: a narrative review on current insights.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2039-2046. Published 2018 Aug 13. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121124Norbury CF. Practitioner review:Social (pragmatic) communication disorder conceptualization, evidence and clinical implications.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014;55(3):204-216. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12154Pennington L, Dave M, Rudd J, Hidecker MJC, Caynes K, Pearce MS.Communication disorders in young children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2020;62(10):1161-1169. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14635National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Stuttering.Swineford L.B, Thurm A, Baird G, et al.Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category.J Neurodevelop Disord2014;6:41. doi:10.1186/1866-1955-6-41Prizant BM, Audet LR, Burke GM, Hummel LJ, Maher SR, Theadore G.Communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.J Speech Hear Disord. 1990;55(2):179-192. doi:10.1044/jshd.5502.179Lockton E, Adams C, Collins A.Do children with social communication disorder have explicit knowledge of pragmatic rules they break? A comparison of conversational pragmatic ability and metapragmatic awareness.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2016;51(5):508-517. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12227Slonims V, Pasco G.Communication disorders in preschool children.Pediatrics and Child Health.2009;19(10): 453-456. doi: 10.1016/j.paed.2009.05.009

Definitions of communication disorders and variations.Ad Hoc Committee on Service Delivery in the Schools. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.ASHA Suppl. 1993;35(3 Suppl 10):40-41.

Topal Z, Demir Samurcu N, Taskiran S, Tufan AE, Semerci B.Social communication disorder: a narrative review on current insights.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2018;14:2039-2046. Published 2018 Aug 13. doi:10.2147/NDT.S121124

Norbury CF. Practitioner review:Social (pragmatic) communication disorder conceptualization, evidence and clinical implications.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2014;55(3):204-216. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12154

Pennington L, Dave M, Rudd J, Hidecker MJC, Caynes K, Pearce MS.Communication disorders in young children with cerebral palsy.Dev Med Child Neurol. 2020;62(10):1161-1169. doi:10.1111/dmcn.14635

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.Stuttering.

Swineford L.B, Thurm A, Baird G, et al.Social (pragmatic) communication disorder: a research review of this new DSM-5 diagnostic category.J Neurodevelop Disord2014;6:41. doi:10.1186/1866-1955-6-41

Prizant BM, Audet LR, Burke GM, Hummel LJ, Maher SR, Theadore G.Communication disorders and emotional/behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.J Speech Hear Disord. 1990;55(2):179-192. doi:10.1044/jshd.5502.179

Lockton E, Adams C, Collins A.Do children with social communication disorder have explicit knowledge of pragmatic rules they break? A comparison of conversational pragmatic ability and metapragmatic awareness.Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2016;51(5):508-517. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12227

Slonims V, Pasco G.Communication disorders in preschool children.Pediatrics and Child Health.2009;19(10): 453-456. doi: 10.1016/j.paed.2009.05.009

Barnard-Brak L, Richman DM, Chesnut SR, Little TD.Social Communication Questionnaire scoring procedures for autism spectrum disorder and the prevalence of potential social communication disorder in ASD.Sch Psychol Q. 2016;31(4):522-533. doi:10.1037/spq0000144Brukner-Wertman Y, Laor N, Golan O.Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder and Its Relation to the Autism Spectrum: Dilemmas Arising From the DSM-5 Classification.J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(8):2821-2829. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2814-5Foley-Nicpon M, L Fosenburg S, G Wurster K, Assouline SG.Identifying High Ability Children with DSM-5 Autism Spectrum or Social Communication Disorder: Performance on Autism Diagnostic Instruments.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(2):460-471. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2973-4Mandy W, Wang A, Lee I, Skuse D.Evaluating social (pragmatic) communication disorder.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;58(10):1166-1175. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12785

Barnard-Brak L, Richman DM, Chesnut SR, Little TD.Social Communication Questionnaire scoring procedures for autism spectrum disorder and the prevalence of potential social communication disorder in ASD.Sch Psychol Q. 2016;31(4):522-533. doi:10.1037/spq0000144

Brukner-Wertman Y, Laor N, Golan O.Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder and Its Relation to the Autism Spectrum: Dilemmas Arising From the DSM-5 Classification.J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(8):2821-2829. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2814-5

Foley-Nicpon M, L Fosenburg S, G Wurster K, Assouline SG.Identifying High Ability Children with DSM-5 Autism Spectrum or Social Communication Disorder: Performance on Autism Diagnostic Instruments.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(2):460-471. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-2973-4

Mandy W, Wang A, Lee I, Skuse D.Evaluating social (pragmatic) communication disorder.J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2017;58(10):1166-1175. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12785

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