Social Communication Skills

Speech and language pathologists study the form of language (phonology, morphology, syntax), the content of language (semantics) and the use of language (social-communication). Social-communication skills refer to all of the skills we use to interact and relate to others. Children with social-communication challenges may experience difficulty with forming and maintaining friendships; starting and maintaining a conversation; they may misinterpret others’ intentions or have difficulty working in groups.

Speech and language pathologists assess social-communication skills using a range of tools, such as standardised testing, questionnaires and observations made during interactions. Assessing a child’s social-communication strengths and weaknesses enables the speech and language pathologist to tailor intervention to each child’s unique needs, taking into consideration their interests and learning preferences.