What Are Social Communication Disorders?
Social communication disorders affect how a person uses language to interact with others in everyday situations. This includes both verbal communication (what we say) and nonverbal communication (how we say it—through tone, facial expressions, gestures and body language).
People with social communication challenges may struggle to:
- Start or maintain conversations
- Understand nonverbal cues like facial expressions or eye contact
- Know how or when to speak in different situations
- Interpret humor, sarcasm or figurative language
- Take turns or stay on topic in conversations
These difficulties can affect children in school, friendships and play—and can impact adults in work, relationships and daily interactions.
Social Communication Challenges in Children
In children, social communication difficulties may appear as:
- Limited eye contact, gestures or shared attention
- Difficulty playing with peers or participating in group activities
- Talking off-topic or dominating conversations
- Trouble adjusting language for different situations (e.g., talking to a friend vs. a teacher)
- Literal understanding of language
These challenges may occur alone or alongside developmental conditions such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Language delays or disorders
- Social anxiety or pragmatic language impairment
Social Communication Challenges in Adults
For adults, social communication disorders can:
- Interfere with job interviews or workplace communication
- Make it hard to maintain personal or professional relationships
- Lead to misunderstandings or social withdrawal
- Cause frustration or anxiety in group settings
Social communication issues in adults may stem from:
- Developmental conditions (e.g., undiagnosed autism)
- Brain injury or stroke
- Neurological conditions
- Mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression
When To Seek Help
Children and teens may benefit from an evaluation if they:
- Struggle to make or keep friends
- Have difficulty understanding social rules or cues
- Are frequently misunderstood in conversations
- Have been diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or language delays
Adults should consider reaching out if they:
- Experience ongoing social misunderstandings or conflicts
- Avoid social situations due to communication anxiety
- Have difficulty interpreting tone, humor or nonverbal signals
- Feel that communication challenges are affecting work or relationships
How We Help
At the Center for Hearing and Speech, our licensed Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) provide personalized, evidence-based support for individuals with social communication challenges at any age.
Our services include:
- Comprehensive assessments for children, teens and adults
- Individual therapy targeting real-life communication goals
- Group therapy to practice social interaction in a supportive setting
- Parent and caregiver coaching for children
- Collaboration with other professionals, such as:
- Occupational therapists
- Psychologists and counselors
- Teachers and school teams
- Behavioral therapists (e.g., BCBAs for individuals with autism)
You Don’t Have To Navigate This Alone
Whether your child is struggling to connect with peers or you’re an adult seeking to improve social interactions, help is available—and effective.
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