What defines a social communication disorder?

A social communication disorder is characterized primarily by challenges in social interactions and pragmatics. This definition encompasses difficulties with how individuals communicate in social contexts—such as understanding and using verbal and nonverbal cues, taking turns during conversations, and appropriately varying their communication style based on the audience and context. Individuals with this disorder may struggle with understanding humor, sarcasm, and the subtleties of social exchanges, which are essential for effective interpersonal communication.

The focus on social aspects rather than the mechanics of speech production or language structure makes this definition distinctive. While other options highlight important areas of communication and language—such as articulating sounds, vocabulary, or auditory processing—these are not the central tenets that define a social communication disorder. Instead, they pertain to different categories of speech and language disorders that do not primarily emphasize social interaction and pragmatic skills. Therefore, the emphasis on social interactions and pragmatics demonstrates a clear understanding of what constitutes social communication disorder.