Social Language

What is Social Language?

Social Language refers to how we use verbal and nonverbal language to communicate with others. Following are some of the areas of concern with regard to social language development:
 

1. Nonverbal Communication—Does the child use good eye contact when speaking with someone? Does she keep a comfortable distance from others? Is the child using appropriate facial expressions and inflection to match her words? Can she “read” the nonverbal cues of others?

2. Topic Appropriateness—Does the child maintain the topic of an ongoing conversation? Does she know how to appropriately introduce a topic, change a topic of conversation, or finish a conversation? Does the child keep in mind the listener’s interest in a particular topic before introducing or continuing it?

3. Verbal Communication—Does the child respond when spoken to? Does she take turns in a conversation, rather than monopolize it or remain silent? Can the child effectively elicit information from the other speaker through the use of questions and comments? Does she efficiently convey information and express her thoughts in words? Can the child competently request for help or information needed?

What causes problems with Social Language?

Difficulties with social communication often accompany other speech, language and learning problems. While such issues are one of the first indicators of autism, social language, they can also accompany other learning disabilities. Since the rules of social language are often subtle and not directly taught, it is sometimes difficult for a child to pick up on them, especially if that child has trouble learning language in the first place. In addition, some children who are very shy, difficult to understand, or who have limited verbal skills do not have the same opportunities to refine their communication. As they struggle to simply get their message across, the finer details of social language are of little importance to them or their listener.

How can speech-language therapy help?

First of all, if there are any social language concerns, the speech-language pathologist will conduct a thorough interview and assessment to determine if there are any underlying language or learning difficulties contributing to the problem. If any are detected, appropriate recommendations will be made. Therapy targeting social communication weakness needs to be direct for the child to understand how to refine her skills. During her therapy visits, she will be presented with specific tasks designed to target particular areas of difficulty, including barrier game activities, social stories, and role-playing situations. The child may also be specific given social tasks to complete outside of the therapy setting. Parents will also be provided with suggestions for facilitating their child’s development. 

What can I do to help?

Tune into the efficiency and appropriateness of your child’s communication skills. If you detect some weaknesses, gently point them out to your child (e.g., “Joe, I noticed that when you were talking with Anthony, you went on and on about your new bike. Next time, maybe you could ask him a question about his bike, too. It’s important to take turns when talking to someone, just like we take turns in a game. If we do all of the talking, the other person may get bored.”) If you find a recurring problem whenever your child encounters a particular situation, provide her with some rules, suggestions, and an opportunity to practice before the situation occurs again (e.g., “Emily, before we visit Grandma, I want to remind you to say “hello” to her before you ask her for cookies. You want to make sure that Grandma knows you’re happy to see her and that you’re not just there for her cookies! Let’s think of some things we can talk with Grandma about and then we’ll practice together.”)

It is also important to praise your child for small strides made toward becoming a more efficient and appropriate communicator (e.g.,  "It was so nice of you to share your game with Tommy.  I also like the way you asked him about his new baby brother.  That's a good way to make friends!")