title: Social communication impairments: pragmatics.
abstract: Social communication or pragmatic impairments are characterized and illustrated as involving inappropriate or ineffective use of language and gesture in social contexts. Three clinical vignettes illustrate different pragmatic impairments and the wealth of diagnostic information that can be garnered from observation of a child's social communication behavior. Definitions of, and developmental milestones in, domains of pragmatic competence are provided. Several screening instruments are suggested for use in assessing pragmatic competence within the time-frame of a pediatric examination. Frequent comorbid psychiatric conditions are described and a sample of current neurobiologic research is briefly summarized.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, PO Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509, USA. rrussell@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Russell
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D019958:Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007600:Judgment; D007802:Language; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012919:Social Behavior