Pediatric Social Language Skills (Pragmatics)

Pragmatics is often referred to as the social language skills that we use in our communication with others. Pragmatic language skills are important for communicating our thoughts, ideas, feelings and for generating and maintaining a conversation with others. A few examples of pragmatic language skills include:

1. Using greetings
2. Conversational turn-taking
3. Eye contact
4. Asking questions
5. Initiating conversation and staying on topic
6. Using appropriate strategies to interrupt a conversation and gain somebody’s attention
7. Using language that is appropriate with both the communication partner and situation
8. Use of humor
9. Making requests, demands and giving information

Pragmatics also includes nonverbal communication, including: tone of voice, facial expressions and body language and proxemics or ‘personal space.’

If you have concerns regarding your child’s social language skills or pragmatics, it is important that you discuss them with your child’s physician to determine if a speech therapy evaluation is warranted.

Michelle, Speech Therapy and Feeding Therapy Team