Pragmatics

Children with pragmatic language impairments have trouble with the social aspects of communicating. There are three major communication skills that children with these impairments have difficulty with:

Using language for different purposes, such as:
  • greeting (e.g., hello) and termination of a conversation (e.g. goodbye)
  • informing (e.g., I'm going to get a cookie)
  • demanding (e.g., Give me a cookie)
  • requesting (e.g., I would like a cookie, please)
Changing language according to the needs of a listener or situation, such as:
  • talking differently to a baby than to an adult
  • giving background information to an unfamiliar listener
  • speaking differently in a classroom than on a playground
Following rules for conversations and storytelling, such as:
  • taking turns in conversation
  • introducing topics of conversation
  • staying on topic
  • rephrasing when misunderstood
  • how to use verbal and nonverbal signals
  • how close to stand to someone when speaking
  • how to use facial expressions and eye contact

Here are some helpful websites about pragmatic language impairments:
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/pragmatics.htm
http://speech-language-therapy.com/spld.htm
http://freelanguagestuff.com/category/pragmatic-judgment/
http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster2/sptherapy.html
http://www.speechtx.com/language/teen_and_adult_activities.htm
http://pbskids.org/clifford/parentsteachers/about_program/edu_philosophy.html
http://www.do2learn.com/games/feelingsgame/index.htm
http://www.teachingexpertise.com/articles/activities-to-develop-social-communication-skills-pragmatics-2573