Our Fort Myers pediatric speech therapists recognize there is SO much more to communication than just saying words.

As explained by the American Speech & Hearing Association (ASHA), social communication is how and WHY we use language to interact with others. Even though there isn't precisely a "right" or "wrong" way to communicate, there are so many unwritten rules of communication. Over time, we learn how to adjust not only what we say but how we say it - and when - to meet the particulars of whatever situation we're in.

For example, there are a lot of things you might be thinking that you know would be socially unacceptable to say to someone. You may be bored with the stories they tell or not be the biggest fan of what they're wearing that day. But you know the unwritten rule that saying these things would not only be unkind and hurtful, it doesn't serve any good purpose (like keeping you safe).

When young kids are still learning about social communication, they're likely to break these sorts of rules with regularity. (You may have heard the saying, "Kids say the darndest things." And it's because they are still learning about what "filters" they should be putting on their communication.)

But it's not just about what we say. It's what our body language says, whether we can pick up when someone else is trying to engage us in conversation, whether we can infer what someone might be feeling from their facial expression...

Social communication is something a lot of neurotypical people to take for granted, but for kids with autism and other conditions, it doesn't come easily. Our Fort Myers speech therapists break down each social communication component one-by-one to teach our patients how to better understand the world around them - and effectively communicate.

FOCUS offers pediatric speech therapy in Fort Myers and throughout Southwest Florida. Call (239) 313.5049 or Contact Us online.

Additional Resources:

Social communication in autism, explained, April 19, 2018, By Lydia Denworth, Spectrum News

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Why FOCUS Asks Parents to Stay in the Waiting Room During Evals, Sessions, April 2, 2022, FOCUS Therapy Fort Myers Blog