The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

dsm v

1. DSM 5- diagnostic criteria Social (pragmatic) communication disorder Autism spectrum disorder Specify other associated condition

2. Social (pragmatic) communication disorder A- persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal & non-verbal communication as manifested by all of the following- 1. deficit in using communication for social purposes ( greeting & sharing information) as per social context. 2. impairment of the ability to change communication to match context/ the needs of the listener (speaking differently in classroom than in playground; talking differently to different age groups) 3. difficulty in following rules for – conversation & storytelling, taking turns in conversation, rephrasing when misunderstood ; using non-verbal & verbal signals to regulate interaction 4. difficulty in understanding subtle or not so explicit concepts (making inferences) & non-literal or ambiguous meanings of language (idioms, humor, metaphors, meanings that depend on the context for interpretation)

3. B- the deficits result in functional limitations in effective communication, social participation, social relationships, academic achievement or occupational performance (individually or in combination) C- the onset of the symptoms is in early developmental period (deficits may not fully manifest until social communication demands exceed limited capacities) D- symptoms