Social communication disorder: SLP roles, per ASHA
ASHA’s Practice Portal says social communication disorder (SCD) “is characterized by persistent difficulties with the use of verbal and nonverbal language for social purposes,” and lists the roles SLPs play from screening to treatment. This page quotes ASHA only.
Quoted from official pages checked November 12, 2026. Confirm current information on those sites. This page is not medical advice and does not describe any patient’s care.
Source read on November 12, 2026: ASHA’s Practice Portal page Social Communication Disorder.
ASHA’s Practice Portal pages are written for clinicians. Quotes below stop before ASHA’s in-text research citations.
Scope
ASHA states: “The scope of this Practice Portal page is social communication disorder across the life span.” It also says: “There is a wide range of acceptable norms within and across individuals, families, and cultures.” ASHA notes that social communication problems are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder, and states: “Therefore, SCD cannot be diagnosed in conjunction with autism spectrum disorder.”
Roles for SLPs
Among the roles ASHA lists:
- “Screening social communication skills as part of a comprehensive speech and language evaluation or whenever SCD is suspected.”
- “Diagnosing the presence of SCD.”
- “Referring the individual to other professionals for a comprehensive and/or differential diagnosis to determine etiology and to facilitate access to comprehensive services.”
- “Developing culturally and linguistically relevant treatment and intervention plans focused on helping the individual achieve social communication competence, documenting progress, and determining appropriate dismissal criteria.”
- “Counseling individuals with SCD and their families/caregivers.”
What this page does not do
It does not repeat ASHA’s assessment tools or its list of treatment approaches. It is not medical advice and does not recommend any treatment, device, or product. Scope of practice is set by state law; check your state board.