Reference
Guide | Reference

41  Social Communication and Relatedness

41.1 Summary

  • A dimensional construct describing social communication style, reciprocity, and relatedness across contexts.

41.2 Core Construct

  • Capacity to interpret, respond to, and sustain social interaction effectively.

41.3 Subdimensions

  • Social reciprocity and responsiveness.
  • Nonverbal communication and pragmatic language.
  • Social motivation and comfort.

41.4 Severity Anchors (0-4)

  • 0: No clinically meaningful social communication difficulties.
  • 1: Mild, situational, manageable.
  • 2: Moderate, recurring, impacts function.
  • 3: Severe, persistent, with clear impairment.
  • 4: Extreme, disabling or isolating.

41.5 Time-Course Patterns

  • Early-onset and stable.
  • Situational variability by context.

41.6 Functional Impact

  • Work/school: collaboration challenges or miscommunication.
  • Relationships: misunderstandings or withdrawal.
  • Self-care: isolation or reduced support use.

41.7 Developmental Expression

  • Childhood: peer difficulties or pragmatic language differences.
  • Adolescence: social anxiety or isolation.
  • Adulthood: relational strain or masking fatigue.

41.8 Cultural / Context Notes

  • Norms for communication vary across cultures.
  • Social expectations influence perceived impairment.

41.9 Differential and Rule-Outs

  • Social threat/anxiety driving avoidance.
  • Trauma-related mistrust or withdrawal.
  • Hearing or language impairments.

41.10 Measurement Prompts

  • Social communication screening questions.
  • Collateral reports from school/work.

41.11 Treatment-Relevant Correlates (non-prescriptive)

  • Social mismatch often predicts functional strain.

41.13 Documentation Snippet (1-2 lines)

  • “Social communication differences with reciprocal strain; Social Relatedness 3; chronic course.”