Practical Tips to Differentiate Social Communication Disorder From Autism Spectrum Disorder

When the American Psychiatric Association released the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013, it included several changes that affect SLPs working with children with language and communication disorders; namely, it added the diagnostic category of Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder (SCD) and changed the way it describes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The new SCD category includes difficulties with social uses of both verbal and nonverbal communication, which overlaps with the social communication impairments that now define ASD. As a result, many professionals are understandably confused about how to distinguish between SCD and ASD and which diagnosis best suits their children in terms of the services they will qualify for.

This course will offer tips, tools, and checklists with which to differentially diagnose based on observed symptoms in order to provide appropriate and effective treatments for children with these disorders.

After completing this session, you will be able to:

Identify the criteria necessary for diagnoses of SCD and ASD as defined in the DSM-5
Select and use appropriate assessment tools to differentially diagnosis SCD and ASD
Identify the best diagnosis (SCD or ASD) for individual children based on assessment results

Continuing Education

ASHA CEUs: 0.05 PDHs: 0.5

Dates: 9/1/2015 to 9/30/2015

Instructional Level: Introductory

Product Information

Item #(s): WEB15255F

Client Age: 3–5 yrs; 6–11 yrs; 12–17 yrs

Format(s): Streaming Video

Language: English

Author: Sheryl Rosin, PhD, CCC-SLP

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