It’s more than just talking – Children may speak well in general, but still have difficulty in social situations (e.g., staying on topic, reading nonverbal cues, or understanding sarcasm).

It may occur alongside other challenges – It’s common for social communication difficulties to show up with ADHD, autism, or language delays, even if the child doesn’t have those diagnoses.

It can affect friendships – These challenges often lead to misunderstandings, making it harder to build and maintain relationships.

Early support makes a difference – Speech-language therapy focused on social communication can help children build practical skills for conversations and interactions.

It's often mistaken for behavior issues – Children may appear rude, disinterested, or overly talkative when they’re actually struggling with the rules of social language.

Home strategies – Parents can support growth by modeling conversations, role-playing social situations, and gently coaching their child through social misunderstandings.