Semantic and Pragmatic Disorders – Terminological Issues

Abstract

The article focuses on terminology related to semantic and pragmatic disorders. The author points out that semantic and pragmatic difficulties are a diagnostic challenge, especially when the causes and mechanisms are not yet fully identified and the descriptions of the symptoms are not sufficiently developed. She lists other reasons for difficulties in diagnosis, which include: lack of full compliance between the needs of the practice, changing knowledge and current medical classifications; lack of knowledge about semantic and pragmatic norms in child’s language development (for each natural language); difficulties in assessing and diagnosing mental disorders; difficulty in differentiating subtle forms of disorders with the norm. She discusses the understanding of the term “semantic-pragmatic disorder” (SPD) and attempts to specify its history and the relationship with autism, Asperger’s syndrome and SLI. The author presents an approach focused on nosological units and a descriptive approach. She refers to changes in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and social communication disorders according to DSM-V. In the final part, the article raises a question of using the names of speech disorders in conversations with parents, in the prediagnostic and postdiagnostic period, when the disorder has been ruled out according to medical criteria