[Source: Best Practice Autism]

The DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) include persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts. Poor pragmatic/social use of language or impairment in the ability to understand and use language in social-communicative contexts is a core feature of ASD. Pragmatic skills involve: (a) using language for different purposes; (b) changing language according to the needs of a listener or situation; (c) understanding non-literal language; and (d) following rules for conversations. 

There are many unwritten rules in society that govern our behavior. While most of us intuitively understand these rules, individuals with ASD have not automatically learned the conventions and nuances that make up their social environment. These unspoken or

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