Semantic pragmatic disorder with application of selected pragmatic concepts

Children with semantic pragmatic disorder have been described as having difficulties in conversational interaction. The content of their conversations has been described as 'odd', 'loose', tangential', 'irrelevant' and 'inappropriate' (Stubbs 1986). A diagnosis of semantic pragmatic disorder is currently made based on whether or not a child displays certain surface characteristics. The present study attempts to apply precision to the intuitive terms which have been used to describe these children's conversations. To this end conversation samples from three children identified by speech and language therapists as fitting the clinical diagnosis of semantic pragmatic disorder were analysed. Aspects of pragmatic theory which best explained the strengths and weaknesses which emerged in the conversations are discussed. Therefore this represents an essentially data driven study.