Questioning the Validity of the Semantic-Pragmatic Syndrome Diagnosis

Abstract

The classification of developmental language disorders has recently witnessed the birth of a subsyndrome, semantic-pragmatic syndrome, used to describe the case of children with specific language and communication impairments. However, there are striking similar-ities between children with semantic-pragmatic syndrome and those with high-functioning autism on a communicative, behavioural and cognitive level. This article questions the validity of semantic-prag-matic syndrome as a diagnostic concept distinct from high-function-ding autism and, consequently, its use as a clinical entity.