SOCIAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS – THE PRAGMATICS CHECKLIST

(Gestures - Preverbal)
Uses NO Words

Uses 1-3 Words

Uses Complex
Not Present
Child’s Name Date .Completed by .

Language
Parent: These social communication skills develop over time. Read the behaviors below and place an X
in the appropriate column that describes how your child uses words/language, no words (gestures –
preverbal) or does not yet show a behavior.
Pragmatic Objective
INSTRUMENTAL – States needs (I want….)
1. Makes polite requests
2. Makes choices
3. Gives description of an object wanted
4. Expresses a specific personal need
5. Requests help
REGULATORY - Gives commands (Do as I tell you…)
6. Gives directions to play a game
7. Gives directions to make something
8. Changes the style of commands or requests depending on who the child is speaking to and what the
child wants.
PERSONAL – Expresses feelings
9. Identifies feelings (I’m happy.)
10. Explains feelings (I’m happy because it’s my birthday
11. Provides excuses or reasons
12. Offers an opinion with support
13. Complains
14. Blames others
15. Provides pertinent information on request (2 or 3 of the following: name, address, phone, birthdate)
INTERACTIONAL - Me and You…
16. Interact with others in a polite manner
17. Uses appropriate social rules such as greetings, farewells, thank you, getting attention
18. Attends to the speaker
19. Revises/repairs an incomplete message
20. Initiates a topic of conversation (doesn’t just start talking in the middle of a topic)
21. Maintains a conversation (able to keep it going)
22. Ends a conversation (doesn’t just walk away)
23. Interjects appropriately into an already established conversation with others
24. Makes apologies or gives explanations of behavior
25. Requests clarification
26. States a problem
27. Criticizes others
28. Disagrees with others
29. Compliments others
10. Makes promises
WANTS EXPLANATIONS - Tell me Why…
31. Asks questions to get more information
32. Asks questions to systematically gather information as in “Twenty Questions”
33. Asks questions because of curiosity
34. Asks questions to problem solve (What should I do? How do I know?)
35. Asks questions to make predictions (What will happen if…?)
SHARES KNOWLEDGE & IMAGINATIONS - I’ve got something to tell you…
36. Role play as/with different characters
37. Role plays with props (i.e., banana as phone)
38. Provides a description of a situation which describes the main events
39. Correctly re-tells a story which has been told to them
40. Relates the content of a 4-6 frame picture story using correct events for each frame
41. Creates an original story with a beginning, several logical events, and an end
42. Explains the relationship between two objects, actions or situations
43. Compares and contrasts qualities of two objects, actions or situations
44. Tells a lie
45. Expresses humor/sarcasm
TOTAL FOR EACH COLUMN
AUTHOR OF CHECKLIST: Goberis, D. (1999) Pragmatics Checklist (adapted from Simon, C.S., 1984).
Goberis, Beams, Dalpes, Abrisch, Baca, Yoshinaga-Itano (2012). The missing link in language development of deaf and hard of hearing children: Pragmatic Language Development. Semin
Speech Lang, 33(04), 297-309 https://www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0032-1326916.pdf
The format of this information was designed by Karen L. Anderson, PhD, 2013, Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss https://successforkidswithhearingloss.com
 PRAGMATICS CHECKLIST INTERPRETATION
Total the checked items in the Complex Language column. Compare to expectations below.

Emergence of

Emergence of
Age 3: 20 of 45 items; Age 4: 43 of 45 items; Age 5: 44 of 45 items; Age 6: 45 items

In months

In months
in months

Language
Using 1-3

Complex
Mastery

Words
Age of
Consider the items marked in columns other than Complex Language and compare them to
the typical performance at the ages identified. Children with hearing loss tend to be
delayed in their mastery of pragmatic language skills that typically hearing children mostly
master by age 4. Select goals for the items students demonstrate delayed performance.
24-30 months 36-42 months 42-48 months 48-54 months 54-60 months
INSTRUMENTAL – States needs (I want….)
1. Makes polite requests 36-42 (90%) 24-30 (79%) 24-30 (21%)
2. Makes choices 36-42 (85%) 24-30 (58%) 24-30 (35%)
3. Gives description of an object wanted 36-42 (83%) 24-30 (54%) 24-30 (21%)
4. Expresses a specific personal need 36-42 (89%) 24-30 (58%) 24-30 (29%)
5. Requests help 36-42 (84%) 24-30 (58%) 24-30 (29%)
REGULATORY - Gives commands (Do as I tell you…)
6. Gives directions to play a game 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (22%) 24-30 (2%)
7. Gives directions to make something 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (35%) 24-30 (6%)
8. Changes the style of commands or requests depending on who the child is speaking to 36-42 (84%) 24-30 (58%) 24-30 (7%)
and what the child wants.
PERSONAL – Expresses feelings
9. Identifies feelings (I’m happy.) 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (57%) 24-30 (6%)
10. Explains feelings (I’m happy because it’s my birthday 36-42 (80%) Emerging 30-36
11. Provides excuses or reasons 36-42 (80%) Emerging 30-36
12. Offers an opinion with support 36-42 (74%) Emerging 30-36
13. Complains 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (44%) 24-30 (15%)
14. Blames others 36-42 (75%) Emerging 30-36
15. Provides pertinent information on request (2 or 3 of the following: name, address, phone, birthdate) 36-42 (75%) 36-42 (42%) 36-42 (30%)
INTERACTIONAL - Me and You…
16. Interact with others in a polite manner 36-42 (89%) 24-30 (65%) 24-30 (54%)
17. Uses appropriate social rules such as greetings, farewells, thank you, getting attention 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (72%) 24-30 (54%)
18. Revises/repairs an incomplete message 48-54 (80%) 24-30 (29%) 24-30 (54%)
19. Attends to the speaker 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (50%) 24-30 (54%)
20. Initiates a topic of conversation (doesn’t just start talking in the middle of a topic) 42-48 (85%) 24-30 (36%) 24-30 (54%)
21. Maintains a conversation (able to keep it going) 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (36%) 24-30 (54%)
22. Ends a conversation (doesn’t just walk away) 48-54 (90%) 24-30 (28%) 24-30 (54%)
23. Interjects appropriately into an already established conversation with others 48-54 (85%) 24-30 (26%) 24-30 (54%)
24. Makes apologies or gives explanations of behavior 48-54 (86%) 24-30 (36%)
25. Requests clarification 48-54 (90%) Emerging 30-36
26. States a problem 36-42 (74%) 24-30 (58%) 24-30 (54%)
27. Criticizes others 48-54 (81%) 36-42 (25%) 24-30 (54%)
28. Disagrees with others 36-42 (74%) 24-30 (36%) 24-30 (54%)
29. Compliments others 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (28%) 24-30 (54%)
30. Makes promises 54-60 (82%) 36-42 (5%) 48-54 (71%)
WANTS EXPLANATIONS - Tell me Why…
31. Asks questions to get more information 36-42 (79%) 24-30 (29%) 24-30 (15%)
32. Asks questions to systematically gather information as in “Twenty Questions” 48-54 (77%) 36-42 (26%) 36-42 (37%)
33. Asks questions because of curiosity 36-42 (90%) 24-30 (21%) 24-30 (15%)
34. Asks questions to problem solve (What should I do? How do I know?) 48-54 (90%) 36-42 (21%) 36-42 (52%)
35. Asks questions to make predictions (What will happen if…?) 48-54 (78%) 36-42 (27%) 36-42 (47%)
SHARES KNOWLEDGE & IMAGINATIONS - I’ve got something to tell you…
36. Role play as/with different characters 36-42 (74%) 24-30 (36%) 24-30 (14%)
37. Role plays with props (i.e., banana as phone) 36-42 (90%) 24-30 (50%) 24-30 (21%)
38. Provides a description of a situation which describes the main events 48-54 (95%) 24-30 (21%) 36-42 (69%)
39. Relates the content of a 4-6 frame picture story using correct events for each frame 48-54 (90%) 24-30 (28%) 36-42 (72%)
40. Creates an original story with a beginning, several logical events, and an end 48-54 (81%) 36-42 (27%) 36-42 (59%)
41. Explains the relationship between two objects, actions or situations 48-54 (80%) 24-30 (42%) 36-42 (69%)
42. Compares and contrasts qualities of two objects, actions or situations 48-54 (100%) 24-30 (20%) 36-42 (64%)
43. Correctly re-tells a story which has been told to them 48-54 (81%) 24-30 (21%) 36-42 (68%)
44. Tells a lie 48-54 (86%) Emerging 30-36 36-42 (52%)
45. Expresses humor/sarcasm 48-54 (91%) 24-30 (43%) 36-42 (58%)
AUTHOR OF CHECKLIST: Goberis, D. (1999) Pragmatics Checklist (adapted from Simon, C.S., 1984). Percentages specified above are estimates only from graphs of research results.
SOURCE OF DATA FOR TYPICALLY DEVELOPING CHILDREN: Goberis, Beams, Dalpes, Abrisch, Baca, Yoshinaga-Itano (2012). The missing link in language development of deaf and hard of
hearing children: Pragmatic Language Development. Semin Speech Lang, 33(04), 297-309 https://www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0032-1326916.pdf
The format of this information was designed by Karen L. Anderson, PhD, 2013, Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss https://successforkidswithhearingloss.com
 The Missing Link in Language Development of Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Children: Pragmatic Language Development
Dianne Goberis, Dinah Beams, Molly Dalpes, Amanda Abrisch, Rosalinda Baca, Christine Yoshinaga-Itano (2012). The missing link in language development of deaf and hard of hearing
children: Pragmatic Language Development. Semin Speech Lang, 33(04), 297-309 https://www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0032-1326916.pdf
◦ Parents completed 45-item Pragmatics Checklist ◦ Children with hearing loss were between 3-7 years
◦ 109 children with normal hearing age 2-7 years ◦ Normal hearing: 43% male; 56% female Hearing loss:
◦ 126 children with hearing loss of all degrees (19.8% 51% male; 49% female
mild; 24.2% moderate/moderate-severe; 32.9% severe; 23.1% ◦ All children cognitively normal, English-speaking
profound)

Percentage of Items Mastered by Age for Normal Hearing and Hearing Loss Groups
Items Not Mastered by Children with Hearing
Loss by Age 7 Years
 Provides information on request
 Repairs incomplete sentences
 Ends conversations
 Interjects
 Apologies
 Request clarification
 Makes promises
 Ask questions to problem solve
 Asks questions to make predictions
 Retells a story
 Tells 4-6 picture story in right order
 Creates original story
Proportion Achieving 50% or more of the items with complex language  Explains relationships between objects-
action-situations
 Compares and contrasts

Summary
Pragmatic language skills are the most abstract and
complex of all language skills. Even when the child
has age-appropriate vocabulary and syntax skills,
she or he may not yet have learned how to use
these skills in a socially appropriate manner for
specific social purposes. Young children with NH
acquire these skills rapidly between 3 and 4 years of
age and are able to use these pragmatic language
skills using complex language. Children who are
DHH acquire these skills much more slowly even
with targeted intervention strategies. Without
Intervention Strategies mastery of these skills, children will encounter
Parents often wonder what language skills they can work on in the home. This significant challenges with literacy, written
questionnaire helps parents target specific language skills to model within the communication, and abstract conversational
home providing natural opportunities for the child to practice them. If the communication.
child is in an integrated environment, the teacher questionnaire helps identify some of the strengths and weaknesses of the child's
language abilities and the teacher may then optimize language learning in classroom situations where these strategies could be
naturally practiced. Teachers frequently judge language skills based upon the speech intelligibility of the child. However, pragmatic
language skills are often so subtle that the teacher does not identify specific areas of delay or difficulty. In addition to the analysis of
situations in which language becomes difficult, it is also possible to determine whether the student has sufficient vocabulary and
grammatical capabilities to communicate his or her needs and wants. If the student lacks specific content knowledge in vocabulary
or syntax, these skills can be taught through individualized intervention.

#1
Giving Directions
Most early intervention specialists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work on simple commands such as understanding: go
get your shoes, put your shoes on, open the door, get in the car. However, teachers and SLPs sometimes overlook having the child
give directions to others. There are some pragmatic language skills that are important for giving directions, such as to play a game or
to make something. To teach these skills, the SLP/teacher needs to carefully analyze all of the cognitive linguistic steps that must be
understood to provide directions to another about playing a game or making something. The child needs to understand what is in
the mind of the other individual who must learn a game or learn how to make something (i.e., theory of mind). Can the child explain
the steps well enough so that another individual can successfully make something: a picture, a snowman, a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich, or an arts and crafts activity?
#
Making Something
Children also need to learn the sequence of information that they need to tell someone else about how to make something. Even
when the child understands the sequence and is capable of making the desired food item, arts and crafts project, or object, the child
may be unable to explain to another how to do it. Children do not always understand what basic information is important for
another person to know. Remember to teach sequence. For a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, if the child says “peanut butter” and
omits specific instructions in the sequence, the teacher/SLP can respond with absurdities such as, “Do I put it in my hand? Where's
the bread?” The teacher/SLP needs to identify each of the steps in the sequence. It is often helpful to have pictures that are
associated with each step in the sequence. Using a chart with pictures that depict each step in the process, children will cross out
each step as they either do it, indicating comprehension, or as they tell another to do it, demonstrating the pragmatic expressive
language skill. Then the teacher/SLP puts the items back in the right sequence to review. The order may also be jumbled to
demonstrate that the end result will not be correct. The teacher could teach the child the correct sequence with picture cues and
written language: (1) get a banana, chocolate, and nuts, (2) peel the banana before cutting, (3) cut the banana, (4) dip the banana
into the chocolate, (5) roll the chocolate-covered banana in nuts, (6) freeze the banana. Teaching requires redundancy and
repetition. Make sure to let the child make mistakes. If it isn't in order, can the task be completed? Children need to learn that
making things typically requires a specific order or sequence of events to accomplish the goal.

Learning How to Play a Game

At very young age levels, the teacher/SLP may want to teach a child to give directions about how to play a simple game, such as
Duck Duck Goose. First, the child must consider the number of steps. Children must sit in a circle. There is a chosen child, the goose.
How is the child chosen? Does the teacher pick the child, or does the child who suggests the game pick the chosen child? The chosen
child walks around the outside of the circle. The child taps each child and says “duck” as he or she taps. The child must choose a child
to be the goose. When a child is chosen as the goose, this child must get up quickly and run around the circle. The child who has
chosen the child to be the goose also begins to run around the circle and whoever reaches the empty spot first and sits down, is no
longer the goose. The chosen child who is the new goose must think about whom she or he will choose. The child must not show by
eye gaze or pointing or any other hint who the new chosen child will be. If the goose does indicate who she or he will chose too
early, then she or he will beat the chosen child to the open spot and the chosen child becomes the new the goose. The child must
keep a secret. This is an opportunity to teach what a secret is. The teacher/SLP may start out with a chart. The children take turns
explaining how to play the game. The teacher/SLP may scaffold the activity by asking “What's first? What's second? What's third?” If
the child simply says, “tap, tap, tap,” the teacher/SLP must indicate that there is some missing information. “What's missing? Hmm,”
the teacher can then give some indication of the thinking process that should be used. It is important for the teacher/parent to
teach the child the thought process: “Who should I pick? It's a secret. Don't tell anyone. Don't make eye contact, others will notice.
Don't point at the child you pick. If the child knows that you have chosen him or her, he or she will be prepared to run around the
circle and you may not get there first.” The SLP or teacher may introduce an absurdity. “Can I pick the table? Why not? If I walk
around the circle, I need to tap a person. If I tap a chair, the chair cannot get up and run around the circle to try to sit down in the
open space first.” This is an excellent opportunity for activities at home, such as how to teach games like Concentration, Candy Land,
or card games to a sibling or a friend. Other games that can be described besides board games or card games are games with a ball,
simple games like Duck Duck Goose, or games with teams.
#
Teaching Perspective Taking
It is important for children to learn how to understand what is in the minds of others. Teach “why” questions. Teach children how it
makes them feel. Ask questions such as, “Does it make you feel angry? Sad? Or disappointed? Why are you upset? Are your feelings
hurt? Which is better, Grab it or ask politely? If I take it from you, how does it feel?”
#
2
Teach about Choices and What the Consequences Are for Each Choice
With children who have high language skills, it is important to teach verbal mediation skills and the language appropriate for these
pragmatic skills. For children with lower language skills, the teacher/SLP may want to use pantomime and pictures.

Playing 20 Questions
Although children with NH learn how to play the game 20 questions without having to learn the steps, children who are DHH often
need specific instructions. How do you select the question to be asked? Which type of question is better, “Is it a dog? Is it alive? Is it
an animal?” When the question is answered, what should the child do with the answer? Does the child eliminate any possibilities? It
is easiest to learn how to play the game if the options are limited? With pictures of the possible answers, after the question is
answered, it is possible to eliminate some of the pictures. Can the child explain why these answers would be eliminated? The child
should cross out the pictures of answers that cannot be the chosen one because of the answer given to the previous question. Then
the child needs to look at the remaining pictures and formulate a question that will either provide the information about which one
is the chosen answer or eliminate more of the potential answers. The SLP may need to teach the child what questions might yield
the best ability to eliminate answers. These questions are frequently category questions, such as “Is it alive?” or “Is it an animal?”
The child must learn how to keep information in his or her head to use for formulating the next question. The child must understand
how to categorize things. Categorization often begins with visual obvious characteristics, such as the color, “Is it white?” Or the size,
“Is it big?” Or, “Is it alive?” Or, “How do animals move? Do they fly? Swim? Walk?”

Recognizing a Falsehood
To survive in this society, it is important that children understand the difference between truth and a lie. Children need to learn
when they are being “tricked.” They need to understand what it means to be gullible, so that social victimization can be prevented.
Role-play can consist of pretending to be a trickster, such as “coyote” in the southwest of America. Should I believe the trickster?
Are there any clues provided about tricksters? What strategies can be used to determine whether something is true or something is
a lie? How does the child know when to believe someone? A child cannot understand truth without understanding a lie.

Persuasion
Why is it important for children to learn how to be persuasive? What are some real life examples when the child may find it
important to persuade someone? A child may want to know how to persuade his or her parents to allow them to do something or
get something; permission to do a particular activity, go to a party, go to get ice cream, etc. A child may also want to persuade other
children to let him or her play with them. What are some strategies that can be used? How can the child assess whether or not the
strategy is successful?

Telling a Story in Sequence

Children who are DHH often need to learn how to relate stories of events so that someone else can understand the story. Notebooks
that go back and forth between the SLP/teacher and the home can include information about what events may be of importance to
the child that occurred at home or after school. The SLP/teacher can then ask the child to tell them information about what
happened. Then it is possible to determine whether the child is capable of telling a story or event in a logical order with sufficient
information for others to understand. A parent will also know if something significant or important occurred that day—so that if the
child begins to talk about an event, the parent will be knowledgeable enough to help support the child in learning how to relate
information to another person. Because the teacher/SLP knows the event, she or he is also able to determine what information has
been omitted or is incomplete. The teacher/SLP will want to determine if there is understanding of cause and effect. Information
about comparing and contrasting may also be important when relating the information. Storytelling should improve if both the
teacher/SLP and parent(s) provide appropriate modeling with emphasis on the components omitted by the child.

Defense in the Face of False Accusation

Is the child able to use language that provides defense in the face of a false accusation? Does the child understand the situation
sufficiently to identify what defense would prove his or her innocence? Statements (e.g., “He took the toy. I didn't take the toy. I
didn't want the toy. I wasn't in the vicinity. I don't have the toy. I didn't want the toy.”) that provide evidence that the accusation is
false could include a variety of perspectives.

Alternate Points of View

The child does not have to have the same point of view as another (e.g., “I like this book or song”). The child does not have to like
the book or song (e.g., “He hates this book”). Questions that could stimulate thinking about alternative points of view could assist
the child in thinking about another's perspective: “Why did you like this book? What was your favorite part? What is another
student's favorite part? Does everyone like the book?”

3
Revision of Unclear Message
First the child must be able to identify when the message was unclear to another person. If they can identify miscommunication,
then they can supply options. The teacher/SLP should model for the child. If the child says, “boat,” the SLP/teacher could question,
“Do I want the boat? Do I want to eat the boat? Do you want to get on the boat? Is it a blue boat?”

Ability to Answer Questions

A response needs to be appropriate, not just a response. Imitation is not a response to a question. The SLP/teacher needs to model
both correct and incorrect, or model an absurd response.
#
Maintaining a Topic
Sample questions might include “Tell me three things about what you did last night. What kind of things did you see? Hear? Can you
picture that in your head? Can you picture what would happen in the restaurant? Can you picture what would happen in a store?”
#
Theory of Mind
Children often need to be explicitly taught how to think about predicting what is in the mind of another person. Children who are
DHH often think that what they know, others also know. They need to be taught that a person knows what they have experienced
and if they have not had access to specific information, they will make mistakes.

Acknowledgments
Data collection for children with NH and typical development and data analysis was made possible through a grant from Centers for
Disease Control, Association of University Centers on Disability, CDC-AUCD 433, 470. Data collection was supported by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (grant/cooperative agreement number UR3/CCU824219), National Institutes of Health (contract
number N01-DC-4-2141), Maternal and Child Health, the Colorado Department of Education (contract number H325D030031A,
H32C030074), the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado Home Intervention Program, and the Colorado Department of
Public Health and Environment. We wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following individuals to this project: student
coders, CHIP facilitators and the participating families.

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The format of this information was designed by Karen L. Anderson, PhD, 2013, Supporting Success for Children with Hearing Loss https://successforkidswithhearingloss.com