What are the Characteristics of Pragmatic/Conversational Skills in Boys?
Pragmatics, or conversational skills, are a major area of concern for boys with fragile X, and to some extent, for girls as well. Boys with fragile X often have a good deal of social anxiety and sensory-motor defensiveness, both of which contribute to their difficulties in social interactions. Inappropriate topic shifts and tangential remarks cause conversational breakdowns. Many boys do not listen and understand the topic of the partner in a speaking situation, such that they do not answer appropriately. In their anxiety, they may just answer with a phrase memorized from a TV show or other inappropriate response. Some boys use “self-talk”, constantly repeating a string of chatter to themselves, perhaps as a self-protective measure. Perseverative speech (repeating the same thing over and over) and echolalia (repeating someone else’s words or phrases) are often reported for boys with fragile X. Boys may repeat syllables, words, or phrases because of difficulties with oral-motor planning
