{"h1":"Can PECS Be Combined With Other Therapies?","faq":[{"a":"No. PECS works best alongside speech and language therapy. For many children it acts as a bridge towards spoken words, with the therapist pairing each picture exchange with spoken modelling and vocabulary building.","q":"Does PECS replace speech therapy?"},{"a":"There is no evidence that PECS holds back speech — in fact, giving a child a reliable way to communicate often reduces frustration and supports the emergence of words for many children.","q":"Will using pictures stop my child from talking?"},{"a":"Yes, and it works best when it is. When pictures are available at mealtimes, play and outings, communication becomes a real-life skill rather than something practised only in sessions. Your therapist will coach you on how.","q":"Can PECS be used at home as well as in therapy?"},{"a":"Yes. Occupational therapy supports the motor and sensory skills behind communication, while behavioural and play-based approaches build motivation and initiation — all pointing at the same goal of confident communication.","q":"Can PECS work with occupational therapy and behavioural support?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-combined-with-other-therapies","title":"Can PECS Be Combined With Other Therapies?","entity":{"key":"pecs","kind":"therapy_modality","name":"the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)","slug":null},"parent":{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-autism-spectrum","title":"Is PECS the right therapy for a child with autism?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay","title":"Is PECS the Right Therapy for Speech and Language Delay?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-goals-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-work-on","title":"What goals does PECS work on?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"Is PECS the right therapy for a non-verbal or minimally verbal child?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-techniques-are-used-in-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What techniques are used in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-develop","title":"How Does PECS Help a Child Develop?"}],"summary":"Yes — PECS is designed to combine with other therapies, working most naturally alongside speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural and play-based approaches, and parent-led everyday practice as part of one coordinated plan. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*PECS rarely works alone — and that's by design; it's built to slot into a child's wider communication journey.*\n\n## In short\nYes — the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is designed to work **alongside** other therapies, not instead of them. It blends naturally with speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural and play-based approaches, and everyday parent-led routines. Used together, these supports help a child move from exchanging a picture to communicating with intent — and, for many children, towards spoken words too.\n\n## How PECS combines with other supports\n- **Speech and language therapy** — the most natural partner. As a child learns to request and comment through pictures, a speech therapist pairs each exchange with spoken modelling, vocabulary building and, where ready, encouraging early sounds and words. PECS is often a *bridge* to speech, not a replacement for it.\n- **Occupational therapy** — helps with the fine-motor skill of picking up and handing over a card, sitting and attending, and the sensory regulation that makes communication possible.\n- **Behavioural and play-based approaches** — reinforce initiation, turn-taking and motivation, so a child *wants* to reach out and communicate.\n- **Parent-led everyday practice** — the most powerful ingredient. When pictures are available at mealtimes, play and outings, communication becomes part of real life rather than a session-only skill.\n- **Other AAC tools** — PECS can sit alongside or transition into speech-generating devices and apps as a child's needs grow.\n\nThe goal is one joined-up plan where each therapy strengthens the others, all pointed at the same outcome: a child who can tell you what they need, think and feel.\n\n## When to seek guidance\nIf your child has few or no words by the age peers are talking, struggles to make their needs known, or shows frustration because communication is hard, a developmental check helps. A clinician can advise whether PECS — and which combination of therapies — best fits your child right now.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. From a child's [communication profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), our team builds one coordinated plan that weaves PECS into [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) and other supports as needed. Explore how we [help children communicate](/) across our 70+ centres.\n\n## Trusted sources\nASHA guidance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); WHO ICD-11 developmental framework; American Academy of Pediatrics family resources on supporting early communication.\n\n**Next step —** Want a plan that combines PECS with the right therapies for your child? [Book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/speech-therapy).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-combined-with-other-therapies","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-combined-with-other-therapies","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"meta_title":"Can PECS Be Combined With Other Therapies?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep picture cards within reach during favourite activities — snack time, bubbles or a loved toy — and pair every exchange with the spoken word, so communication becomes part of real life.","published_at":"2026-06-10T13:42:00.152482+00:00","what_to_watch":"Watch for few or no words by the age peers are talking, difficulty making needs known, or frustration and meltdowns when a child cannot communicate what they want.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/","label":"ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP — HealthyChildren.org family resources"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int","label":"WHO ICD-11"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T13:42:00.152482+00:00","meta_description":"Yes — PECS works alongside speech therapy, occupational therapy and play-based support as one coordinated plan. Here's how the pieces fit together for your","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}