How a Child's Progress Is Measured in PECS

When your child first hands you a picture to ask for what they want, that small exchange is a giant leap in communication — and yes, it can be measured beautifully.

In short

Progress in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is measured by moving through its six structured phases — from a child's very first picture exchange to building full sentences and commenting on the world around them. Therapists track how independently, how often, and how spontaneously your child communicates, alongside the growing range of pictures, vocabulary and people they communicate with. It is steady, observable and celebrated step by step — not a pass-or-fail test.

How progress is tracked

PECS follows a clear ladder, and your child's movement up it is the measure of progress:

• Phase I — How to communicate: the child learns to pick up a single picture and hand it to a partner to get a desired item. Success is the first independent exchange.
• Phase II — Distance and persistence: the child travels further to their book and to a person to communicate, showing motivation and initiative.
• Phase III — Picture discrimination: the child chooses the right picture from several — a key cognitive step.
• Phase IV — Sentence structure: building "I want ___" strips, the start of real grammar.
• Phase V — Answering questions: responding to "What do you want?"
• Phase VI — Commenting: "I see ___", "I hear ___" — communicating beyond just requesting.

Within each phase, therapists watch four things: independence (fewer prompts over time), spontaneity (initiating without being asked), frequency (more exchanges across the day), and generalisation (using PECS with different people, places and an expanding vocabulary). Data is recorded session by session, so you can see real, charted movement — and many children later bridge from pictures towards spoken words.

The Pinnacle way

This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care. Our therapists administer a structured, clinician-led assessment to find your child's communication starting point, then map PECS progress phase by phase. Explore Pinnacle Blooms Network, our speech therapy programme, and how your child's profile is built through the AbilityScore®.

Trusted sources

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on augmentative and alternative communication; WHO ICD-11 and developmental communication frameworks; American Academy of Pediatrics resources on supporting communication development.

Next step — Want to see exactly where your child is and chart their next milestone? Book a communication assessment with a Pinnacle clinician.