# How a Child's Progress Is Measured in PECS

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

Progress in PECS is measured by a child's movement through its six structured phases — from a first picture exchange to forming sentences and commenting — while therapists track independence, spontaneity, frequency and generalisation across people and vocabulary. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*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](/speech-therapy) programme, and how your child's profile is built through the [AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).

## 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](/speech-therapy).

## Sources
- ASHA — augmentative and alternative communication guidance: https://www.asha.org
- WHO ICD-11 developmental communication framework: https://icd.who.int
- AAP HealthyChildren.org — supporting communication development: https://www.healthychildren.org