the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Is PECS right for a non-verbal or minimally verbal child?
PECS can suit many non-verbal or minimally verbal children because it teaches the intent to communicate through a low-pressure picture exchange, and it often supports rather than replaces emerging speech. Whether it is right for your child is decided by a speech and language assessment, not chosen in advance — it is one strong option alongside other AAC routes. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
When words are still on their way, a child still has so much to say — and the right tool can hand them their voice today.
In short
PECS can be a wonderful fit for many children who are non-verbal or minimally verbal — but "right" depends on your child, not on the label. PECS teaches a child to start communication by exchanging a picture for something they want, which builds the powerful idea that I can act and the world responds. For most children it is one strong option among several, chosen after a proper communication assessment rather than picked in advance.How PECS helps — and who it suits
PECS is a structured, evidence-informed approach where a child learns to hand over a picture card to request, comment or answer. What makes it special:- *It teaches the intent to communicate first — reaching out to another person — which is the foundation all language is built on.
- It is low-pressure — it does not demand speech, so a child who finds talking hard can succeed straight away and feel that success.
- It often supports, not replaces, speech — many children begin to use words alongside or after pictures, because PECS lowers the frustration that can block early talking.
- It travels everywhere* — pictures work at home, at the shop and at school.
PECS may be the right starting tool when a child has clear wants but no reliable way to express them. For some children, other augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) routes — such as a speech-generating device or sign — suit better, and these can be combined. The best choice comes from watching how your child already tries to connect.
When to seek a communication check
If your child is past their first birthday and not babbling or pointing, is two and using very few or no words, has lost words or gestures they once had, or shows strong frustration when trying to be understood, a speech and language assessment is the wise next step. Early support widens a child's options — it never narrows them.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from an app or online form. Our speech and language therapists assess how your child already communicates and then choose, trial and shape the right tool — PECS, another AAC route, or a blend — through dedicated speech therapy support. You can learn how your child's communication profile is mapped, and explore more across our [developmental support](/) for non-verbal and minimally verbal children.Trusted sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) on early language and communication; WHO guidance on early childhood communication development.Next step — Want to know which communication tool fits your child best? Book a speech and language assessment with a Pinnacle clinician.
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.
What to watch
Watch for whether your child has clear wants but no reliable way to express them, limited or no babbling or pointing past the first birthday, very few or no words by age two, loss of words or gestures once used, and strong frustration when trying to be understood.
Try this at home
Place a picture or photo of a favourite snack just out of reach, and gently encourage your child to hand it to you before you give it — this teaches the powerful first step that communication starts with reaching out to another person.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-10 · reviewed every 365 days
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.
Frequently asked
Will using PECS stop my child from learning to talk?
No — this is a common worry, but evidence and clinical experience show PECS does not hold speech back. By lowering frustration and teaching the intent to communicate, it often supports talking, and many children begin using words alongside or after pictures.
Is PECS only for children with autism?
No. PECS was developed with autistic children in mind but helps many children who are non-verbal or minimally verbal for different reasons. A speech and language therapist decides whether it fits your individual child.
How do I know if PECS or a speech device is better for my child?
That choice comes from a communication assessment that watches how your child already tries to connect. Some children thrive with picture cards, others with a speech-generating device or sign — and the approaches can be combined.