# Is PECS the right therapy for a non-verbal or minimally verbal child?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

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. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*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
AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — 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](/speech-therapy) support. You can learn how your child's [communication profile is mapped](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), 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](/speech-therapy).

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- ASHA: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC): https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
- AAP HealthyChildren.org: early language and communication: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO: early childhood communication development: https://www.who.int

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Therapies: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/therapies
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Communication: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/domain/communication
- Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support
- Plan: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/plan
- Speech Therapy: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/speech-therapy
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- At What Age Can a Child Start PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/at-what-age-can-a-child-start-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- How Does PECS Help a Child Develop?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-develop
- Is PECS Backed by Research Evidence?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-backed-by-research-evidence
- What is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- Which children benefit most from PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/which-children-benefit-most-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs

### Explore therapy & support
- Is PECS the Right Therapy for Speech and Language Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay
- How PECS Helps a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Child: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation
- Is PECS the right therapy for a child with autism?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-autism-spectrum
- Is PECS Right for a Child with Global Developmental Delay?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay
- Is PECS right for Childhood Apraxia of Speech?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech
- Are there any risks or side effects of PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-any-risks-or-side-effects-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- Can PECS Be Combined With Other Therapies?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-combined-with-other-therapies
- Can the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) be done online?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-done-online
- How PECS Helps a Child with Autism Spectrum: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-autism-spectrum
- How PECS helps a child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech
- How PECS Helps a Child with Global Developmental Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay
- How PECS Helps a Child with Speech and Language Delay: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay

### At home & in everyday life
- How can I support PECS goals at home?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-can-i-support-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-goals-at-home

### Follow progress
- Progress with PECS for Non-Verbal & Minimally Verbal Children: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- How a Child's Progress Is Measured in PECS: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- How Long Does PECS Take to Show Results?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-long-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-take-to-show-results
- What progress can a child with Autism make with PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- What progress can a child with CAS make with PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- What progress can a child with GDD make with PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- What progress can a child make with PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- What Progress Can I Expect From PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-i-expect-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs

### Choose and access care
- How do I find a good provider of PECS for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-for-my-child
- What PECS typically costs and what affects the price: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price
- What qualifications should a PECS therapist have?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-have