# What goals does PECS work on?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-goals-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-work-on
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

PECS works on helping a child communicate intentionally — initiating interaction, requesting wants and needs, discriminating between pictures, building sentences, and answering and commenting — while reducing frustration and often supporting spoken language. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

*When words are hard to find, a single picture handed to you can be the first joyful "I want to tell you something".*

## In short
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) works on one big, beautiful goal: helping a child **communicate on purpose** — to start an interaction and make their needs and thoughts known, even before spoken words arrive. It builds skills step by step, from exchanging a single picture for something a child wants, right up to building sentences and commenting on the world. PECS supports — and often encourages — speech, while giving a child a reliable voice from day one.

## The goals PECS builds, step by step
- **Initiating communication** — the very first goal: the child learns to *spontaneously* hand over a picture to request, rather than waiting to be prompted. This sense of "I can start a conversation" is the heart of PECS.
- **Requesting (asking for wants and needs)** — exchanging pictures for favourite foods, toys or activities, so communication brings a real, motivating result.
- **Building distance and persistence** — travelling across a room to find a partner and a picture, so communication works anywhere, with anyone.
- **Discriminating between pictures** — choosing the *right* picture to say exactly what is meant.
- **Building sentences** — combining pictures ("I want" + item) on a sentence strip, growing toward richer, more specific messages.
- **Answering and commenting** — responding to "What do you want?", and later commenting ("I see…", "I hear…") to share attention and ideas, not only to request.

Throughout, a key aim is to **reduce frustration** — when a child can express a need, distress and challenging behaviour often ease, and many children's spoken language grows alongside picture use rather than instead of it.

## When PECS might help your child
PECS is often considered for children who understand more than they can say, who have few or no spoken words, or who find it hard to start communicating. A speech and language therapist assesses whether PECS, another communication approach, or a blend suits your child best — every child's path is different.

## 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**. Across [70+ centres](/) our therapists shape PECS within a child's wider plan, often woven into [speech therapy](/speech-therapy), so a profile from the [AbilityScore® assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) guides each next step. Communication starts with connection — and PECS makes that first connection possible.

## Trusted sources
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on augmentative and alternative communication; WHO ICD-11 framing of communication and developmental needs; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) on supporting early communication.

**Next step —** Wondering if PECS could give your child a voice? [Book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/speech-therapy).

## Sources
- ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication: https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/
- AAP — HealthyChildren.org on early communication: https://www.healthychildren.org
- WHO ICD-11: https://icd.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
- Early Clarity: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/early_clarity

## Related question paths

### Understand the subject
- How Does PECS Help a Child Develop?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-develop
- 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
- 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
- What techniques are used in the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-techniques-are-used-in-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs
- What happens during PECS sessions?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-happens-during-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-sessions
- How does PECS help preschoolers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-preschoolers
- 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
- 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 does PECS help toddlers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-toddlers
- How Many PECS Sessions Does a Child Usually Need?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-many-sessions-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-does-a-child-usually-need
- Is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Suitable for Preschoolers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-suitable-for-preschoolers
- Is PECS suitable for toddlers?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-suitable-for-toddlers
- Is PECS Usually One-on-One or in a Group?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-usually-one-on-one-or-in-a-group

### 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
- What Progress Can I Expect From PECS?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-i-expect-from-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
- 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
- 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

### 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