{"h1":"Progress with PECS for children on the autism spectrum","faq":[{"a":"No — this is a common worry, but research suggests PECS does not suppress speech. For many children it actually supports spoken language emerging, because it builds the underlying idea of intentional, back-and-forth communication. Speech and pictures can grow together.","q":"Will PECS stop my child from learning to talk?"},{"a":"Many children make their very first independent picture exchange within the early sessions, which is itself a big milestone. Moving through all six phases takes longer and varies child to child, depending on starting point and consistent daily practice across home and therapy.","q":"How long before I see progress with PECS?"},{"a":"Not only. PECS is often chosen for children with little or no functional speech, but it can also support children who have some words but struggle to use them to communicate. A speech-language therapist assesses whether PECS, another approach, or a combination fits your child best.","q":"Is PECS only for children who cannot speak at all?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with Autism make with PECS?","entity":{"key":"pecs","kind":"therapy_modality","name":"the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)","slug":null},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Communication","value":"communication"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Support","value":"support"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Plan","value":"plan"},{"kind":"route","label":"Speech-Therapy","value":"speech-therapy"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Self Sufficiency","value":"self_sufficiency"}],"parent":{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-autism-spectrum","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Autism Spectrum"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-i-expect-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What Progress Can I Expect From PECS?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with GDD make with PECS?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-happens-during-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-sessions","title":"What happens during PECS sessions?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child make with PECS?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"Progress with PECS for Non-Verbal & Minimally Verbal Children"}],"summary":"The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) helps many autistic children move from having no clear way to ask, to independently requesting, building sentences and commenting through six structured phases. Progress varies but often includes fewer frustration behaviours and, for some children, supports emerging speech. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When words feel out of reach, a single picture handed to you can become the very first \"I want to tell you something\" — and that moment changes everything.*\n\n## In short\nWith the **Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)**, many children on the autism spectrum learn to start communicating on purpose — first by handing over a picture to request something they want, then building up to short sentences and commenting. Progress is step-by-step and varies child to child, but a common and hoped-for journey is from *no clear way to ask* to *independently initiating requests* — and for many children, PECS supports the emergence of spoken words too, rather than holding them back.\n\n## What progress can look like\nPECS is taught in six structured phases, and each phase is a meaningful milestone:\n- **Phase 1 — the first exchange.** Your child learns the single most powerful idea in communication: *give a picture, get the thing you want.* This first intentional request is often a turning point for families.\n- **Phase 2 — persistence and distance.** Your child travels to their picture book and to you to communicate — generalising the skill across people, places and distractions.\n- **Phase 3 — choosing.** Your child discriminates between pictures, selecting the one that matches what they actually want.\n- **Phase 4 — building sentences.** \"I want\" + picture — the beginnings of grammar and longer messages.\n- **Phases 5 & 6 — answering and commenting.** Responding to \"What do you want?\" and, importantly, commenting on the world (\"I see\", \"I hear\") — moving from requesting to genuine conversation.\n\nAlongside these phases, many children show **fewer frustration-driven behaviours** (because they finally have a way to be understood), more eye contact and initiation, and — reassuringly — research suggests PECS does *not* suppress speech and may support spoken language developing in some children. Progress depends on your child's starting point, consistent practice across home and therapy, and the team around them.\n\n## When to seek guidance\nPECS works best when chosen *for the right child at the right time* by a qualified speech-language therapist as part of a broader plan. If your child has little functional spoken language, struggles to make needs known, or shows distress because they cannot communicate, a structured assessment helps decide whether PECS, another communication approach, or a combination fits best — and how to weave it into everyday life so progress sticks.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or online form. From there, a [structured communication and developmental profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) guides whether PECS suits your child and how it sits alongside [speech and language therapy](/speech-therapy). Explore how communication support is built around your child at [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); World Health Organization ICD-11 framing of autism spectrum disorder; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on supporting communication in autistic children.\n\n**Next step —** Wondering if PECS is right for your child? [Book a communication assessment with a Pinnacle clinician](/speech-therapy).\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-progress-can-a-child-with-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"}],"meta_title":"PECS Progress for Autistic Children | Pinnacle","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep a few clear pictures of things your child loves (a favourite snack, a toy) within reach, and honour the exchange every single time they hand you one — instant, consistent responses teach that communication works.","published_at":"2026-06-10T12:44:00.518354+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"at-what-age-can-a-child-start-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"At What Age Can a Child Start PECS?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-develop","title":"How Does PECS Help a Child Develop?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-backed-by-research-evidence","title":"Is PECS Backed by Research Evidence?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"which-children-benefit-most-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"Which children benefit most from PECS?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":5},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-autism-spectrum","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Autism Spectrum","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-happens-during-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-sessions","title":"What happens during PECS sessions?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-there-any-risks-or-side-effects-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"Are there any risks or side effects of PECS?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-combined-with-other-therapies","title":"Can PECS Be Combined With Other Therapies?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-be-done-online","title":"Can the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) be done online?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech","title":"How PECS helps a child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Global Developmental Delay","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation","title":"How PECS Helps a Non-Verbal or Minimally Verbal Child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-a-child-with-speech-and-language-delay","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Speech and Language Delay","reason":"Same 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progress can a child make with PECS?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-i-expect-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What Progress Can I Expect From PECS?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-non-verbal-minimally-verbal-presentation-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"Progress with PECS for Non-Verbal & Minimally Verbal Children","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with GDD make with PECS?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-a-child-s-progress-measured-in-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"How a Child's Progress Is Measured in PECS","reason":"Same 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topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-qualifications-should-a-therapist-providing-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-have","title":"What qualifications should a PECS therapist have?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Choose and access care","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Watch for whether your child can make needs known, shows frustration because they cannot communicate, has little functional spoken language, or struggles to initiate — these signal it is worth a structured communication assessment to see if PECS fits.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/professional-issues/augmentative-and-alternative-communication/","label":"ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","code":"6A02","label":"WHO ICD-11 — Autism spectrum disorder"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — supporting communication in autism"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T12:44:00.518354+00:00","meta_description":"What progress can a child with autism make with PECS? See the six phases, what to expect, and how Pinnacle clinicians decide if PECS fits your child.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}