{"h1":"Progress with PECS for Global Developmental Delay","faq":[{"a":"No. Research and clinical experience show PECS does not hold speech back — for many children it actually encourages spoken words, because it lowers frustration and builds the foundations of communication. Speech is always welcomed alongside the pictures.","q":"Will PECS stop my child from learning to talk?"},{"a":"Many children make the first picture exchange within the early sessions, but every child with Global Developmental Delay moves at their own pace. Consistent daily use at home, in therapy and at school makes the biggest difference.","q":"How long before we see progress with PECS?"},{"a":"Yes — and we encourage it. PECS works best when everyone around your child uses it everywhere. Pinnacle therapists coach families so the same pictures and routines carry across home, therapy and school.","q":"Can we use PECS at home as well as in therapy?"}],"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?","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-global-developmental-delay","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Global Developmental Delay"},{"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-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with Autism make with PECS?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay","title":"Is PECS Right for a Child with Global Developmental Delay?"},{"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":"With PECS, many children with Global Developmental Delay progress from handing over a single picture to request a wanted item, through choosing between pictures, to building short sentences and commenting — often with fewer meltdowns and growth in spoken words too. Progress is gradual and depends on consistent daily use across home and therapy. 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 your child's first true 'I want to talk to you' — and that changes everything.*\n\n## In short\nWith the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), many children with Global Developmental Delay (GDD) make real, steady progress — beginning with handing over one picture to ask for something they love, and growing into building short sentences, commenting on their world, and often using more spoken words along the way. Because PECS gives a child a *reliable way to be understood*, it usually reduces frustration and challenging behaviour too. Progress is gradual and child-led, but for many families that first independent picture exchange is a turning point.\n\n## What progress can look like\nPECS is taught in structured phases, and a child with GDD can move through them at their own pace:\n- **Phase 1 — the first request:** your child learns to pick up a picture of a wanted item and place it in your hand. This is the breakthrough moment — communication becomes *intentional* and *initiated by your child*.\n- **Phase 2 — persistence and distance:** they learn to travel to their picture board and to you, building independence and motivation to communicate.\n- **Phase 3 — choosing:** discriminating between pictures to choose what they actually want.\n- **Phases 4–6 — building language:** combining pictures into simple sentences (\"I want… biscuit\"), then describing, asking and **commenting** (\"I see… dog\") — the foundations of real conversation.\n\nAlongside this, families often notice **fewer meltdowns** (because needs are finally being met), more eye contact and shared attention, and for many children **growth in spoken words** — PECS does not hold speech back; the evidence shows it often encourages it.\n\n## What shapes the pace\nEvery child with GDD is different. Progress depends on consistent daily use across home, therapy and school, motivating items your child genuinely wants, and a coordinated team. PECS works best woven into **speech and language therapy** and used by everyone around your child — not just in the therapy room.\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. Our therapists assess where your child sits today, choose the right communication approach, and coach your family to use it everywhere. Explore our [speech and language therapy](/speech-therapy) support, understand how we build your child's [developmental profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and learn more about [Pinnacle Blooms Network](/).\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) on supporting communication in developmental delay; WHO guidance on nurturing care and early childhood development.\n\n**Next step —** Want to know if PECS is right for your child? [Book an assessment with a Pinnacle speech-language therapist](/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-global-developmental-delay-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-global-developmental-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"}],"meta_title":"PECS Progress for Global Developmental Delay","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep a picture of one thing your child truly loves within easy reach, and gently wait for them to hand it to you before giving it — every successful exchange is real communication practice.","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-global-developmental-delay","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Global Developmental Delay","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-the-right-therapy-for-a-child-with-global-developmental-delay","title":"Is PECS Right for a Child with Global Developmental Delay?","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 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Delay","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-preschoolers","title":"How does PECS help preschoolers?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-help-toddlers","title":"How does PECS help toddlers?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-many-sessions-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-does-a-child-usually-need","title":"How Many PECS Sessions Does a Child Usually Need?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":22},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-goals-at-home","title":"How can I support PECS goals at home?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":1},{"key":"progress","items":[{"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?","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-autism-spectrum-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with Autism make with 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 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typically costs and what affects the price","reason":"Same 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 your child initiating an exchange independently, choosing between pictures, combining pictures into short sentences, fewer frustration-driven meltdowns, and any emerging spoken words alongside the pictures.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/","label":"ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — supporting early communication"},{"url":"https://nurturing-care.org/","label":"WHO Nurturing Care Framework"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T12:44:00.518354+00:00","meta_description":"What progress can a child with Global Developmental Delay make with PECS? See how picture exchange builds requesting, sentences and speech — gently, step b","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}