{"h1":"Progress with PECS for Speech and Language Delay","faq":[{"a":"No. PECS does not hold speech back — for many children it does the opposite. By teaching the purpose of communicating and lowering frustration, the picture often becomes a scaffold that spoken words grow around. Many children begin or increase speech while using PECS.","q":"Will PECS stop my child from learning to talk?"},{"a":"Progress is gradual and child-led. The first phase — learning that handing over a picture makes something happen — can come quite quickly, while building to choosing, sentences and commenting takes patient, consistent practice guided by a speech and language therapist.","q":"How quickly will I see progress with PECS?"},{"a":"No. PECS is used with many children with speech and language delay as a bridge while spoken language develops. It gives your child a reliable way to be understood today, protecting confidence and relationships, whether or not speech is still emerging.","q":"Is PECS only for children who will never speak?"}],"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?","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":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with CAS make with PECS?"},{"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":"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":"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"},{"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 the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), many children with speech and language delay learn to initiate communication by exchanging pictures to request, then build to choosing, sentences and commenting — and many also gain or increase spoken words as frustration falls. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*When words are still on their way, a child can still ask, choose and connect — one picture, one exchange, one bridge at a time.*\n\n## In short\nWith the **Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)**, many children with speech and language delay make meaningful progress — they learn to *initiate* communication by handing over a picture to request what they want, and from there often build to longer sentences and richer interaction. Far from holding speech back, PECS is associated with growing spoken words in many children, because it lowers frustration and teaches the *purpose* of communicating. Progress is gradual and child-led, and works best when guided by a speech and language therapist.\n\n## What progress looks like\nPECS is taught in clear phases, and each one is a real milestone for your child:\n- **Phase 1 — the first exchange:** your child learns the most powerful idea of all — that giving a picture *makes something happen*. This single skill turns a passive child into an active communicator.\n- **Phase 2 — persistence and reach:** they travel to their book and to an adult to communicate, even across the room — communication becomes intentional and portable.\n- **Phase 3 — choosing:** they discriminate between pictures to ask for the *specific* thing they want, reducing meltdowns born of \"I can't make you understand\".\n- **Phase 4 to 6 — building sentences:** they combine pictures into phrases (\"I want… biscuit\"), add describing words, answer questions, and begin commenting, not just requesting.\n\nAlongside these steps, many children **begin or increase spoken words** — the picture often becomes a scaffold the voice grows around. Even where speech emerges slowly, your child gains a reliable way to be understood *today*, which protects their confidence, behaviour and relationships while spoken language develops.\n\n## When to seek a check\nA speech and language therapist should guide PECS to set the right starting phase and goals. Seek a developmental check if your child has very few or no words by around two, rarely uses gestures or eye contact to share, shows growing frustration at not being understood, or has lost words or skills they once had — the last needs prompt review.\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, our therapists build a [communication profile](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated) for your child and decide whether PECS, alongside [speech and language therapy](/speech-therapy), fits their needs and stage. You can also explore [how we support speech and language development](/) across our network.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association guidance on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and early language; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) on supporting late-talking children; WHO ICD-11 framing of developmental speech and language difficulties.\n\n**Next step —** Want to know if PECS could help your child communicate? [Book a speech and language 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-speech-and-language-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-speech-and-language-delay-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"}],"meta_title":"PECS Progress for Speech & Language Delay","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep a few clear pictures of your child's favourite things within reach, and pause to let them hand you a picture before you give it — even one successful exchange a day builds the habit of communicating.","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-speech-and-language-delay","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Speech and Language 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 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-autism-spectrum","title":"How PECS Helps a Child with Autism Spectrum","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-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"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-suitable-for-preschoolers","title":"Is the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Suitable for Preschoolers?","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-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-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-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":"what-progress-can-a-child-with-childhood-apraxia-of-speech-make-with-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What progress can a child with CAS 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 topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-long-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-take-to-show-results","title":"How Long Does PECS Take to Show Results?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Follow progress","total":7},{"key":"care","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-do-i-find-a-good-provider-of-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-for-my-child","title":"How do I find a good provider of PECS for my child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-typically-cost-and-what-affects-the-price","title":"What PECS 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 very few or no words by around two, little use of gesture or eye contact to share, rising frustration at not being understood, and any loss of words or skills once gained — which needs prompt review.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/","label":"ASHA — Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/Pages/default.aspx","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — Toddler language development"},{"url":"https://icd.who.int/","label":"WHO ICD-11"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T12:44:00.518354+00:00","meta_description":"See what progress a child with speech and language delay can make with PECS — from first exchanges to sentences, and often growing spoken words too.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}