{"h1":"What Progress Can I Expect From PECS?","faq":[{"a":"No. Research and clinical experience show PECS does not hinder speech — for many children spoken words actually emerge as picture use grows, because successful communication is rewarded and the pressure to speak is removed.","q":"Will PECS stop my child from learning to talk?"},{"a":"There is no fixed timeline. Many children make the first big leap — understanding that handing over a picture gets a result — within the early weeks of consistent practice, but the overall pace depends on your child's starting point, motivation and how often PECS is used across the day.","q":"How long before I see progress with PECS?"},{"a":"No. While PECS is widely used with autistic children, it can help any child who is not yet talking or has very limited speech to build intentional, functional communication. A clinician can advise whether it suits your child.","q":"Is PECS only for children with autism?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-progress-can-i-expect-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","title":"What Progress Can I Expect From 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":"Family Empowerment","value":"family_empowerment"}],"parent":{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"},"related":[{"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"},{"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-goals-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-work-on","title":"What goals does PECS work on?"},{"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":"how-long-does-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs-take-to-show-results","title":"How Long Does PECS Take to Show Results?"},{"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":"PECS helps a non-verbal or minimally verbal child learn that communication gets results, progressing through clear phases — from a single picture exchange to seeking you out, choosing between pictures, building sentences and commenting. Many children develop spoken words alongside picture use, as PECS does not hinder speech. Pace varies with practice and consistency. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","answer_md":"*PECS turns a simple picture handed to you into your child's first clear, powerful words: \"I want that.\"*\n\n## In short\nThe Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) helps a child who is not yet talking — or who has very few words — learn that **communication gets results**. Progress is usually steady and staged: most children begin by exchanging a single picture for something they want, then learn to seek you out, build short picture sentences, and many go on to use words alongside or instead of pictures. There is no fixed timeline — progress depends on your child's starting point, practice and consistency — but for many children PECS is a confidence-building bridge to richer communication, not a dead end.\n\n## What progress typically looks like\nPECS is taught in clear phases, and \"progress\" means moving through them at your child's own pace:\n\n- **First exchanges** — your child learns to pick up a picture of a desired item and place it in your hand to ask for it. This first \"aha\" — *my action changes what happens* — is often the biggest leap.\n- **Travelling to communicate** — your child learns to move towards their picture book and towards you, even across a room, to make a request. This builds genuine, intentional communication.\n- **Choosing between pictures** — distinguishing one picture from another to ask for the *specific* thing they want.\n- **Building sentences** — combining an \"I want\" card with a picture to form a short structured message.\n- **Commenting and answering** — moving beyond requests to responding to questions and commenting on the world (\"I see…\").\n\nA reassuring point many parents worry about: research and clinical experience show PECS does **not** stop a child from talking. For many children, spoken words *emerge* as picture use grows, because the pressure to speak is removed and successful communication is rewarded.\n\n## What shapes the pace\nProgress varies, and that is completely normal. It depends on how often PECS is practised across the day (not just in therapy), how consistently everyone at home and school uses the same approach, your child's motivation, and their individual profile. Steady daily practice with highly motivating items usually brings the fastest, most joyful gains.\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 on their communication journey through a [clinician-administered structured assessment](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), then build a PECS or wider communication plan delivered through [speech therapy](/speech-therapy) and coaching so you can practise the same steps confidently at home. Learn how we support [communication and language development](/) across our network.\n\n## Trusted sources\nAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) guidance on augmentative and alternative communication; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) guidance on supporting communication in young children.\n\n**Next step —** Want to know which communication stage your child is at, and the right next step? [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-i-expect-from-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-i-expect-from-the-picture-exchange-communication-system-pecs","lang":"en","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"therapies","label":"Therapies"}],"meta_title":"PECS: What Progress Can I Expect?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Keep your child's picture book always within reach and use highly motivating items — favourite snacks or toys — so every exchange brings an immediate, rewarding result and builds their drive to communicate.","published_at":"2026-06-10T12:38:00.116011+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 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care","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Watch for your child's first independent picture exchange, then their willingness to travel towards you to communicate, to choose between pictures, and eventually to build short picture sentences — and notice any spoken words emerging alongside picture use.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://www.asha.org","label":"ASHA — augmentative and alternative communication guidance"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren.org — supporting early communication"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T12:38:00.116011+00:00","meta_description":"PECS helps non-verbal children learn that communication works — progressing from single pictures to sentences, and often to spoken words. What to expect.","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}