Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in ABA
PECS is a dynamic communication tool our therapists can use to help children communicate more effectively as part of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. It’s one of the many methods and approaches our experienced therapists can use to help your child learn new skills and expand their horizons.
Let’s explore what PECS is and how it can be an effective part of ABA therapy.
What Is the Picture Exchange Communication System?
The Picture Exchange Communication System is an alternative communication system. Put simply, it’s a tool to help a child communicate. PECS involves cards, each with a picture corresponding to an object or idea. When used in ABA therapy, children with autism can use the cards to communicate wants, needs, and more. PECS may be a great communication tool for some kiddos and not for others. PECS can be incorporated into ABA therapy for children who may benefit from it.
Implementing PECS: Six Phases
Putting PECS into practice involves six stages:
- Communication: A child learns to exchange a picture card for a matching item that they want.
- Persistence: This stage involves generalizing the PECS tool. A child learns to exchange a particular picture card for a desired item in various situations and with different people
- Picture Discrimination: Moving on from using one card, in this step, a therapist teaches the skill of differentiating between multiple cards and choosing more than one to request more than one favorite item.
- Sentence Structure: Next, a child learns how to build a sentence using picture cards. For instance, they might line up a card representing “I want” next to a card matching an item. Kiddos progressively learn how to add more parts of speech, like an adjective, to a sentence using the cards.
- Responsive Replies: Answering questions is, of course, the flip side of communication. The objective of this stage is to teach children to respond to a question like “What do you want?” using a picture card.
- Commenting: This next phase moves into more complex sentences. For example, in response to questions like “How do you feel?”, a child learns to respond with an “I feel…” sentence using their picture cards.
PECS in ABA Therapy
Implementing PECS
The PECS approach can be thought of as another tool in our ABA therapists’ toolbox. It is used alongside other ABA methods like task analysis, incidental teaching, and Discrete Trial Teaching as part of your child’s tailor-made therapy plan.
Our experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) create a personalized therapy plan for your child and help determine which therapy methods and approaches (including PECS) may benefit your child the most.
Registered Behavior Technicians work directly with your kiddo and incorporate PECS and ABA into their therapy.
Evidence-Based Practice
There is evidence that PECS can help children with autism make important gains in their communication abilities, including functional communication, spontaneous speech, and many other essential skills.
Some people may worry that using picture cards might interfere with an autistic child’s ability to grow in verbal language skills. Some research shows, however, that using PECS may help verbal development in some children.
Benefits of PECS for Children with Autism
The Picture Exchange Communication System is a simple and convenient tool that can be used in many situations and settings. Let’s explore some other benefits of PECS in ABA.
Aids Communication
For children with autism, trying to communicate their wants or needs can be a challenge. An inability to get their message across may cause a child to become frustrated or use less desirable behaviors to communicate.
Using PECS enables children to express their message rather than use challenging behaviors like tantrums or verbal outbursts.
Encourages Initiation
One challenge often faced by kiddos with autism is initiating communication. For example, a child may want to ask a teacher if he can play a particular game but doesn’t take the step of getting the teacher’s attention to relay his question.
Part of implementing PECS is teaching a child to bring a picture card to the person they want to communicate with rather than waiting to be noticed. This helps them learn how to engage someone before communicating, an essential part of effective, real-world interaction in all settings.
Builds Independence
As part of ABA therapy, PECS therapy can help kiddos with autism grow in independence and autonomy by giving them a tool they can use to connect to others, express their feelings or needs, and initiate social interactions.
Support for Caregivers: Using PECS
At InBloom, we involve our families in the planning and therapy process. As a parent or caregiver, you’ll have the opportunity to meet with your child’s BCBA regularly to discuss and collaborate.
One key part of this collaboration is parent teaching. We understand that a child’s home environment is a huge part of their growth, learning, and achievement. As a parent, being equipped to continue your child’s therapy at home is invaluable.
Your child’s BCBA can provide coaching in implementing PECS outside of therapy sessions. We can also work with you to ensure your child’s picture cards are optimized for the things they like or need to communicate about outside of therapy. Personalized ABA therapy is effective therapy.
Start Your Autism Therapy Journey with InBloom Autism Services
We encourage you to contact us to learn more about ABA therapy at InBloom. We offer caring, experienced staff and engaging, comfortable therapy centers—all designed to help your child grow and bloom.
