Potential Concerns
There may be a variety of emotions you associate with beginning a Picture Exchange Communication System. Several common concerns are addressed below.
How will PECS impact vocabulary?
Additional vocabulary that can be taught using PECS includes:
What types of messages will PECS help my child communicate?
Requesting is an important communication skill children are taught to use with PECS. However children are also taught:
PECS can also be used to create visual picture schedules to help children understand their day, or a certain activity.
Will PECS interfere with my child's natural speech development?
There is no research to suggest the use of PECS will slow down or negatively impact a child's speech development. There is research that supports the use of PECS with children developing natural speech. Studies show children using PECS while working on speech as well, improve in the number of words spoken and the complexity of their messages (Frost, Daly, & Bondy, 1997).
Will PECS improve my child's behavior?
Using PECS allows children to communicate their wants and needs as well as request and answer questions. If a child wants a toy, but has no way to request the toy except for crying, this can be the cause for the use of many negative behaviors. By providing a system such as PECS, a child now has a consistent manner to communicate.Research has shown that negative behavior has decreased with the use of PECS (Carpenter, et. al., 1998). There is also research shows using PECS can improve many social behaviors (Le & Charlop-Christy, 1999).
How will PECS impact vocabulary?
Additional vocabulary that can be taught using PECS includes:
- colors
- sizes
- shapes
- numbers and quantities "more, most"
- locations "here, under"
What types of messages will PECS help my child communicate?
Requesting is an important communication skill children are taught to use with PECS. However children are also taught:
- requesting wants and needs
- answering yes/no questions
- asking for help
- asking for a break from an activity
- how to wait for a response
PECS can also be used to create visual picture schedules to help children understand their day, or a certain activity.
Will PECS interfere with my child's natural speech development?
There is no research to suggest the use of PECS will slow down or negatively impact a child's speech development. There is research that supports the use of PECS with children developing natural speech. Studies show children using PECS while working on speech as well, improve in the number of words spoken and the complexity of their messages (Frost, Daly, & Bondy, 1997).
Will PECS improve my child's behavior?
Using PECS allows children to communicate their wants and needs as well as request and answer questions. If a child wants a toy, but has no way to request the toy except for crying, this can be the cause for the use of many negative behaviors. By providing a system such as PECS, a child now has a consistent manner to communicate.Research has shown that negative behavior has decreased with the use of PECS (Carpenter, et. al., 1998). There is also research shows using PECS can improve many social behaviors (Le & Charlop-Christy, 1999).