Functional Communication and Other Concomitant Behavior Change Following PECS Training: A Case Study

Layperson Summary:

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) therapy can help children with autism communicate and play with their family.

PECS therapy teaches children to start an interaction with someone else. This study looked to see if PECS therapy could help a six year old child with autism to play more and ask more questions at home. The boy in the study had an easy time learning PECS. The parents were also able to easily do PECS therapy at home. After 60 days of training, the child asked many more questions at home. The study found that the child was also more likely to play and less likely to watch TV after PECS therapy.

Scientific Abstract