This article concludes that the picture-exchange communication system (PECS) can help improve speech and decrease problem behaviors in children with autism.

This research report focused on three children with autism (3-12 years old). All three children were trained in PECS for 15 minutes, two times a week, over 7-11 weeks. Before, during, and after the training period, the children were videotaped during play sessions. These videotapes were scored by several different people, who counted the number of times the children spoke, the length of their sentences, the number of times they made eye contact, and instances of problem behavior. They also noted other measures of language and social behavior. The results showed that by the end of PECS training, each child improved in both the use of speech (including both speaking to others and responding when spoken to) and social behavior. Problem behaviors were also reduced after PECS training was complete, as compared to before the training period.