What is the Picture Exchange Communication System?
The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a way for autistic people to communicate without relying on speech. To communicate, people use cards with pictures, symbols, words or photographs to ask for things, comment on things or answer questions.

Who is the Picture Exchange Communication System for?
Any autistic person can use the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). There’s no age limit, but most research has focused on children. Some children might use PECS for a short time while their speech is developing. Others might use it for longer. Anyone who has difficulties with spoken language can use this therapy. This includes people with developmental delay and traumatic brain injury, as well as autistic people.

Does the Picture Exchange Communication System help autistic children?
Research has shown positive effects from the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), particularly for the early stages of PECS, which teach children how to ask for things.

More high-quality studies are needed to investigate the effects of using PECS for more complex communications and to work out which children respond best to PECS. Research also shows that PECS doesn’t stop children from developing speech.