The Picture Exchange Communication System

There are many different obstacles autism spectrum individuals have to overcome in their daily lives; social insecurities, eye contact, appropriate spatial awareness etc. But in most cases, their biggest hurdle is mostly their communication skills; it’s been shown that communication impairment is at the heart of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and that children with ASD can show a wide range of communication skills as discussed by Agius and Vance (2015). According to Agius and Vance, there is up to a 30% positive diagnosis of children with ASD who will forever remain nonverbal (no consistent verbal communication). With such a high percentage of ASD children it is recommended that their communication and learning needs are to be addressed by using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), it has been shown as an effective intervention that addresses individuals with ASD and their learning and communication needs (Ogletree, Morrow-Odom, & Westling, 2015). PECS has helped children and young adults with ASD communicate with those around them; their teachers, peers, parents etc.

Children with autism may have communication complications in one form or another (Hansen, 2003). Mikayla has limited speech and will often repeat a word or phrase that is unrelated to the topic. However, is improving her language by using PECs and being able to associate the word to the item. She continues to show struggle with interpreting non-verbal forms of communication like facial expressions, hand signals and other body language.

The effects of autism on communication are extremely varied. Most individuals do not have any trouble with pronunciation. The problems lie in using language effectively. Common problems are lack of eye contact, poor attention, being able to point objects to others, and difficulty with the 'give and take' in normal conversation. Some individuals sometimes use language in unusual ways, retaining features of earlier

According to Kids Health (2014), “children with Autism have difference in the way their brains develop and process information”. For example, “language delay, trouble communicating with their brains, perform certain unusual or repetitive behaviors, or have difficulties learning in school” (p. 1).

H., Carpenter, M., Le, L., LeBlanc, L. A., & Kellet, K. (2002). Using the picture exchange communication system (PECS) with children with autism: Assessment of PECS acquisition, speech, social‐communicative behavior, and problem behavior. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 35(3), 213-231.

Autism is increasingly referred to as being part of the autism spectrum due to the variability and degree of its effects. Most children will not have any trouble with pronunciation. The problems lie in using language effectively and getting across what they want to say in a constructive way which will lead to frustrations and behavioural issues when they are unable to effectively express themselves. We then have to adapt our ways of communicating to suits their needs and again this can be done through written, none verbal, pictorial and in some cases through assisted such as

People with autism experience what professionals call the Triad of Impairments, part of this trio is communication. They have difficulty processing and remembering verbal information. Problems lie in using language effectively, Common problems are lack of eye contact, poor attention, being able to point objects to others, and difficulty with the 'give and take ' in normal conversation. Some individuals sometimes use language in unusual ways, retaining features of earlier stages of language development for long periods or throughout their lives. Some speak only single words, while others repeat a mimicked phrase over and over The body language of people with autism can be difficult for other people to understand. Facial

Zakai is six-years old and will enter the 1st grade next August. Zakai was diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder one year ago at a local university medical school. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder that affects social development. Zakai has trouble making eye contact when communicating with others. Zakai also has trouble creating meaningful sentences, which makes it difficult for others to understand the message he is trying to convey. Therefore, Zakai’s parents requested a conference with me to discuss his current ability levels in the five developmental domains listed below.

Autism affects many children each year and it is important for parents to be aware of delays in their child’s development, in in any area of communication. According to a study by the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders, autistic children possessing a language difficulty or delay have a seventy percent chance of showing fluent speech by the age of eight (“Speech”). Although a child shows delay or impairment in language at a young age, it is possible for them to later on exhibit normal language development. Parents should be aware of normal language benchmarks, such as when a child begins babbling, imitating verbally, and using spoken and first words. If a child is lacking skills normally possessed by typically developing children, having said child

The frequency of regression in autism is uncertain. One study reviewed published evidence and reported rates varying between 22% and 50%.Many children with autism have infantile speech, which usually stops in such children, as in developmentally normal children, before age 18 months. In normal children more communicative speech usually overlaps. The failure of this normal communicative speech to develop in children, who have autism, coinciding with the disappearance of infantile vocalizations, may be over interpreted as regression of speech and language. Our figure of 25% with developmental regression, although in accord with other studies, is likely to include many such children and is likely to be an overestimate. Regression was found in

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECs) is a low-tech, highly versatile tool that can be used with students with any disability, students that struggle with English as their primary language, even with students that have several disabilities. PECS was originally created by the Pyramid Education Consultants and the cost varies depending on the program you purchase however, even low-income families can use PECS. PECS is simply the ability to put a picture with a word. PECS can be found online, Ipads or tablets, or by using any word documents and clip art. Even families without internet capability can use PECS by cutting out pictures from magazines or books and gluing to flash cards. PECS is vital for students because it is not limited to one content area, it is used in

People with Autism are presented with difficulties with social interactions, in particular, establishing and maintaining relationships. There is a lack of responsiveness to non-verbal forms of communications, like facial expressions, physical gestures and eye contact. Often, they are unable to fully express needs due to being unable to interpret and understand others needs. These lack of social interactions effect their ability to share others interests and activities, which gives the appearance that they are socially distant. The cause of their inability to understand non-verbal forms of communication which causes them to become withdrawn socially; is due to a delay in speech.

People with autism have a lifelong developmental condition that not only affects the way they relate to their environment and interaction with others, but also non-verbal interactions may be misread. (Autism Spectrum

Most children diagnosed with Autism has some sort of communication difficulties. Many do not talk at all, but many are also high functioning Autistic children who speak to others frequently. Children who have language impairments with Autism and those with Specific Language Impairment have similarities and differences.

This system of communication makes easier for the person with autism to let others know what their need or want, as well as reducing the frustration of the person with autism for not being able to communicate. Indeed, The Picture Exchange Communication System has many positive aspects and is a well-organized and supervised system.