PECS therapy?

I'm being introduced to PECS for DCs speech therapy.

Can someone explain why they would use this kind of speech therapy and not the I guess you would call it traditional speech therapy (?) where they would just make sounds and have the child repeat them back.

DC has some words, can immitate sounds sometimes will repeat two word lines from movies. I feel like PECS doesn't help them talk verbally from how it has been explained to me.

Can you please tell me what your experience is/was with pecs therapy? TIA

Re: PECS therapy?

My DD was the same as yours. She was making sounds and trying to say words but it just wasn't clicking for her. They started using PECS and at first I was like no way she needs to speak not use pictures but they said to give it alittle time. I don't remember exactly how long but she took to the PECS very quickly and was so happy that she was able to communicate. After only using PECS for a little while she had a HUGE explosion of words. They then went back to the more "traditional" speech therapy. We still do use pictures and phrases with her sometimes, like "need potty" or "quiet mouth" (my DD is very loud lol). DD is a very visual learner and PECS gave her the jump start she needed.

Re: PECS therapy?

I'm a school psychologist in a special ed preschool. My experience has been that PECS are often used to facilitate language by giving children the visual cues that will eventually help them use the associated words. I have also seen them used with non-verbal children in order to provide them with a way to communicate that doesn't demand language.

Re: PECS therapy?

we opted out of using PECS for AJ and spoke with his team and instead got him an iPod Touch. smaller to use and so many other learning things.

he was about 2 when he got his 1st iPod, they wanted to introduce PECS at 19 months, but we held off and he used my DHs phone to communicate along with flashcard videos playing all day long.

AJ at that time was completely non-verbal. he is 4 now and completely verbal.

i liked how the iPod helped him sound out words, if i wasn't always with him.

Re: PECS therapy?

Re: PECS therapy?

I have seen PECS work wonders for a childs self esteem. It helps them communicate and alleviates frustration WHILE they are learning to speak.

Re: PECS therapy?

My 3 year old (PDD-NOS) started using PECS in Sept. it helped him alot. He had a lot of words when starting school but had trouble putting words into phrases/sentences. The PECS helped him do that and now he can request and communicate amazingly. Sometimes if he gets frustrated and can't get the words out we will hold a picture up and his light bulb goes off and gets it out.
My other guy who's 7 (non-verbal) has been using PECS since 3 and it hasn't been effective for him. He actually gets lost with pictures and does better reading words. So all kids are different, I'd try it out and see how it works for yours. GL

Re: PECS therapy?

So happy to hear all this. I'm so crossing my fingers this will help him.

Re: PECS therapy?

I'm a speech therapist who uses both the PEC system as well as picture symbols. My feeling is that giving a child as many modalities to communicate as possible is the best way to teach them language. Even with my kids who are nonverbal, I ALWAYS encourage speech even while using augmentative communication.

Re: PECS therapy?