Speech and Language…..
Did you know?
Did you know that Picture Exchange Communication Symbols (PECS) are a wonderful way to help your child move from speaking 2-3 word utterances to complete sentences? PECS are picture representations of objects, actions, descriptive concepts, articles, people, as well as all other parts of speech. Each picture is accompanied by the written word. (For example: a picture of a ball would also have the typed word “ball” above it) When a child uses PECS, they learn to combine the pictures together to reflect their thoughts, needs, and questions. So why is this a great system for my child with Down syndrome?
Research estimates that 65-80% of children with DS have conductive hearing loss due to Otitis Media with Effusion (recurrent ear infections with middle ear fluid -without signs/symptoms of ear infection) Other areas of weakness may also include: low tone, decreased cognition, decreased motor planning, limited ability to word find, language delays/disorders as well as sensory processing difficulties. Due to the predisposition to having these difficulties, capitalizing on your child’s visual strengths can greatly expand their language and learning abilities! When the PECS system is used properly, children are given the ability to create simple and complex sentences easily! PECS are also a wonderful tool used to help increase literacy skills! Exposure to whole word reading each time your child is communicating is a great secondary benefit!
A personal account near and dear to my heart lays a perfect example of a success story using the PECS system. I worked with a child in northern Virginia for three years. They were long time members of DSANV (DS Association of Northern Virginia). I started seeing Jenny when she was 7 years old. She was speaking in single words and using gestures. When I began seeing Jenny we worked on: verbal language, building spontaneous vocabulary, working on articulation (pronunciation of sounds) and working on using simple sentences. After three years Jenny’s mom and I had hit a wall with spontaneous verbal language. We worked so hard on spontaneous language; however Jenny would only use approximately 3 word utterances most of the time. We both knew she had the capability of using so much more! It just wasn’t coming out. This is when I attended a PECS training seminar and came back with a whole new system for Jenny. In a matter of ONE therapy session (60 minutes), instead of saying “chips please mommy”, Jenny used her PECS to say verbally/read aloud “I want chips in a bowl please mommy”. Both mom and I were so ecstatic! Using PECS was so simple for Jenny and it empowered her. She was no longer reliant on prompting or yes/no questions. She was able to express herself in an age appropriate way!
PECS is not a system you need to pay for, it’s a program that you start with your speech-language pathologist (SLP). It’s a system that your SLP makes for your child dependent on your parental input and your school’s input. Please feel free to contact me anytime regarding interest in the PECS system. It can help children and adults looking to expand their language. I am always happy to speak with parents about the options best for their children. If you decide you would like to try the PECS system or any other type of speech therapy, the first session is always free of charge.
Please contact me at: happykidstherapy@hotmail.com or cell: (202)425-6874
Heather Peterson, MS SLP-CCC
Speech Language Pathologist
Thank you for sharing about the benefits of PECS. I printed out your article and gave it to my son's speech therapist at school and she is now incorporating PECS into his therapy to help facilitate the move to talking in sentences.
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