Picture Exchange Communication System and Autism Ranking:

Studies and Trials

This section provides details of scientific studies into the effectiveness of this intervention for people with autism which have been published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals. 

If you know of any other publications we should list on this page please email info@informationautism.org

Please note that we are unable to supply publications unless we are listed as the publisher. However, if you are a UK resident you may be able to obtain them from your local public library, your college library or direct from the publisher.

Related Studies and Trials

• Agius M. M., Vance M. (2016) A comparison of PECS and ipad to teach requesting to pre-schoolers with autistic spectrum disorders. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 32(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Boesch M. C. et al. (2013) Comparative efficacy of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) versus a speech-generating device: Effects on requesting skills. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 7(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Boesch M. C. et al. (2013) Comparative efficacy of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) versus a speech-generating device: Effects on social-communicative skills and speech development. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 29(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Bondy A., Frost L. (1994) The Picture Exchange Communication System. Focus on Autistic Behavior. 9(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Carr D., Felce J. (2007) Brief report: Increase in production of spoken words in some children with autism after PECS teaching to phase III. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 37(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Carr D., Felce J. (2007) The effects of PECS teaching to phase III on the communicative interactions between children with autism and their teachers. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 37(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Carson L. et al. (2012) The collateral effects of PECS training on speech development in children with autism. Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. 36(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Chambers M., Rehfeldt A. (2003) Assessing the acquisition and generalization of two mand forms with adults with severe developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 24(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Charlop-Christy M. H. et al. (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), Read Abstract (New Window) Read Full (New Window)
  
  
• Cummings A., Carr J. E., LeBlanc L. A. (2012) Experimental evaluation of the training structure of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 6(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Ganz J. B., Simpson R. L. (2004) Effects on communicative requesting and speech development of the Picture Exchange Communication System in children with characteristics of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 34(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Ganz J. B. et al. (2008) Generalization of a pictorial alternative communication system across instructors and distance. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 24(2), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Ganz J. B., Parker R. I., Benson‌ J. (2009) Impact of the Picture Exchange Communication System: Effects on communication and collateral effects on maladaptive behaviors. Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 25(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Greenberg A. L., Tomaino M. E., Charlop M. (2014) Adapting the picture exchange communication system to elicit vocalizations in children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 26(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Heneker S., Page L. (2003) Functional Communication: the impact of PECS. Speech and Language Therapy in Practice. Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Howlin P. et al. (2007) The effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training for teachers of children with autism: a pragmatic, group randomised controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 48(5), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Lerna A. et al. (2009) The efficacy of the PECS for improving the communicative, relational and social skills in children with autistic disorder: Preliminary results. European Psychiatry. 24(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Lerna A. et al. (2012) Social-communicative effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in autism spectrum disorders. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Lerna A. et al. (2014) Long-term effects of PECS on social–communicative skills of children with autism spectrum disorders: A follow-up study. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders. 49(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Lund S. K., Troha J. M. (2008) Teaching young people who are blind and have autism to make requests using a variation on the Picture Exchange Communication System with tactile symbols: A preliminary investigation Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 38(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Magiati I., Howlin P. (2003) A pilot evaluation study of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) for children with autistic spectrum disorders. Autism. 7(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• McDuffie A. S., Lieberman R. G., Yoder P. J. (2012) Object interest in autism spectrum disorder: A treatment comparison Autism. 16(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Meer L. A. v. d. et al. (2012) A further comparison of manual signing, picture exchange, and speech-generating devices as communication modes for children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. 6(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Park J. H., Alber-Morgan S. R., Cannella-Malone H. (2011) Effects of mother-implemented Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) training on independent communicative behaviors of young children with autism spectrum disorders. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 41(1), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Schreibman L., Stahmer A. C. (2014) A randomized trial comparison of the effects of verbal and pictorial naturalistic communication strategies on spoken language for young children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 44(5), Read Abstract (New Window) Read Full (New Window)
  
  
• Schwartz I. S., Garfinkle A. N., Bauer J. (1998) The Picture Exchange Communication System: Communication outcomes for young children with disabilities. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 18(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Webb T. (2000) Can children with autism and severe learning difficulties be taught to communicate spontaneously and effectively using the Picture Exchange Communication System? Good Autism Practice. 1(1),
  
  
• Yoder P. J., Stone W. L. (2006) Randomized comparison of two communication interventions for preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 74(3), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Yoder P. J., Stone W. L. (2006) A randomized comparison of the effect of two prelinguistic communication interventions on the acquisition of spoken communication in preschoolers with ASD. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 49(4), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  
• Yoder P. J., Lieberman R. G. (2010) Brief report: Randomized test of the efficacy of Picture Exchange Communication System on highly generalized picture exchanges in children with ASD. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 40(5), Read Abstract (New Window)
  
  

Updated

17 Jun 2022

Last Review

01 Sep 2017

Next Review

01 Dec 2023