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The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of the implementation of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on the comprehension of instructions by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of the implementation of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on the comprehension of instructions by children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Clinical Archives of Communication Disorders, 5, 31-41.Abstract: Purpose: We investigated the effects of behavioral skills training package with parents to use picture exchange communication system (PECS) with their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to develop communication skills. Methods: Two parents and their children with ASD (one child per family) participated in this study. A multiple baseline design was used during the parents' training, and a changing criterion design was used during parents' implementation of PECS with children. Results: Results indicated that both parents implemented PECS intervention with their children with high procedural integrity and required minimal feedback through Bug-in-Ear at the end of the intervention. Moreover, both children acquired independent picture exchanges with their parents who implemented PECS training and generalized and maintained the skills. Conclusions: The findings suggest that when parents receive appropriate training and feed-back, they can train their children to use PECS to independently request desired items or activities. The current study extends existing research on PECS by teaching parents as the primary PECS trainers to implement the strategy with their children. 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication, https://doi.org/10.1080/07434618.2020.1813196.ABSTRACT: A considerable number of studies have demonstrated that augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is effective in increasing speech production in some children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Thus, this study aimed to (a) investigate the effects of a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Phase IV protocol on the acquisition of spontaneous augmented requests, (b) evaluate the impact of progressive time delay and synthetic speech output on the development of vocal requests, and (c) determine the participants' preferences for each modality after reaching mastery. A multiple-baseline design across four children with ASD was used to measure the acquisition of augmented and vocal requests during the transition from low-tech to high-tech AAC systems. During a natural condition (i.e., playtime), a modified PECS Phase IV protocol was applied to teach the participants to request by producing multisymbol messages (e.g., I WANT þ names of a preferred item) using an iPad as well as vocalizations. After mastery, the participants' preference for using the modified PECS Phase IV app or the communication book was assessed by comparing the response allocations. The preliminary results suggest that the modified PECS protocol can be used to transition from a low to high-tech communication modality.

Functional communication skills are essential for all learners and must be promoted within all environments, including the home. During this time of home confinement, many families will need to look at opportunities for their children to use existing functional communication skills or even to acquire new skills. This article describes a set of 9 critical communication skills and provides a variety of examples of how families can improve the use of these important skills. Some of these involve speaker (expressive) skills, whereas others involve listener (receptive) skills.

PECS training for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities has been extensively evaluated. In contrast, there is a dearth of literature on outcomes of PECS training for adults lacking functional communication skills. A literature search produced five empirical studies involving PECS training with 18 adults. The participants involved presented with a wider range of intellectual and physical challenges than those typically found in child-related research. Where noted, severity of diagnoses ranged from mild to profound and included participants with single, dual and triple diagnoses, the majority with dual diagnoses. Each of the studies shows results in line with child-related research. While the amount of research is limited, the outcomes of these few studies are profound in their implications for adults with a variety of intellectual disabilities and physical challenges. Implications for both children and adults are considered.