title: Brief report: increasing communication skills for an elementary-aged student with autism using the Picture Exchange Communication System.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on the spontaneous communication skills of a 6-year-old girl with autism across her home and school environments. The effects of the PECS were also examined for social interaction. Results indicated increases in spontaneous language (i.e., requests and comments) including use of the icons and verbalizations across those settings in which PECS was implemented. Intelligible verbalizations increased in two of three settings, and changes in peer social interaction were noted in one of the two school settings.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Juniper Gardens Children's Project, Kansas City 66101, USA.
authors.forename: Tamara R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Kravits
authors.forename: Debra M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kamps
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kemmerer
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Potucek
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008282:Mainstreaming, Education; D012931:Social Environment