how are pecs used

Full Answer

How to work my PECS at home?

Execution

• Lie back on a bench holding two dumbbells with a standard grip (palms forward) and arms extended over your chest.
• Slowly lower the dumbbells to your outer chest, then press and rotate 180 degrees as you push back up to starting position. ...
• Keep your shoulders back and down during the press to maximize pec involvement and minimize delt takeover.

What's the best exercise to get your PECS bigger?

The Best Chest Exercises Barbell bench press. The barbell bench press is probably the most popular chest exercise around. ... Dumbbell bench press. As popular as the barbell bench press is, for some bodybuilders, it may not be the best choice. ... Incline bench press. ... Decline bench press. ... Parallel bar dips. ... Push-ups. ... Dumbbell flys. ... Pec deck. ... Dumbbell squeeze press. ... Chest press machine. ...

How to perk up your PECS?

To get moving:

• With a dumbbell in each hand, start by sitting on the end of the bench.
• Lower yourself down so your back is flat on the bench, your knees are bent, and your feet are flat on the floor.
• To set up for the bench press, bring your upper arms out at your side, parallel to the floor, and bend your elbows so the weights are parallel to your ...

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How to firm up your PECS?

• Rest your back on a stability ball, knees bent, feet planted on the ground hip-distance apart. ...
• Pull your abs toward your spine and squeeze your glutes to keep your hips from sagging as you lift your hips to form a straight line from your shoulders to ...
• Lower the weights with control until the heads of the weights are just outside of your shoulders.

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Do you have to be trained to use PECS?

Professional training regarding PECS is required in order to implement the program as designed. Generally the training is provided at a two-day workshop.

Is PECS only for autism?

PECS is only for people with Autism: PECS is frequently recommended for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder due to deficits in expressive language and social communication.

What are PECS used for in ABA?

PECS is a method that can be used to help children build expressive communication skills. In this system, children use cards with pictures and symbols to communicate with other people.

Are PECS still used?

Since then, PECS has successfully been implemented worldwide with thousands of learners of all ages who have various cognitive, physical and communication challenges. The PECS teaching protocol is based on B.F. Skinner's book, Verbal Behavior, and broad spectrum applied behavior analysis.

Who is PECS appropriate for?

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a way for autistic people to communicate without relying on speech. To communicate, people use cards with pictures, symbols, words or photographs to ask for things, comment on things or answer questions.

Who is a good candidate for PECS?

PECS is a program to assist children to develop a communication system that allows them to meet various needs. Suitable candidates for the program include children who do not speak, who are unintelligible, or who are minimally effective communicators with their present communication system.

What type of intervention is PECS?

What is PECS? PECS is a type of Augmentative and Alternative Communication that uses visual symbols to teach the learner to communicate with parents, carers, teachers and peers. The aim is to teach intentional, functional communication and to allow users to communicate their wants and needs.

What are the 6 stages of PECS?

The Six Phases of the Picture Exchange Communication System Are:PECS PHASE I: How to Communicate. ... PECS PHASE II: Distance and Persistence. ... PECS PHASE III: Picture Discrimination. ... PECS PHASE IV: Sentence Structure. ... PECS PHASE V: Answering Questions. ... PECS PHASE VI: Commenting.

What age can you start using PECS?

PECS can be an alternative communication system for those who don't speak or an augmentative communication system for those who do. PECS is only for young children. PECS has been used around the world with people aged from 14 months to 85 years.

Does PECS inhibit speech?

However, PECS has advantages such as it is readily understood and requires minimal training. Bondy (2011) reported that PECS has positive impacts on the development of speech and that there is no evidence that using PECS inhibits the development or use of speech.

Who invented PECS?

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was created by Lori Frost and Andy Bondy in 1985 and is a unique alternative/augmentative communication intervention and is currently in its second edition.

What is the difference between PECS and PCS?

PCS AND PECS What's the difference? PECS is a formalized program for using symbol supports for communication. Picture communication symbols (PCS) are designed to convey a particular meaning, not just an object.

What age can you start using PECS?

PECS can be an alternative communication system for those who don't speak or an augmentative communication system for those who do. PECS is only for young children. PECS has been used around the world with people aged from 14 months to 85 years.

Who uses speech generating devices?

Speech-generating devices have been used to help autistic children communicate since the 1990s.

How do you get PECS?

The 10 Best Exercises for Building a Bigger ChestDumbbell Squeeze Press. ... Incline barbell bench press. ... Incline dumbbell bench press. ... Close-grip barbell bench press. ... Decline press-up. ... Cable fly. ... Decline barbell bench press. ... Staggered press-up.More items...•

What are the 6 stages of PECS?

The Six Phases of the Picture Exchange Communication System Are:PECS PHASE I: How to Communicate. ... PECS PHASE II: Distance and Persistence. ... PECS PHASE III: Picture Discrimination. ... PECS PHASE IV: Sentence Structure. ... PECS PHASE V: Answering Questions. ... PECS PHASE VI: Commenting.

What is PECS ®?

PECS is a unique alternative/augmentative communication system developed in the USA in 1985 by Andy Bondy, PhD, and Lori Frost, MS, CCC-SLP. PECS was first implemented with pre-school students diagnosed with autism at the Delaware Autism Program. Since then, PECS has successfully been implemented worldwide with thousands of learners of all ages who have various cognitive, physical and communication challenges.

What is the purpose of the PECS system?

In the more advanced phases, individuals are taught to use modifiers, answer questions and comment. The primary goal of PECS is to teach functional communication. Research has shown that some learners using PECS also develop speech.

What is the PECS protocol?

The PECS teaching protocol is based on B.F. Skinner’s book, Verbal Behavior, and broad spectrum applied behavior analysis. Specific prompting and reinforcement strategies that will lead to independent communication are used throughout the protocol. The protocol also includes systematic error correction procedures to promote learning if an error occurs. Verbal prompts are not used, thus building immediate initiation and avoiding prompt dependency.

Where was PECS first implemented?

PECS was first implemented with pre-school students diagnosed with autism at the Delaware Autism Program. Since then, PECS has successfully been implemented worldwide with thousands of learners of all ages who have various cognitive, physical and communication challenges.

How many phases are there in PECS?

PECS consists of six phases and begins by teaching an individual to give a single picture of a desired item or action to a “communicative partner” who immediately honors the exchange as a request. The system goes on to teach discrimination of pictures and how to put them together in sentences. In the more advanced phases, individuals are taught ...

Does PECS develop speech?

Research has shown that some learners using PECS also develop speech. Others may transition to a speech generating device (SGD). The body of research supporting the effectiveness of PECS as an evidence-based practice is substantial and continues to expand, with more than 190 research articles from all over the world.

How Does PECS Work?

When an individual uses PECS to communicate, they use images, picture cards, or visual cues that have been designed for them through observation in order to communicate what they want or need. This system can be used to demonstrate a need for something tangible through a picture or a label and PECS can even be used to communicate some complex emotions or feelings as long as they can be represented and understood easily. Through PECS, children and adults develop communication skills, but they also learn about making choices.

What is PECS in education?

PECS is a method for communication that uses picture cards and other visual representations, such as a label or a brand name that’s been cut off of a box, to communicate what an individual needs or desires. While this system doesn’t sound complex, the growth resulting from it’s implementation in a learning environment like you might find ...

How does the Picture Exchange Communication System work?

People with autism tend to learn visually and visual aids help in a lot of areas in their lives from managing daily hygiene to eating and other tasks. PECS is a method for communication that uses picture cards and other visual representations, such as a label or a brand name that’s been cut off of a box, to communicate what an individual needs or desires . While this system doesn’t sound complex, the growth resulting from it’s implementation in a learning environment like you might find at Lexington is amazing to behold.

What is PECS therapy?

A therapist will also be able to determine timelines, adding in time to wait and allow the parent the ability to say “not right now” without discouraging communication. Through PECS people are able to expand their understanding of verbal communication through nonverbal language practices.

Why is PECS controversial?

Surprisingly this system for communication was, at one time, considered controversial because people thought that it might hinder the development of spoken language. However, studies have shown that even as a communication augmentation for people who don’t struggle verbally, PECS can increase verbal understanding and socialization while decreasing tantrums that stem from miscommunication.

What are the pros and cons of using PECS?

The con to PECS is that, while the type of communication is encouraged for use in the home, it requires experts to implement and perfect. If you have an interest in helping your child to communicate through PECS, you’ll need some expert help to get started.

Why is PECS taught in phases?

PECS is taught in phases to help people learn the process and then perfected or expanded overtime to give them the ability to express more complex things. The phases of PECS learning are:

Why is PECS important?

Using the PECS system can be very beneficial especially if communication is severely dysfunctional. With perseverance and commitment from both the learner and then trainer, PECS will enhance communication skills.

What is the PECS system?

PECS is an alternative communication system that was developed in 1985 by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost. It was first designed to help children affected by autism, as we know that for those with autism learning is typically easier when it is done visually. Since the development of PECS, however, it has been implemented worldwide and used successfully with thousands of learners of all ages who have a wide variety of disabilities and special needs, including: autism, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Asperger syndrome, cerebral palsy, deaf and hearing impaired, epilepsy, Tourette syndrome, and more.

How does the PECS system help with communication?

As the learner completes all six phases of PECS, they will learn to build more complex sentences, improving communication with their friends and family and allowing them more independence and capability as an individual to order their own food, ask for things they want, and communicate their thoughts and feelings to others. Using the PECS system can be very beneficial especially if communication is severely dysfunctional. With perseverance and commitment from both the learner and then trainer, PECS will enhance communication skills.

What is a PECS card?

With PECS, a person with communication difficulties is able to use picture cards to convey to another person what they want. PECS systematically teaches the individual how to communicate using a series of six phases and provides an alternative means of communication for anyone who does not have the use of speech.

What is PECS in education?

For some learners, PECS does help to develop speech, while others may transition to a speech generating device or another type of AAC. The PECS system consists of specific steps that must be taught correctly in order for the system to be effective. For this reason, the person teaching the disabled individual must be trained in how to use PECS.

How effective is PECS?

PECS has been shown to be effective in enhancing functional communication skills of individuals with speech and communication disorders, allowing them an alternative way to communicate with others . Although PECS does not always lead to better speech output, the primary goal is to teach functional communication.

What is the first phase of PECS?

In the first phase of PECS, the individual learns to exchange single pictures for items or activities. This phase teaches the learner the basic concept of the system: handing over a picture of an item or activity will get them what they desire.

What Is PECS?

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was designed in the mid-1980s based on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. It was first implemented at the Delaware Autistic Program (DAP) for nonverbal preschool autistic children.

How can PECS be used in the classroom?

PECS can be used in the classroom and at home to help children communicate requests and thoughts — anything that can be depicted by a picture. A child will have communication pictures that they can produce when they have specific needs, wants, feelings, or thoughts to help indicate what they are thinking or feeling.

How effective is PECS?

PECS has been proven effective for children between the ages of 3 and 12. It can be useful for improving cognitive and physical communication issues in adolescents and adults with autism as well.

What is picture exchange communication system?

The Picture Exchange Communication System is a form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) that is low-tech. As a result, it’s less expensive than many other methods of AAC, such as those requiring technological devices.

What is phase 2 of PECS?

Phase 2 requires that the child travel to use their pictures to make their requests and communicate with different people. Peers in a classroom or small group setting can be taught how to respond and use PECS to communicate together. It can also be used at home and in therapy sessions.

How does Picture Exchange work with autism?

The Picture Exchange Communication System can help to minimize problem behaviors associated with autism, such as poor communication skills and repetitive behaviors, like hand flapping and head turning, by as much as 60%. When a child is more able to communicate effectively, they are less likely to engage in problem behaviors, and they have fewer emotional outbursts as a result.

What is PECS in preschool?

PECS is designed as a form of positive reinforcement. The child shows a picture and gets what they are asking for. It can build up from single pictures to more advanced phases that can include complete sentences.

How does PECS work?

PECS works well in the home or in the classroom. PECS was developed in 1984 by Lori Frost, MS, CCC/SLP and Dr. Andrew Bondy.

What is a PECS?

The Picture Exchange Communication System , or PECS, allows people with little or no communication abilities to communicate using pictures. People using PECS are taught to approach another person and give them a picture of a desired item in exchange for that item.

Why do we start with PECS?

Starting with PECS can help avoid creating a negative emotional history related to speech.

When was PECS developed?

PECS was developed in 1984 by Lori Frost, MS, CCC/SLP and Dr. Andrew Bondy. It was first used at the Delaware Autistic Program. The goal of (PECS) is to teach children with autism a fast, self-initiating, functional communication system.

Can expressive communication be used in meaningful communication?

Because of this, they may not be interested in trying to communicate with others. Even if these individuals can speak some words, they may not use verbal words in meaningful communication exchanges with others.

Does PECS help with tantrums?

Studies have also shown that PECS can decrease tantrums and odd behaviors. For example, an individual may cry because they are thirsty. However, a parent or teacher may not understand why they are crying and as a result their needs will remain unmet. However, if an individual has access to communication pictures they can quickly communicate their need.

What is PECS used for?

Although the PECS strategy is primarily used with individuals who are nonverbal, it could be used with individuals who are primarily echolalic, those who have unintelligible speech, and those who have only a small set of meaningful words or signs in their repertoire.

What is the purpose of PECs?

PECS helps to teach the concept of the power of alternative communication. If one has no or weak preferences, then it may be more difficult to understand and learn the POWER of effective alternative communication via the PECS approach. Sampling for preferences is a first step before beginning PECS training.

Who is a candidate for PECS training?

PECS training is not limited by age but rather by a small set of criteria. Thus, PECS training could be offered to a fifty year old adult with a cognitive impairment as well as to a two year old with no cognitive impairment.

What is the PECS training format?

Programming for PECS begins with three people in the training situation, the child (or adult) who will be transmitting a message, the person who receives the message (e.g., Mom or the teacher), and the facilitative adult who deliberately assists the message sender to make the targeted response.

What is the first step in PECS?

Sampling for preferences is a first step before beginning PECS training. It may be necessary to develop a repertoire of preferences and dislikes through trial and error or through a history of exposure to various types of food, objects, or activities when there are few strong preferences.

How to train for PECS?

Professional training regarding PECS is required in order to implement the program as designed. Generally the training is provided at a two-day workshop. While speech pathologists might be the primary PECS program coordinator for a specific child, it is helpful to have others also attend the two-day trainings since they too will play an important role. These others could include parents, the classroom teacher, and classroom assistants. They will be important in identifying new vocabulary and may help construct some of the picture display symbols as well as provide the nonverbal individual with opportunities to use/learn the new vocabulary. Although many people receive their initial training from a Pyramid Educational Consultant, others may receive their training through a train-the-trainer model from a local individual who has had training beyond the two-day orientation and is certified to train others.

How long does it take to complete a PECS?

Published reports regarding PECS are based on implementation of the program as defined above. The program may take several months or several years to complete. Not everyone who says that he or she is using PECS is running the program as designed, however.

Why are pictures used in PECS?

As part of PECS, pictures or objects can be used as symbols for messages that teach the child the power of effective communication.

What is PECS in education?

PECS is a program to assist children to develop a communication system that allows them to meet various needs. Suitable candidates for the program include children who do not speak, who are unintelligible, or who are minimally effective communicators with their present communication system.

Why should all PECS procedures be followed in Stage 1?

He/she is learning that the same procedure of picking up a picture and giving it to the person who is enticing him with a favored item always results in the same outcome. That is powerful. Along the way, it is hoped that the facilitators are also cutting back on the degree of physical assistance needed so the child can make the appropriate exchange on his/her own. In Phase 2, there is a focused effort on reducing prompts to further support the concept of independent communication. Sometimes people initiate PECS without fully implementing all of the required elements and then wonder why it hasn’t produced the desired outcome . If a child is not initiating on his own or has some concept of responsibility for his book, he probably does not belong at Stage 4 (i.e., using a sentence strip).

Does programming intensity and support need to be maintained after a child is communicating effectively with PECS?

Not only is on-going development something to be monitored but Howlin, Gordon, Pasco, Wade, and Charman, (2007) suggest that intensity and support may be needed to even maintain newly acquired skills in PECS.

What is a PECS program?

PECS or Picture Exchange Communication System has been successfully used with many children with an autism spectrum disorder. Some will begin using PECS and then abandon the approach because they report that the child fails to make progress. One has to ask the question why this might have occurred. Pyramid Education Products, the developer of PECS, is very consumer friendly. If one had a question, one could use the Contact US function at the company site, https://www.pecsusa.com. Of course, the first choice would be to check the Picture Exchange Communication System Training Manual (2002) which contains explicit information and data collection charts including a recent book chapter on generalization (Bondy and Frost, 2009). Many people either are unaware of these resources, do not access them, or are using a hybrid of the PECS program.

How many exchanges per day for augmentative communication?

This is very minimal compared to the amount of talking a verbal student does every day and even the minimal amount of practice recommended for students using other means of augmentative communication (i.e., 150 exchanges per day).

How many practice units are required for PECs?

If a student is not making progress, then this component of programming must be evaluated. In the PECs manual, it is suggested that individuals have at least 30-40 practice units throughout the day and presumably some practice at home.

When did PECS start?

The next big change that came along, was PECS. It started being used in Australia in the mid to late 90s and quickly gained a lot of popularity in use with autistic students. PECS came at communication from a completely different perspective to the approach introduced by Goossens’. Where aided language displays were based in natural communication interactions, “PECS relies on the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) so that distinct prompting, reinforcement, and error correction strategies are specifed at each training phase in order to teach spontaneous, functional communication.” (Bondy & Frost, 2001, p.728).

How many words did the children in the PECS group use?

The 19 children in the PECS group used on average 89 spoken words after 6 months and 130 spoken words at 9 months. This is the largest impact of any AAC strategy with a large group of very young children – that’s why I use PECS- because the next kid I work with deserves the best.

Is PECS based on ABA?

The table above includes the information about PECS. Since PECS is based on ABA it is included with behaviour interventions. You can see that PECS has:

Can PECS be used in classroom?

As a classroom teacher for many years we “used” PECS and didn’t see any changes in our students communicative abilities. One year in a classroom with older students with autism proved to me that robust communication is the only way to go. Thanks for all you do!

Is the evidence stronger for PECS or AAC?

This list and the table clearly show that the evidence is much stronger for using all other forms of AAC – other than PECS. (Although it also shows we still have a long way to go.)

Is PECS a tool?

Well said, Barbara. I 100% agree with you. PECS is a tool in our tool box and it I have used it with great success with the type of client group you describe. And I hate PODS, too!

What is PECS in ASD?

PECS is a behavior based intervention that teaches the learner to use visual-graphic symbols to communicate with others. 2, 5. Learners with ASD are taught to give a picture or graphic symbol of a desired item to a communicative partner in exchange for the actual item through a six phase process.

Why is collecting data important in PECS?

Collecting data will help team members determine if the learner is ready to move to the next phase of PECS. If the learner is making progress based upon data collected , team members should continue to use PECS.

Can all team members use PECS?

All team members can use the PECS procedures. However, it is recommended that those interested receive professional training. This module is not intended to take the place of training and resources on PECS provided by Pyramid Educational Consultants, Inc. (the developers and marketers of the PECS system).

Do you need a communication book for PECS?

No specific pictures or symbols are required for PECS. Select the pictures/symbols that are the easiest to create and use. A designated communication book is needed to store all commonly used pictures/symbols. Plan for creating at least two copies of the communication book for use when the learner begins using PECS across settings and with different communicative partners.