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Research Article | Open Access
Volume 16 2024 | None
Effectiveness of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in Developing Symbolic Representations in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Dr. Karboua Sihem, Drifel Manel, Bensouna Chaima
Pages: 799-808
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in developing symbolic representations in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).To achieve this, we employed an Quasi-experimental method with a single-group design, utilizing pre- and post-test measurements of the symbolic representation scale developed by researcher Inas Al-Basyouni. This scale consists of three dimensions: the symbolic representation of visual content, the symbolic representation of self-directed auditory content, and the symbolic representation of externally directed auditory content. Our experimental intervention was conducted between the pre- and post-measurements through the implementation of PECS activities on a selected group of seven cases, chosen intentionally. These children are diagnosed with moderate ASD and exhibit severe communication deficits or complete absence of verbal communication. Their ages range from 11 to 14 years, encompassing both genders, and they are receiving early intervention services at the Child Center in Ben Aknoun, Algiers.The results confirmed the study's general hypothesis that the PECS system is effective in enhancing symbolic representations in children with ASD. The study group showed statistically significant differences in both the self-directed auditory content dimension and the externally directed auditory content dimension. This improvement can be attributed to the structured scientific approach used in the activities provided to the children, which included gradual steps, diverse techniques and tools, as well as the commitment of educators and parents to generalize these practices. However, most children struggled with the visual content dimension, which can be attributed to their limited ability to perceive distinguishing characteristics of objects and their difficulty in differentiating between them.In conclusion, training children with ASD who experience severe communication deficits using the PECS program significantly improves their symbolic representations across various forms (though some dimensions show greater improvement than others), which is considered a fundamental aspect of language and communication development.
Keywords
Autism Spectrum Disorder, child with autism, symbolic representations, alternative communication system using pictures (PECS).
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