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A guide for patients about the

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Phase five – answering questions

We can help a child use their communication book to respond to the question, what do you want? What we want to see • The child will be able to build a sentence in response to the question: What do you want? with I want plus

the picture or symbol and add the pictures to let us know exactly what they want, e.g. I want a big burger and blackcurrant juice.

• Include a symbol for help so the child can ask for help, e.g. I want help. Why do this activity? For the child to learn they can communicate their needs and feelings by being able to respond to questions. What do we do? • We start by teaching a child to respond to a question that we are able to reward them with what they want.

We can use a variety of items or activities. • We need to create many opportunities for the child to practice this during the day.

How do we do it? • The partner has the child’s communication book with the I want symbol on the strip. • The partner asks the question What do you want? and points to the symbol I want and pauses (five to 10

seconds) to allow the child time to respond. • The child is then encouraged to find the symbol of what they want and add to the strip. • The strip is handed over to the partner who reads it out to the child. • Then gradually we fade out our pointing (prompting) to the I want to allow the child to respond for

themselves. • Then remove the I want symbol from the strip and allow the child to build the sentence up by themselves

by finding all the symbols. • When the child is able to answer the question what do you want? then begin to use the other describing

words in the book so the child can show what it is exactly they want. • Try using questions that require a describing word in the answer, what do you want? The red or the blue

pencil? • Include a symbol that shows help so the child can respond to the question what do you want by answering

I want help. Monitoring progress A record sheet is to be kept (copy attached) to record progress and to see how many attempts are used, how long the pause, if the child needs prompting, or if they are able to answer the question on their own. When to move on When the child can request an item using the phrase I want, by themselves, on nine out of 10 turns, using a variety of objects and with different partners.

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Contact the Children’s Therapies Service Please contact your Integrated Therapy Team if you have any queries or concerns regarding the information in this leaflet.

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley Phone 01322 428242

Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks Phone 01892 501860

Maidstone and Malling Phone 01622 742333

Canterbury Phone 01227 783042

Thanet Phone 0300 042 0871

If you need communication support, an interpreter or this information in another language, audio, Braille, Easy Read or large print, please ask a member of staff.

You will be asked for your agreement to treatment and, if necessary, your permission to share your personal information.

Leaflet code: 00965a Published: July 2016 Expires: July 2019 Page 2 of 2

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Customer Care Team If you have a query about our health services, or would like to comment, compliment or complain about Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, you can contact the Customer Care Team.

Phone: 0300 123 1807, 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday Please say if you would like the team to call you back Text: 07899 903499 Email: kcht.cct@nhs.net

Address: Customer Care Team, Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, Unit J, Concept Court, Shearway Business Park, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4RJ Web: www.kentcht.nhs.uk