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document
The effectiveness of Picture Exchange Communication System ( PECS ) training for teachers of children with autism : a pragmatic , group randomised controlled trial . OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of expert training and consultancy for teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder in the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System ( PECS ) . METHOD DESIGN Group randomised , controlled trial ( 3 groups : immediate treatment , delayed treatment , no treatment ) . PARTICIPANTS 84 elementary school children , mean age 6.8 years . TREATMENT A 2-day PECS workshop for teachers plus 6 half-day , school-based training sessions with expert consultants over 5 months . OUTCOME MEASURES Rates of : communicative initiations , use of PECS , and speech in the classroom ; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic ( ADOS-G ) domain scores for Communication and Reciprocal Social Interaction ; scores on formal language tests . RESULTS Controlling for baseline age , developmental quotient ( DQ ) and language ; rates of initiations and PECS usage increased significantly immediately post-treatment ( Odds Ratio ( OR ) of being in a higher ordinal rate category 2.72 , 95 % confidence interval 1.22-6.09 , p < .05 and OR 3.90 ( 95 % CI 1.75-8.68 ) , p < .001 , respectively ) . There were no increases in frequency of speech , or improvements in ADOS-G ratings or language test scores . CONCLUSIONS The results indicate modest effectiveness of PECS teacher training/consultancy . Rates of pupils ' initiations and use of symbols in the classroom increased , although there was no evidence of improvement in other areas of communication . TREATMENT effects were not maintained once active intervention ceased .
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Intervention_Educational
Picture Exchange Communication System ( PECS ) training
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Intervention_Educational
Picture Exchange Communication System ( PECS ) .
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Intervention_Educational
A 2-day PECS workshop for teachers plus 6 half-day , school-based training sessions with expert consultants over 5 months .
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Intervention_Educational
PECS
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Intervention_Educational
PECS teacher training/consultancy .
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Outcome_Mental
communicative initiations , use of PECS , and speech in the classroom ; Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Generic ( ADOS-G ) domain scores for Communication and Reciprocal Social Interaction ; scores on formal language tests
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Outcome_Mental
developmental quotient ( DQ ) and language ; rates of initiations and PECS usage
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Outcome_Mental
frequency of speech , or improvements in ADOS-G ratings or language test scores
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Participant_Condition
teachers of children with autism :
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Participant_Condition
teachers of children with autism spectrum disorder
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Participant_Sample-size
84
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Participant_Age
elementary school children , mean age 6.8 years