A Study of What Young Children Interpret from a Sample of Picture Communication Symbols

Abstract

While it is adults who design graphic symbol communication systems, it is often young children who use them. This study looks at what a group of typically developing children interpreted from a selection of Picture Communication Symbols (PCS). One third of the symbols were interpreted by the majority of subjects as the given PCS name. Six symbols (25%) were found to be easily guessable for the older subjects but not the younger subjects. 42% of the symbols were not easily guessable for the majority of subjects. All subjects could recognise the majority of symbols when presented in groups of four. The results suggest that young children approach graphic symbol systems from a very different perspective to adults and that this perspective changes as the child matures and begins formal education. Possible implications for clinical practice are discussed.