24. Self -care tips for children with Autism
Self -care tips for children with Autism
Self-care is an essential part of human life. It is mainly concerned with hygiene. Once a person is keeping his or her hygiene better he / she is building up the confidence about own self. Children with ASD have various types of problems while performing self-care activities. As the parents and medical staff we need to provide proper cues to child which is make their self-care activities more interested.
Below mentioned tips will be helpful when managing the self-care of child with ASD but all facts will not fit to everyone. For having better outcome of the child contact your Occupational Therapist and get a proper evaluation in self-care activities and then follow the instructions.
Sensory:
• Use non-perfumed soap. (Some children are hyper or hypo sensitive to smell)
• Be aware of bathroom lighting levels and minimize any noises, e.g. run the bath prior to entering the bathroom. Sometimes sound of water also a dislike of the child.
• Use pressure when shampooing or drying with a towel. It gives proprioceptive input whenever necessary.
• Another proprioceptive input can be given as follows. Before bath time, do activities that provide deep touch input, for example, resting your hands on your child’s shoulders and applying moderate pressure.
• Make the transition from undressing and getting into the bath as quick and smooth as possible.
• Sometimes child will not allow you to do the bath as the touch sensation is unbearable. If the child dislikes having his face or body washed, encourage him to wash himself. Self-initiated touch produces a less defensive reaction.
• Use a large sponge or loofah sponge. Rub firmly to decrease defensiveness. Remember the facts about willberger’s brushing protocol.
• If the child is showering, use a hand held shower nozzle. Let the child control the direction and force of the water.
• Use a large towel, and quickly and firmly wrap the child in it. Avoid exposure of the wet skin to the air: the light touch may trigger a defensive reaction.
• Provide deep-touch using a towel to the head, hands and feet to decrease defensiveness. If the child will tolerate it, provide a firm massage, using lotion to avoid skin irritation.
Personal Hygiene
General: these are the some points to keep in your mind while doing self-care activities of your child.
• Where the choice is available, allow your child to choose a bath or a shower. (A larger showerhead is often more acceptable to the child, as it distributes the water more evenly)
• Try to incorporate bathing into a play activity, for example use floating toys and bubbles. Play is the best choice for any kind of therapy.
• The communication is the essential part of activity. Talk to your child and explain every step, particularly when you are going to touch them with soap or a towel. Then child is not going to distract by the sudden actions.
• Visual aids can be used in order to help your child understand the activity. You can make a chart or visual calendar for this. Social stories also really helpful.
• Consider adaptive equipment that may make the task easier, for example a grab rail may offer more support getting in/out the bath.
Through Resources
written by
Kithma Wasana Dahanayake
Occupational Therapist
Self-care is an essential part of human life. It is mainly concerned with hygiene. Once a person is keeping his or her hygiene better he / she is building up the confidence about own self. Children with ASD have various types of problems while performing self-care activities. As the parents and medical staff we need to provide proper cues to child which is make their self-care activities more interested.
Below mentioned tips will be helpful when managing the self-care of child with ASD but all facts will not fit to everyone. For having better outcome of the child contact your Occupational Therapist and get a proper evaluation in self-care activities and then follow the instructions.
Sensory:
• Use non-perfumed soap. (Some children are hyper or hypo sensitive to smell)
• Be aware of bathroom lighting levels and minimize any noises, e.g. run the bath prior to entering the bathroom. Sometimes sound of water also a dislike of the child.
• Use pressure when shampooing or drying with a towel. It gives proprioceptive input whenever necessary.
• Another proprioceptive input can be given as follows. Before bath time, do activities that provide deep touch input, for example, resting your hands on your child’s shoulders and applying moderate pressure.
• Make the transition from undressing and getting into the bath as quick and smooth as possible.
• Sometimes child will not allow you to do the bath as the touch sensation is unbearable. If the child dislikes having his face or body washed, encourage him to wash himself. Self-initiated touch produces a less defensive reaction.
• Use a large sponge or loofah sponge. Rub firmly to decrease defensiveness. Remember the facts about willberger’s brushing protocol.
• If the child is showering, use a hand held shower nozzle. Let the child control the direction and force of the water.
• Use a large towel, and quickly and firmly wrap the child in it. Avoid exposure of the wet skin to the air: the light touch may trigger a defensive reaction.
• Provide deep-touch using a towel to the head, hands and feet to decrease defensiveness. If the child will tolerate it, provide a firm massage, using lotion to avoid skin irritation.
Personal Hygiene
General: these are the some points to keep in your mind while doing self-care activities of your child.
• Where the choice is available, allow your child to choose a bath or a shower. (A larger showerhead is often more acceptable to the child, as it distributes the water more evenly)
• Try to incorporate bathing into a play activity, for example use floating toys and bubbles. Play is the best choice for any kind of therapy.
• The communication is the essential part of activity. Talk to your child and explain every step, particularly when you are going to touch them with soap or a towel. Then child is not going to distract by the sudden actions.
• Visual aids can be used in order to help your child understand the activity. You can make a chart or visual calendar for this. Social stories also really helpful.
• Consider adaptive equipment that may make the task easier, for example a grab rail may offer more support getting in/out the bath.
Through Resources
written by
Kithma Wasana Dahanayake
Occupational Therapist
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