You might find that they don't like showers because of the feeling of the water hitting their skin but they are happier having a bath, certain brands of soap and shampoo might aggravate them more than others or using a manual toothbrush rather than an electric one is easier for them.
Provide sensory support
Sensory processing difficulties can make handwashing and showering uncomfortable or even painful for children with autism. Provide sensory support by using soap with a pleasing scent or texture, using a showerhead with adjustable pressure, or providing a soft towel for drying off.
Maintaining personal and social hygiene is also difficult for them, which is why teaching people with autism the importance of cleanliness and organization also becomes crucial. This is because the autistic brain tends to get easily distracted - or rather, focuses on tiny, specific things instead of the bigger picture.
Many neurodivergencies, like ADHD, autism, some mood disorders, and psychotic disorders, can impact executive functioning and organization, which can make spring cleaning particularly difficult.
Heightened Sensory Issues
Here are some things or conditions that may trigger your autistic child's heightened senses during bath time. The feeling of water on the skin, hair, or face. The sounds of splashing and running water. Water temperature and water level in the tub.
There are some autistic characteristics that can lead to difficulties with learning to use the toilet (Wheeler, 2007; Coucouvanis, 2008). Some of the language and communication around toileting can be confusing. They may not understand what you are asking them to do or could take things very literally.
Strategies for a better bathing experience – Touch
Use pressure and downward strokes. Bath paints/ bath crayons/ tactile soaps/ fidgets if seeking sensory input. If water is not tolerated over their bodies, a shower may be better as water moves in a consistent direction.
Sensory Issues
Many people with autism experience sensory processing disorder. This is more commonly known as sensory overload. Noise, crowds, bright lights, strong tastes, smells, and being touched can feel unbearable to someone with HFA. This makes going to restaurants, movies, and shopping malls difficult.
Autistic people may: find it hard to communicate and interact with other people. find it hard to understand how other people think or feel. find things like bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable.
Even to a trained clinician's eye, OCD's compulsions can resemble the 'insistence on sameness' or repetitive behaviors many autistic people show, including tapping, ordering objects and always traveling by the same route. Untangling the two requires careful work.
Autistic children will sometimes take off their clothes if they find them uncomfortable or distressing. While this is also true of neurotypical kids, autistic children may continue to do so at a later age. Part of the reason for this is that they don't pick up on emotional cues as typical children do.
As noted above, the ASD group reported significantly higher thresholds for both warmth and cold detection, consistent with reduced sensitivity to thermal stimuli of both types.
Remember, kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are visual learners, and sometimes they have difficulty remembering all the steps of a particular job and sequencing those steps in the right order for the desired outcome.
Signs of High-Functioning Autism in Children
May appear more mature for their age and have above-average intelligence. A tendency to avoid eye contact. Trouble deviating from a routine or adapting to changes. Trouble making friends and maintaining social relationships or not “fitting in” with peers.
Consider using a dry washcloth over their eyes. Go slowly so water doesn't splash their face. Consider buying a visor, or shampoo rinse cup with rubber lip to help keep water from their face if they are able to tip their head up slightly.
Some kids on the spectrum feel a constant need for affection because they are not sure when or if the attention will be available. Schedule 5 to 10 minutes every day when you can provide your youngster with undivided attention (i.e., no computer, T.V., cell phones, etc.).
Although the exact cause of autism is still unknown, there is evidence to suggest that genetics play a significant role. Since autism is less prevalent in females, autism was always thought to be passed down from the mother. However, research suggests that autism genes are usually inherited from the father.
People with autism spectrum disorder are sometimes said to lack empathy (the ability to feel along with others) and/or sympathy (the ability to feel for others). While this stereotype is often used to describe all people with autism, these challenges are not experienced by everyone on the spectrum.
In conclusion, there are many factors that can make autism worse. Sensory overload, changes in routine, social isolation, co-occurring conditions, and lack of support can all exacerbate the symptoms of autism.
Low functioning autism refers to children and adults with autism who show the most severe symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder and are diagnosed as having Level 3 ASD. They are usually unable to live independently and require support from a guardian throughout their lives.
Multi-sensory showers are special hydrotherapy systems that combine toning and stimulating multi-sensory treatments using water jets with combinations of different colours.
Ablutophobia can result in excessive fear, anxiety, panic or distress when bathing or washing, or at the thought of bathing or washing. An individual with this phobia may also experience fear or anxiety if they see something that reminds them of bathing, such as soap, a sponge or washcloth, or a bath.