Haircuts can sometimes be difficult for people with autism. The challenges can range from sensory issues to anxiety about what will happen during the process.
Going to the hairdressers can be a very distressing experience for autistic children due to sensory issues such as a sensitivity to noise and touch.
Use toy clippers to show them the next steps during a haircut, and encourage them to participate and see if they want to pick their style. It's beneficial to begin this preparation a few days prior so that your child feels informed when it's time.
It is easy to see why many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are captivated by water. The number of stimuli associated with water hits all the senses!
The way to soothe haircut fears and tears will vary because every child has different reasons for not liking haircuts. Maybe it's the noise of the scissors or clippers, maybe it's the strange environment of the barbershop or salon, or maybe it's just the fact that someone is trying to remove something from Baby's head!
If they have a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, allow them to bring it with them for comfort. Bring a change of shirt so they aren't feeling the little hairs on them the whole ride home and maybe let them sit in your lap during the cut. These are all small things that could make a huge difference.
Auditory strategies may include: Using a scissors versus an electric clippers, scheduling a time when the salon is not as busy, skipping the blow dryer, or providing the child with earbuds to watch a video.
Challenging behaviour in autistic children and teenagers
refuse or ignore requests. behave in socially inappropriate ways, like taking their clothes off in public. behave aggressively. hurt themselves or other children – for example, by head-banging or biting.
Autistic children and teenagers are sometimes oversensitive to things like noise, crowds or temperature. They try to avoid sensory experiences.
Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
Many kids on the spectrum also have sensory issues and hate having their hair cut. It is as if the act of cutting causes them physical pain – like they have feeling in their hair!
Autism Spectrum Disorder Associates With Higher Rate of Alopecia Areata.
Children With Autism Might Not Want To Dress Up
Usually, they feel more comfortable when they are dressed in their regular clothes, especially familiar clothing. Parents might have to deal with the hassle of making last-minute changes to the child's outfit.
However, they look up to the mother or caregiver for social referencing and hover around or cling to the caregiver. Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor.
Individuals with autism can also have an aversion to touch. Touch can cause a lack of emotional response or may even cause emotional stress and turmoil.
Touch is an important component of many social experiences for many people. Autistic children commonly avoid social touch more than non-autistic peers. It is generally thought that this is due to autistic individuals experiencing hyper- or hyposensitivity of touch.
Autistic individuals prefer predictability, routines, and patterns, making sudden changes difficult. It bothers them greatly when unexpected changes occur, and they become very upset about it. For instance, HFA individuals may stick with routines developed for them by other people or themselves.
In the brilliant first account of autism by Kanner (1943), Kanner wrote that “loud noises and moving objects” are “reacted to with horror” and things like “tricycles, swings, elevators, vacuum cleaners, running water, gas burners, mechanical toys, egg beaters, even the wind could on occasions bring about a major panic” ...
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.
Yelling at children with autism can cause depression and negatively impact the emotional wellbeing of the child.
Many autistic people experience hypersensitivity to bright lights or certain light wavelengths (e.g., LED or fluorescent lights). Certain sounds, smells, textures and tastes can also be overwhelming. This can result in sensory avoidance – trying to get away from stimuli that most people can easily tune out.
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and hair twirling, or in self-injurious behavior such as biting or head-banging.
Sensory Reasons for Hair Struggles:
Olfactory (Scent) – Your child may be sensitive to the smell of the hair products you are using on them. Tactile – Many children with sensory issues have very sensitive scalps or are sensitive to touch in general from hands, brushes or combs, and even water.
Introducing the Calming Clipper the ultimate solution for giving haircuts to children with autism and sensory sensitivity. Traditional buzzing clippers can be overwhelming and uncomfortable for children. But with the Calming Clipper, you can give gentle, stress-free haircuts at home without any fuss.