Autism Hygiene Tips and Tricks for Parents?

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Hello, I've read a couple of threads here about the challenges of hygiene. It seems as though part of the challenge may be sensory for those on the spectrum. Parents are often concerned because they don't want their children to be ostracized for poor hygiene. What a) books would you recommend for parents for helping their children and b) tips and tricks do you have for a parent or therapist trying to teach these concepts to a child or teen with autism?

I just wanted to add that autistic people can be very sensitive and despise being pressured or approached about these kind of things. Rather than telling what to do, try and explain the importance of a good hygiene.

Alex, thanks so much for the advice. Logic seems to play a big part in this. Unless there's a clear Why, hygiene won't have much appeal, I have found, when talking to some individuals on the autism spectrum about this subject.

I've found that separating washing hair from the rest of bathing, and not getting my hair wet helps for me. If this is done for younger kids it might also help them.

Incorporate it into the daily routine very early in life. And try to find something that makes it more tolerable. Also make being clean seem good or fun. Maybe a certain type of shampoo or bubble bath or even a different shower head.

Explaining never helped me. My parents tried everything from explaining why I needed to bathe, to telling me no one wanted to talk to me because of it, to flat out saying "You reek!". Nothing worked. But if they would have put me into the routine of bathing everyday as a little kid, I would have been used to it.

I just recently figured out how to fix my hygiene issues. I can't have the vent on because of the noise. I shower immediately after exercise before the sweat drys. That makes the transition from being dry to being wet easier.

Because of my IBS keeping me in the bathroom too much, and my Executive Function Disorder making me disorganized, I tend to have trouble having time for stuff. Things like frequent showers fall by the way side. Now that I am older I also have sleep apnea, which makes me tired all the time, so I don't have much energy for taking showers, and I now have bad knees, which makes it hard to climb in and out of the tub, and to stand there taking the shower. I only have the one bathroom, so I have no step in shower. Because of my bad knees I don't take tub baths, as getting down in the tub and then back up are too difficult for me. To make matters worse, I have a biological tendency to BO, especially when I have been exerting myself, or it gets hot, or humid. If I had more time, more energy, and better knees, I would take showers more often. Due to my health problems I know longer work, and live alone, so others don't have to suffer my BO. I do shower if I am going out, as I don't want to inflict my BO on others.

I live where the summers tend to be cooler usually, but this year I think it will be warmer and hotter more. I will try to shower on the worst days, so I will feel cooler. The A/C that came with my trailer broke a couple of times since I moved here, and I didn't bother to get it fixed again. It is on the south side, without an awning, so it overheated. It will only overheat and break again if I fix it again, and any new ones would do the same in that hot location. There is nowhere else to mount it here. Usually, I don't even need it, as I get great four way circulation by opening windows on all four sides of my trailer, and keeping the end room doors open. I also have several industrial fans and ice packs, so I do well most of the time. Since I've been here I've only had a few really bad days every summer. However, I think this summer will be a lot worse, because I actually had several days this past winter when I had to open my windows! I live in the mountains in western NY state. That never happens in the winter here! Spring is also tending to have above average temps. Time to put more water bottles in the freezer. They make great ice packs and you can drink the chilly water as they thaw.

^^ You could wash yourself down with a cloth, basin of water and some soap. You don't need to step into a shower or bath to keep yourself clean.

People on the spectrum sometimes focus on different things than NTs. For example, I don't care about how I smell and such (unless after the gym) so showering/changing clothes is'nt important to me.

Buy unscented, mild bath products--scented soaps and shampoos can be overwhelming, and strongly flavored toothpastes and mouthwashes (especially mint) will make many avoid oral hygeine. Make sure the bathroom is warm enough, as the difference in temperature between the air and the water, and the water and the cold tile, is shocking to the senses.

Clearly explain all the steps of the washing process and the proper order to do them in, and put up a waterproof chart in the bathroom (preferably with pictures) to remind about them. Adults may think "wash your hair" is a clear instruction, but it actually includes many steps (get hair wet, lather up the scalp as well as the hair, rinse all soap from hair, comb conditioner through, etc.)

The original poster may find posting in the Parent's forum will get more of the kinds of responses desired, instead of a bunch of aspies arguing about why they don't need to wash.

<< Moved from general autism discussion to parents' discussion. >>

Don't know if this helps at all, but in years past I taped a short list of stuff that has to be done to the wall directly in front of the commode at eye level. The list wasn't words, it was made of very simple drawings easily understood. I am an artist and much better at drawing than giving directions, and this worked fairly well. Nevertheless, hygeine habits took forever to develop; I chose which things absolutely had to happen (wiping, not picking at um, 'itchy spots') and am still trying to be patient about the rest. For ex. my son is 11 and still doesn't shower regularly.

We try to accommodate my son with toothbrushes that he likes, allow him to choose his own toothpaste, etc. Swimming lessons were instrumental in getting him to tolerate showers: he hated water in his face.

Basically, once you've established the rules and explained them as necessary, getting them "used to it" gradually is important. Starting well before puberty is important, too: I have a boy, so I don't have to worry about periods, but we've explained that he will eventually have hair to deal with, etc.

I know with myself, showers present sensory issues. Not bad but it makes it a real chore.
A bath with my music if completely different.

This ^^
Daily showers became one of our rules around age 11. Prior to that we worked slowly with our sons to teach them how to shower independently and to find the least sensorily disagreeable ways for them to do it. At one point we had a laminated sheet of instructions on the shower wall, which was helpful. Our sons do well with routine. It is simply unthinkable for them not to shower, brush teeth etc. because it is part of what they do every day, and have been doing every day for a long time.

I tried this with my son, and it just did not work. We worked with an OT, and he just could not tolerate showers or baths.
It took a long time to get him to the point of even taking a shower/bath once a week.
He has recently told me he does not like the feeling of water on his skin, especially in the winter months because its cold even when the house is warm.
He will tolerate a warm bath with bubbles. He really likes the feel of swimming pool water as he describes it as soft.
I have explained to him the importance of taking a bath as it relates to germs and staying healthy (rather than social aspects).
He has started to use a mans lotion on his arms and legs that helps cover up any kind of stink, and uses deodorant daily.
So we are making baby steps, but I suspect bathing will not be on the highest priority list for him.

For those children (and adults) who do not like shampooing/getting their hair wet, there are a number of "dry shampoos" on the market. They vary in cost, but can help with some of the sensory issues with water on the head or near one's eyes. Of course, it's not a substitute for washing with shampoo and water, but can make the process a little easier every once in awhile. When I was younger, I also found that plain baby powder/talcum powder could work to help "de-grease" hair.