SENSORY SMARTS 17

Sensory Smart Self-Care Kids, teens and young adults can all increase independence with some investigation and strategizing… BY LINDSEY BIEL , M.A., OTR/L

hen it comes to self-care use a floor lamp or indirect light from tasks, as with everything the hallway. You can add flufy towels, W sensory, you’ll need to an- a rug, or even a terrycloth outer shower alyze the underlying sensory challeng- curtain to help absorb echoes. You can es, determine what can and needs to play music or a video while your child be changed, and increase the ability to is brushing her teeth. You can warm handle a wide variety of experiences. up the bathroom by running a hot Self-care tasks such as brushing teeth, shower for a few minutes. washing hair, shaving, and applying makeup can be profoundly difcult or ` Does your child feel safe and secure? even painful if your child—or you— Rather than standing at a sink while have sensory issues, but fortunately dealing with the challenge of brushing you can usually change some of the teeth, it may be more comfortable to variables to make the experience much sit at a table with a spitting bowl and more “sensory smart.” a cup of water and perhaps wearing a weighted vest or compression gar- Let’s consider brushing teeth, a Sometimes this takes a ment. Whatever works! Sometimes problematic self-care task for many this takes a bit of trial and error but people with SPD. Ask yourself: bit of trial and error but once you realize how many variables you can change, your sensory experi- ` What are the specific sensory ences will change. demands of the task that my child has once you realize how trouble with? Do an activity analysis of the task, many variables you can QUICK SELF-CARE TIPS breaking it down into its sensory com- ponents. Does the toothbrush hurt his gums? Does the taste or smell of the change, your sensory minty toothpaste with artificial sweet- eners gross your kid out? Does the foam make her gag? There are difer- experiences will change. ent kinds of toothbrushes: ones with soft, medium and hard bristles as well as vibrating toothbrushes and even finger brushes. There are many types of toothpaste: ones that do not foam, ones that taste and smell like choco- late, strawberry, mango or cinnamon. LINDSEY BIEL, MA, OTR/L ... You’ve got lots of choices to make this …a pediatric occupational therapist based in Manhattan, required task more tolerable. where she evaluates and treats children, adolescents, and ` Does the environment play a role? Does your child hate washing young adults with sensory processing challenges, autism, Is the bathroom light—typically flu- 1and brushing her hair? Start by and other issues. Lindsey is orescent—too bright, flickering, or desensitizing her head with a deep coauthor of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, with a buzzing? Does sound bounce around pressure massage on her scalp, ears, foreword by Temple Grandin, and author of Sensory Processing Challenges: Efective Clinical Work with Kids the tiled room? Is the room too hot or neck, and face. An oral vibrator on & Teens. She is a popular speaker, teaching parents, too cold? A fluorescent light fixture her cheeks, jaws, and lips may also be therapists, teachers and others real-life “sensory can be replaced with an LED or incan- helpful. You can also try a vibrating smart” strategies for challenges at home, school, and in the community. Please visit her website at descent light with a dimmer switch, or hairbrush. After shampooing (pos- www.sensorysmarts.com you can turn of the overhead light and sibly with an unscented shampoo), be

AUTISM FILE | FEB– MAR 2017 18 SENSORY SMARTS

sure to use conditioner on her hair, odors from hair dye and other stinky again firmly massaging her scalp. The salon products. Consider bringing conditioner will coat the hair strands an old, soft shirt to wear over your to make it easier to manage. When child’s clothes so she doesn’t have to grooming her hair afterward try a wear the haircutting smock. Bring wide-toothed detangling comb rather earplugs or sound-canceling head- than a prickly brush. phones to block out noisy hairdryers and blasting music. Also, some hair- Does your child feel off- cutters make home visits. 2kilter when he tilts his head back to rinse his hair? Trying tilt- first to soften up the hairs. Again, ing it forward, helping him to hold desensitize skin using deep pressure a washcloth over his eyes with one to massage in the shaving cream. If hand as he uses the other to help your child can’t stand touching the rinse his hair. This can really help if shaving cream, teach him to use cake he hates the feeling of water on his shaving soap and a brush. face, and if closing his eyes decreases body awareness. If he is still miser- Considering make-up? Less is able try a no-rinse shampoo. 6more. A dash of lip gloss and a coat of mascara are often the best Dread getting haircuts? Go to way to gild the lily and feel less 3the haircutter first thing in the day mask-like than a layer of foundation, so there is less likelihood of lingering eyeshadow, eyeliner, blusher, and lipstick. There is a huge diference Is dressing a problem? Engage in the texture and smell of diferent 4in tactile desensitization tech- make-up brands and you will defi- niques such as deep pressure brush- nitely need to experiment here to find ing prior to dressing. Exfoliate and what works best. You can most easily massage in high-quality moisturizer find unscented make-up and other or coconut oil to manage itchy flaky beauty products with fewer irritat- skin. Carefully cut out clothing tags ing chemicals at health food stores. and labels and look for seamless Remember to teach that no make-up clothing including socks and under- is absolutely okay. True beauty comes Since 1999, the Autism File wear. If you find a clothing item your from within! has been bringing help and child loves, buy several right away support from professionals — before they run out of the size or and parents in the trenches discontinue the style. She can always — to families affected by wear her favorite soft shirt or leggings autism around the globe. underneath her outfit for increased We’ve made the comfort. Wash clothing several times magazine free to before wearing and consider buying our subscribers as we “pre-conditioned” clothing from a understand first-hand how consignment or thrift shop. expensive having a child on the spectrum can be. Hate to shave? There are many 5diferent types of razors and shav- Please help us continue to publish ing creams to choose from. Remember the File at no cost to our readers and make a contribution by clicking that cheap disposable razors are more on the button below. Donations likely to irritate and nick skin so your of any size really do help and are best bet is to invest in a good razor (an For more sensory smart self-care greatly appreciated! electric razor if you or your child like strategies, please read Raising a Sensory vibration) and a nice shaving cream Smart Child and Sensory Processing (lots of diferent textures and scents Challenges: Efective Clinical Work with to choose from). Take a hot shower Kids & Teens.

AUTISM FILE | FEB– MAR 2017