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haircut

north london mum

hey guys first of all just want to say happy new year. my son who will be 3 this week has autisim but his always been sensitve about his head being touched he dont even wear hats his ok when we wash his hair but trying to cut it is a no no he gets really distressed when we try as soon as he sees the siscors he becomes emotional we have tried the clippers but again he becomes upset i tried putting his favoutite programe on but nothing works my partner has sugested the only time we can maybey do it mite be at night when he is asleep has anyone else got any sugestions or have you had the same problem i would be really greatfull for any sugestions or tips 

  • thankyou just glad to know its not just us that go through this 

  • It's totally the same with my 6 year old. 

    For years he's had long hair or partially cut hair. Even up to a few weeks ago he had his hair reasonably long.

    My only advice is what kinda worked for us. My sister cut it, she's no hairdresser but can hold her own with a pair of scissors. The only reason I can think it worked was the fact we picked the right time when he was relaxed and the relationship with his auntie that got him through it. I know next time we try it may not be as straight forward.

    good luck.

  • yes thats something ive learned to do whilst his sleeping :) 

  • Aww, bless him! Toenails were my "thing" as a kid Laughing

  • Thanks stateofindependnce I mite try that with the kids siscors it mite help him understand I think his very sensitive too as his always been the same with his head no one is allowed to really touch it his ok with us washing it and we alowed to kiss him on his head but we have to ask him first his a funny little boy he does make me laugh but I know that if this is his way then we have to respect that 

  • Thankyou I'll look up the info you have given me as it mite just help us understand as our son is non verbal we have to second guess everything it's just about learning and understanding his needs 

  • Clippers must be huge scary things to any 3 year old, and the buzzing sensation probably goes right through his head. I would have screamed blue murder at that age, and probably ended up with a phobia. Before you put them anywhere near his head I would make sure he is happy playing with them, maybe get some fake fur and let him see you shave it, make it fun. Then let him hold the clippers and get used to the feel of them buzzing, let him have a go on the fur himself, make some silly patterns.

    If he is too young to do this, I'd say he is too young to be clipped, as he won't understand what is going on. Nothing wrong with leaving his hair long, maybe just snip the fringe while he is asleep if it is getting in his eyes.

  • It is a tactile sensitivity issue, and if you "search the community" using the search terms box above the "new discussions", you should find earlier dialogues. Hopefully others will respond to your posting.

    I looked at Tony Attwood's "The complete guide to Asperger's syndrome" 2007 Jessica Kingsley Publishers (ISBN 1 84310 495 4 a library or bookshop can track the book using this code).

    He briefly covers this page 280-281. Tugging of the hair and thus pulling at the scalp, and metal touching the scalp, the sharp sound of the scissors, vibration of electric clippers, sensation of falling hair on the skin, of a feeling of instability being on a barber's chair, especially with a child seat on it, are all potential reactions. Children with high tactile sensitivity seem particular concerned about their heads, upper arms and palms.

    Also checked Bogdashina, O (2003) "Sensory Perceptual Issues in Autism and Asperger Syndrome - Different sensory experiences, different perceptual worlds" Jessica Kingsley Pub ISBN  978 1 84310 166 6 for the clearest technical definition, p54-55. However you will find hypersensitivity on the NAS webpages.

    Bogdashina says hypertactility is very common with autism - even small scatches that most people ignore can be painful. Hyperhearing will mean finding noises painful that others would not notice - eg scissors, clippers. Vestibular hypersensitivity also applies here, in respect of an unusual sitting position.

    There may be ways to gradually reduce the sensitivity, but it takes patience. I anticipate others will be able to contribute useful personal experiences.