Autism and Haircuts: Conor Has A Great Haircut Treat Adventure

Above: Conor after this morning's haircut.

Below: Conor before this morning's haircut.

Conor has full blown Autistic Disorder with profound developmental delays. Haircuts were a real challenge at one time.  But things have improved dramatically with time, effort, planning and education.Today was a great haircut day for Conor with very little difficulty and he is much more comfortable with much of his thick hair laying in piles around the barber chair.  

I thought I would share some of our approach for those who are looking for ideas; things that have helped us with Conor:

1. Pick a spot which has less traffic and noise for your child's haircut.
2. Pick a time when there will be less traffic. For us it is 9 am Saturday morning.
3. Find someone to cut your child's hair who has patience, understanding, empathy and willingness to take her/his time, using scissors as much as possible, and, as much as possible, without electric buzzing clippers.
4. Stick with the same person, place and time for the haircuts as much as possible.
5. Tell your child beforehand that they will be going for a haircut in a day or two, so that it is not a surprise for them.
6. Have mom  or dad close by ready to hold their hand and talk to them.
7. Distract them if necessary with verbal games eg having them count by 10's, 5's, 2's etc, or sing songs.
8. Bribe them. Tell them they are going on a haircut treat adventure with the treat following the haircut.
9. Tell them what a great job they are doing, what a great boy/girl they are as they are getting their hair cut.

These are some of the things that have worked for us.  Each time Conor gets a haircut with minimal fuss it is in itself a form of reward that should make it easier the next time.  Maybe some autistic children don't need special efforts by their parents and power to them and their families. If you do you may want to consider these suggestions ... if you haven't already.

(Yes, I bribed Conor today too, with a trip to McDonald's for some hash browns, which Dad also enjoys)

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Conor Shows Off His Christmas Haircut and His Nashwaaksis Middle School T-Shirt

Conor shows off his new, just in time for Christmas, hair cut and his Nashwaaksis Middle School T-Shirt. The names of the school graduating class, including Conor's, are in the school numbers. 

Everything went smoothly today when we went for the haircut.  That was not always the case.  For parents of younger autistic children who have difficulty getting their children's hair cut take heart.  It used to be very difficult to get Conor to sit for a hair cut.  It can and will improve.

autism

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Autism, Conor, Schedules and Haircuts

The summer months, with no school, and with much less structure and routine, are difficult at times for Conor. We do try, as much as possible, to keep structure and build activities into each day for him. Lately we have been putting a schedule on a kitchen wall which Conor reads and makes a mark as activities are completed or are about to be undertaken. This appears to help Conor keep from getting anxious as he sometimes does when structure and routine are not as consistent as during the school year.

We also used the schedule to help prepare Conor for a badly needed haircut as you can see in the middle "before haircut" picture below. The after haircut picture follows. The shop where he gets his haircut now is located in a mini mall anchored by a Price Chopper store so we described it as Price Chopper haircut to let Conor know where he was going. (Conor did really well, sitting quietly throughout his haircut, although we don't attribute that solely to the schedule by any means. He has come along way with remaining calm during haircuts over the past few years). We don't try to put too much detail into the schedule leaving the spaces between listed activities open to adjust to his preferences and our ability to facilitate activities. The schedule seems to be helping.

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Autism and Haircuts, Conor Visits Linda at the Cutter's Edge

Conor, earlier this week, before his haircut

Conor, after his haircut, yesterday

I have commented about haircuts and autism, or at least haircuts and Conor who has Autism Disorder, in the past. He is very sensitive to sounds and sights and to being in a confined space with other people very physically close to him, occupying his space. Years ago a haircut meant Dad holding Conor while the barber cut his hair with Conor's hands, and sometimes his teeth, digging into Dad's shoulder. With time simple desensitization has taken some of the ordeal out of a haircut for Conor - and Dad. This year at school Conor's UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Trained Teacher Aides have practiced with Conor at school, putting him in a similar chair with a cloth over him, imitating a visit to the barber.

Over the years we have also taken Conor to the same person to get his haircuts - Linda, at the Cutter's Edge, in the Brookside Mall in Fredericton. Conor knows Linda and that makes it easier in itself. But Linda also has the skills, the personality, the experience working with Conor, and the willingness to work with him. A haircut for Conor is an event that is always filled with some anxiety and when it goes well, when it goes smoothly, as it did once again yesterday, we very much appreciate it.

Thank you Linda.

autism

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Autism Reality - Conor Gets A Haircut

Yesterday was a haircut day for Conor as these before and after pictures show.

Ordinary events in everyday life can become big challenges with an autistic child. Haircuts with the noise, the temporary restraint of the barber's chair, the itchy discomfort, the intrusion by another person into the child's personal space, can all add up to serious resistance by Conor.

A few years ago I would have to hold him, restrain him, in the barber's chair. He would get so upset that he would literally bite into my shoulder. Things are better now but it is still a challenge getting Conor's hair cut.

Haircuts are planned for times when few other clients will be around, in a smaller establishment, with the same lady who has been cutting Conor's hair for several years. With all that it is still not easy.

It is the skills, understanding and patience of the lady who cuts Conor's hair that makes it happen fairly smoothly. Sometimes we all take people, and what they contribute to our lives, for granted. One of the side benefits of having an autistic child is that you come to fully appreciate people who add to your child's life - and yours.

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