How do I get my 7 year old autisitic son to sit down to get a haircut without flipping out?

Question

I'm looking for ideas to get my autistic son's hair cut! We've been to several places and he kicks, screams, and flips out! We can only get him a haircut every 3 months because it is so difficult. We live in Fresno, CA and were wondering if their is a person/place we could contact to get help/resources in our area? Are their any techniques we could use? PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer 1

SOCIAL STORIES!! These are the best things on Earth for teaching children with autism. I have used them successfully numerous times. Ask your child's teacher to help you with this. If the teacher doesn't know what a social story is, then run to find your child a new teacher. Social stories are pictures or written stories explaining what is and is not appropriate behavior. Children with autism act this way because they don't understand what is going on around them and / or they have sensory issues (don't want people touching their hair) or they may be afraid someone with scissors will hurt them. If your child can't yet read, then you can make a social story with pictures. You can take photos, or cut pictures out of magazines, or use special computer programs like Boardmaker. I made one for haircuts for one of my students and it went something like this (one sentence with pictures per page):
"My hair is long. It looks messy. It's time to get a haircut. Mom will drive me to the barber shop. I am not afraid. A haircut does not hurt me. I will sit in the chair. The barber will cut my hair. The clippers make a buzzing sound, but they won't hurt me. The hair tickles when it falls on my face. The barber will brush it off. He won't hurt me. He sprays my hair with a spray bottle to get it wet. The water won't hurt me and it will dry soon. After the barber finishes cutting my hair, I can get a reward. " The student I wrote this for liked to get a lollipop as a reward when he was done.
I read this to him every day starting about a week before the haircut. His grandma took him to the salon, but he would have a fit each time, so she turned around and went home. She didn't realize she was rewarding his tantrums by giving in. He learned that if he tantrummed, he got his way. You MUST be prepared to go through with it once you start, but it is imperative that you start preparing him a week or two ahead of time. Let him spray a squirt bottle. Let him listen to a hair clipper to see how it buzzes. Find a salon that will work with children; preferably children with special needs. By the way, social stories can be used for ANY behaviors; going to the store, eating in a restaurant, etc. You really need to find a local autism support group or professional organization that offers parent workshops. Sorry you have to deal with people's ignorance like suggesting you drug your child.Best wishes. Email me privately if you want more information.

Answer 2

We had the same problem with our autistic son. Here is what we did... First I found a place that would play kid videos, and I took his favorite videos. Next, I found a willing hair dresser at that place to cut his hair regularly, no matter how bad he acted. We took him at least twice a month whether he needed it or not, so that he would get used to it. I brought something for him to eat while he was getting his hair cut, his favorite was skittles, very chewy and kept him busy chewing and not screaming. The most important of all... don't give in and don't give up. It took him over a year of doing this under protest before he finally started to cooperate. ( By the way, we never used electric clippers, only scissors. ) He is 13 now and gets his hair cut regularly without any problem. He still will not tolerate electric clippers. Only scissors. Good Luck!

Answer 3

First, I would connect with other parents of autistic persons in my area. They may know someone who is good at cutting hair of special needs persons. Some of my students parents even know someone that comes to their home, which eliminates a lot of stress and anxiety on the child (as well as the family!). Check the net for a support group in your area.

Also, when your child is doing something he enjoys (such as puzzles, eating a snack, etc.) I would very gradually start to "play" with his head and hair. This will begin to desensitize your child to touch in this area since many autistic persons are hyper sensitive to touch.

I would also "pretend" to cut hair. Use a comb, fake scissors, clippers without blades, etc. Not only will your child get used to the feeling of these insturments, (as well as the sound of clippers -a whole different issue), he wil have already had the expereince of getting a hair cut. When you take him for real, his anxiety will be consideraby less because he is desensitized and familiar with the experience. Make sure you are rewarding him throughout the experience for doing well. (Also great as a distraction!)

Children with autism who "flip out" at certain occasions are not doing it to misbehave, it is their way of communicating "This is unfamiliar. I don't like this. I am anxious." The trick is figuring out how to relieve some of the anxiety by making things predictable and familiar.

Good luck to you and your family!

Answer 4

I've always given my sons hair cuts- (they were not autistic). But giving a hair cut is not so tuff. You get better with time. He could be given a cookie, Popsicle etc to distract him.... (He will eat hair anyway.)
The Monterey County Selpa is given some workshops on Autism this up coming year. You could call them for some advise or a parent group which have had to deal with this problem. God bless you.

Answer 5

I have a daughter with low functioning Autism. It is very hard to mess with her hair. The only way we can get her to be still long enough is to put her favorite video on and give her a favorite snack. We have kids hair salon here that has video players at every station. If you have a super cuts or Fantastic Sams call them and ask if they have a video player they can put right in front of his chair or perhaps take your own. Just plan everything ahead of time so he doesn't get antsy. As you know having autism means "no patience".
Good luck!

Answer 6

Social stories are great but I would add some sensory strategies to calm his nervous system as well. Heavy resistive work such as pulling a weighted wagon, wearing a weighted backpack and giving him deep pressure to shoulders and lap via weighted vest or blanket during hair cut. You should use deep, maintained pressure for best results. Time will be to his tolerance. Also schedule cut during early hour when not busy in salon (overload of smells, sounds etc) or have someone come to your house, but use above strategies. Good luck!

Answer 7

Hand him his favorite toy or some sort of cube game that will keep his mind occupied. Give him things to keephis mind busy. Make sure he is sitting in a comfortable position. Also, engange him in a conversation so his mind won't be focused on the hair cut that he's getting but hates. Just keep him busy and entertained then he'll forget the hair cut session that he hates.
When my nephew was young, it was so difiicult for us to change his diapers because he hated it. So we would lay him down and hand him a toy to keep him busy so his attention shifts to the toy from the activity that he hated the most.

Answer 8

DONT GIVE HIM ANY DRUGS OR ALCOHOL!!! just sit him down with something he likes. i had a class mate who was autistic, and he loves puzzles. so his parents sit him down with a puzzle. maybe he likes a stuffed animal or an action figure or something. put a toy with him and soothe him. it may take some time. maybe he likes music. put some head phones on him with a mp3 or something. just try to get his attention off of the surroundings and the clippers. good luck! i hope u have some success.

Answer 9

i would try bribing him like for example tell him if he gets his hair cut you will buy him a toy or some candy or even a movie. other wise sorry if i didnt help.

P.S. good luck :)

Answer 10

Medication is probably as good as you're going to get out of him.