One common goal of ABA THERAPY is to teach individuals with Autism the skills they need to function independently. This may include teaching basic hygiene skills such as brushing teeth, washing hands and using the toilet. While these skills may seem simple, they can be very challenging for individuals with Autism.
There are many reasons why hygiene skills may be part of an ABA therapy plan. One reason is that these skills are essential for independent living. Teaching individuals with Autism how to perform basic hygiene tasks can help them live more independently and reduce their reliance on others.
Independence in hygiene skills can also increase social skills. Many social skills, such as making eye contact and following instructions, are needed to learn and perform basic hygiene tasks. By teaching these skills in ABA Therapy, individuals with Autism can learn to communicate effectively with others using skills both applicable to personal hygiene and social skills.
ABA Therapy can also help improve fine motor skills, which are important for brushing teeth and combing hair. Many of the activities involved in ABA Therapy, such as sorting objects and matching shapes, can help improve fine motor skills. When fine motor skill development is a concern, ABA therapists collaborate with occupational therapists to increase development of these skills.
When personal hygiene is a component of an ABA therapy plan for people with Autism, this can lead to improvement in both health and well-being. The risks of poor oral hygiene reduces when individuals are taught to tolerate these routines and even complete them independently. ABA therapists strive to teach these necessary skills in a fun and engaging way.
There are a few things to remember when teaching children personal hygiene.
-Washing hands
-Brushing teeth
-Showering
-Dressing
-Using the toilet
Dedicating time to personal hygiene activities as part of a routine is a good method of ensuring that children have regular time to learn these important skills. These activities can be worked into regular day to day activities such as:
Remember that your role as a parent is different than that of the therapist. As a parent, you teach hygiene skills related to the child’s development in every day life. Developing good hygiene is not always an easy process, but is a slow and gradual one.
Personal hygiene covers many skills, so ABA Therapists work with parents to determine which would be most impactful for their family, what works best with their current day-to-day schedule, and what is most appropriate for the child based on their current skill set.
For example, if the child is ready and parents spend ample time at home, therapists may suggest toilet training, which is more intensive than other personal hygiene skills. On the other hand, if they can’t fit toilet training into their family’s life right now, therapists would focus on other, less-intensive skills, like teeth brushing.