Many of the children we see in our Hairy Planet salon have sensory dysfunction and so have tactile defensiveness, finding it very uncomfortable and flinch when their scalp is touched or going to be touched.
This is often coupled with behavioural difficulties developed over years of children resisiting to have their hair touched, and parents understandably avoid touching or brushing, and can tend to keep their child's hair short (if they are able to attend to hair cuts at all).
There are several ways of helping with this - and families that attend our salon are shown different techniques to help de-sensitize the scalp.
Sometimes, it's a using a different type of brush or comb - and applying deep pressure massage to your child's head regularly (daily where possible).
Avoid light touch as much as possible - it exaggerates the tactile defensiveness further.
Nails:
You can apply the same principals for nail cutting - apply deep pressure and finger exercises before nail cutting. A good time to cut nails is after a bath, when their nails are soft.
As well as using your hands to massage, other ways you can apply deep pressure to heads are:
- Pulling strings of a hooded top
- Using an elastic headband
- Using a stretchy cap or hat
- Ask your OT about a weighted cap or hat - you can get these in thinkingtoys.ie
For further advice, and to book an appointment, you can contact us at the Hairy Planet via Hometrain: info@hometrain.ie
Following a great open clinic day in Cork - we are holding an open clinic day on 11th Feb in Dublin - with resources, advice and a 6-week programme tailored for each family. Not to be missed! Call us to book your appointment: 087 6907663
More about The Hairy Planet here: http://www.hometrain.ie/hairyplanet/
Claire.
