DD, ASD and Hygiene

[Rowenaravenclawsdiadem]

I need some help with my DD, 14, she has ASD and ADD.

She does not care one jot about her appearance. I actively encourage her every day to brush teeth and wash and put deodorant on. She argued against it every day and has to be shoe horned into the shower.

She comes home every day and she stinks of BO despite my best efforts. Her teeth are looking really yellow, she barely brushes her hair.

Life is tough enough at school for her, she struggles every day. I’ve tried to be diplomatic about it, I’ve been harsh about it. But she isn’t getting it. I can’t get her to care about it.

Does anyone have any experience or be able to point me in the right direction?

I have no experience, my baby is 7 months but does she like baths? I know she's 14 but maybe she likes bath bombs from lush and this would make it more enjoyable? In regards to BO, when I was a teenager, my parents gave me the spray but that never worked for me, so I had to get a roll on and make sure it's an antiperspirant, I always needed the one that contains aluminium. I still put it on and wait 15 minutes before putting on clothes. No idea if my post helps at all x

We got a self help book called 'Personal Hygiene. What's it got to do with Me?' It's especially for autistic teenagers. I got it from Amazon. We also got some occupational therapy. Also we made laminated visual instructions, for use in the shower. Also a flip over sign with 'wash' and 'don't wash' so he knew when he needed wash his hair each day. He made them to have ownership. Social stories about how all animals wash and why humans have to wash. We also linked Xbox time to being clean. And a checklist for getting ready eg: clean teeth, had shower, got dressed, etc. It's best to explain clearly without metaphors. We also checked him every day. He was resistant at first. There's resources on Pinterest.

Tricky. It was like this with my ASD ds at that age. Hinting was pointless. Had to be blunt and tell him that he smelt and needed a shower. Eventually it clicked. Now I moan about how long he’s in there! DD is 11 and also AS - we’ve had issues with teeth brushing for years. It’s better now she had OraNurse bland toothpaste - low foam, no taste. She seems to equate hair washing etc with being a girly girl so I’m trying to say that being clean does not equate to liking glitter and unicorns! Good luck with your DD - just keep telling her to get in the shower. Eventually things will become less stinky!

Dd was like that, about 16 she started to care more about her appearance and whilst she's still not the most enthusiastic showerer I rarely have to really nag now, but she is 20.

I have the same issue with DD

luckily, as she is so literal, I can tell her that she smells

I still need to help her with shampoo, and making sure that she does actually wash properly. Sometimes she has come out of the shower, but still stinks.

I also shave underarms and trim her pubic hair, which grows really quickly and doesn't help with the smell

I work with young people with autism and my little boy is about to be assessed. @LittleSweet post is great. I'd use a visual prompt for when she is in the shower so she can follow it and know exactly what she needs to do, and also link it to something she's really motivated by. If she follows all the steps she gets x amount of time on her technology of choice? Make it all visual and very black and white.

Thanks all. She is raging at me for telling her to shower.
Apparently it has ‘woken her up’

Give me strength.