NorwayMom | Autism PDD

Didn't I read somewhere else that you consulted a specialist and were starting a slow de-sensitization, ie from water play, to standing in a shallow pan of water in the kitchen, and eventually working your way up to a real bath? If so, it sounds like the right way to treat a phobia.

I don't think any social story I'd find on the internet would be of much use. Don't be afraid of writing one yourself. If you want, you can write a rough draft (since you know the relevant details) and I can look it over. You can even make it in video format, which you are VERY good at and which might hold Sharlet's attention better. What I would start with is writing what she can expect and what is expected of her during the current phase of de-sensitization, with lots of positive and reassuring words.

I think she'd also benefit from a social story that focuses specifically on the sensory aspects of bathing, for example, here's a couple lines I wrote to focus on the sound aspects:

***

- Bath-time is filled with special noises.

I hear the shhhhhhhhh-sound of water coming out of the faucet.

I hear splish-splash and drip-drip sounds when I move in the water.

There is also an echo. We sound different in the bath, but we are the same.

Bath-time noises are okay! I can tell Mummy if I don't like a noise.

***

Talk to the specialist about how you might combine the de-sensitization plan with sensory experimentation and a sensory-focused social story book or video. I'd be glad to help you in any way I can.

As always, best wishes.

When we all get over the flu

my girls are still happy to model bath
time, share a tub with Sharlet and Nina. But not this week we are to sick and
don't want to breathe on anyone!

One noise I forgot to mention was the noise of the drain. I remember you mentioning Sharlet gets distressed if the drain plug gets dislodged.

You tried the going through the motions and not using water. sitting in the bath with no water, pretending to wash with no water etc.. then you start by adding a little drop at a time, from a cup not from the tap. I'm not sure you're where you are upto with this so you might already of tried that, it's def worth a go if you haven't. I used that system for toilet training and it worked, took some time but it worked. Worth a bash.

The point is to take it really slowly, perhaps letting her get in the dry bath with all her clothes on a first then each time take it one step at a time, half dressed etc.. each time just pretending to have a bath KWIM..

horizon39317.1315509259Really the only analogy I can think of is, Sharlet's phobia of bathing is as bad as my phobia of spiders. So how do we get someone who is terrified of spiders to sit in a bath with them and be ok with it?????
No toy or song or fun experience is going to help and thats what I have found with Sharlet. No matter what I give her (I have given her a toy she had been zoned into for 4 hours without looking away, taking her and the toy straight to the bath together) She can't even look at the toy, it's so bad it's like she can't even hear my voice, she can't even see they toys or hear the music. She is literally blinded and crippled with fear. As I would be in a bath full of spiders.
If that makes sense.

I'm actually surprised I hadn't already gathered up a collection of bath stories. I don't have time to search for new ones today, but here are two that I've found in the past. Spectrummum's MSN group also has one. You can try sending her a PM.

http://www.geocities.com/denisev2/social_bath.html - no pics

http://www.attainmentcompany.com/pdfs/bookSamples/HGD_Sample .pdf - written for the older children, with PECS.

I'll see what more I can find tomorrow.

Hi NorwayMom, can you pleeease do me a favor and find me a bath time social story...
Since you are the resource fairy on these boards and I wouldn't know where to start.

Hi,

I have similar bath issues though not as severe.

I got this from NorwayMom's social stories posting.

http://www.adders.org/socialstories5.htm pictures.

Hi beginner, I saw this but I don't think it is specific enough, I need it to be exclusively dealing with bathing.
thanks anyway :)

This one also has some tips, maybe something you haven't thought of yet.

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/bath-time-fun.htm l

Still looking for a social story, but here's someone else who has had bathtime troubles.

http://www.theautismlife.com/the-daily-grind/

I have never used them and to be honest would be be surprised if they help but have heard good things and am willing to try anything non invasive at this point.
Thanks so much for helping
thanks :)

Sincerely want to help. i know you're going through a lot. My husband is aspie, kids asd.

Anyway, if the neighbors were to call the cops on us it would be when we are giving dd a bath. I'm still going to look for an appropriate story but haven't found one yet. I might order some software. My dd is really enjoying social stories.

maybe on top of the social story you could use a picture schedule to let her know exactly what has to be done and the order it is going to happen.

Maybe you have tried this, I can't quite remember, but I know it was a lot.

Good luck. Hope it gets better soon!

Well, it hasn't helped...yet, but I can see her thinking when I read it and sometimes she might repeat something from the story. We just started with the stories this week.

If I could make her bath a sensory free experience I would. We spent last summer outside in a baby pool, I filled it with soap, she would splash with her brother and her hair would get wet but I never touched her, no washing. The summer before that she wouldn't get in. This summer she won't get in.

She screams like she's being tortured, cries until she's gagging, goes into massive stimming behaviors. She even hit her head once.

She's had therapy, never would touch a bubble but does now. She likes cold water, we keep trying new things.

If you find something that works let me know.

Thanks