Expert: Paul Johnson - 10/29/2009

Question
My son is 13 going on 14 and has PDD-nos. Since he was very young , we taught him good hygiene habits , but to no avail. He won't brush his teeth , pretends to shower , won't change his underwear , etc.. I can wash his hair , with a clarifying shampoo , but we can't be in the bathroom with him. Even his well groomed peers aren't having any influence. We got him Axe body wash(at my son' request) and accompanying body spray. He doesn't use those products coonsistently. What can we do?

Answer
Hey Karen.

This is a common question among many parents of ASD children. I do not know of any definitive techniques. Your son does not experience the results of poor hygiene habits the way others around him. Thus the challenge is to help him understand the offense others feel when somebody is close. I am not sure how you go about this; short of getting really close to him while not bathing your self. While this is a tempting response, I am not sure it would translate to him understanding that this is how he disturbs others.

Perhaps a simple consequence like early bedtime for not showering might be the most effective. There has been very very ASD few individuals who do not outgrow this when they reach late adolescence.