Systematic Desensitization Rebroadcast: Helping Kids Who Struggle with Haircuts, Doctors and Dentist Visits

Free Workshop

Increase Talking &
Decrease Tantrums

in Young Children with

Autism &/or Speech Delays

Whether it is a haircut, routine dentist visits, ear check, learning to tolerate eye drops, or wearing a safety vest, these common and necessary activities can trigger panic and problem behavior in children with autism. Holding down your child or client to carry out these tasks is not recommended and is not sustainable long term. In this segment of my classic rebroadcast series, I share an episode from 2019 where I discuss and share tips on how to help kids who struggle with these important tasks for self-care, medical needs, and safety using systematic desensitization.

Step 1: Assess – What Does Desensitize Mean?

If you’re not new here, you know the first step is always to assess. Identify the task at hand and ask questions about what’s happening. Where is this taking place? What behavior occurs? What triggers the behavior? How long does the behavior last? Who is involved? Break down every level of the task or procedure and figure out what happens and what needs to happen.

Step 2: Plan – Desensitization and Medical Procedures

Use your answers from assessing the task to build a very detailed step-by-step plan. Determine where the child will be, in what position, with whom, for how long, etc. Every single necessary piece must be included so your child and you can know what to expect.

Step 3. Practice – Helping a Child with Medical Procedures

Start small and build up. Practicing the plan is going to gradually desensitize the child. You should not practice the entire plan and procedure at once. First start by going to the predetermined location of the practice, and providing reinforcement. Then introduce the next step, providing reinforcement. Then the next step and so on. Eventually, this will lead up to the actual procedure whether that be a haircut, appointment, ear drops, etc. Some tasks or procedures are more time sensitive so adjust your gradual practice to fit the time constraints, especially in the case of administering medicine.

Overall we want children to reach their fullest potential and have a great life, this means participating in and tolerating these, at times, uncomfortable daily tasks. Hopefully, these tips can make a difference in desensitizing these procedures in a way that will benefit them as they grow older and encounter additional important tasks. As always if you find these episodes helpful, find us on all of our social media platforms and give us a like, comment, and share so we can keep getting the word out.

You’ll Learn

What does Desensitize mean?
Desensitization and Medical procedures.
How to help a child with medical procedures.
How to assess, plan, and practice desensitization.
How to prevent problem behavior during important care tasks, safety, and medical procedures.

Resources