Learn how to get your free toothbrushing task analysis to help teach the skill of brushing teeth.
Toothbrushing is an important part of maintaining good oral hygiene and overall health.
Toothbrushing can be an overwhelming and hard skill to learn especially if they have sensory issues with brushing teeth.
Breaking the skill down and finding appropriate sensory strategies can help.
What is Task Analysis
Task Analysis is a systematic approach used to break down a task into smaller, more manageable components. This can help to define the sequence of steps needed to complete the task, and identify any potential problems or risks associated with the task. It can also be used to identify any skills or knowledge required to complete the task. Task Analysis can be used in a range of fields including education, engineering, psychology, and business.
How Can you use Task Analysis to Teach Toothbrushing?
Task analysis is a great way to teach any complex skill, including tooth brushing. First, break the task down into its component parts. For tooth brushing, this might include picking out a toothbrush, putting toothpaste on the brush, wetting the brush, brushing each quadrant of the mouth, etc. Then, provide a step-by-step demonstration of each part of the task. After the demonstration, have your student practice each step, giving gentle reminders and feedback as needed. Lastly, have your student practice the full task of brushing their teeth, with you providing encouragement and feedback. This process can be repeated as needed until your student has mastered the skill.
A Simple Toothbrushing Task Analysis Example
To help you understand the toothbrushing task, I will provide a step-by-step analysis.
Gather your toothbrush and toothpaste.
Wet your toothbrush and put a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the bristles.
Start brushing at the gum line using a gentle circular motion.
Brush the outer and inner surfaces of the teeth.
Don’t forget to brush the chewing surface of your teeth.
To clean the inside of your front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several gentle up-and-down strokes.
Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
Rinse your mouth with water or mouthwash.
Spit out the water or mouthwash and store your toothbrush in a clean, dry place.
Get your Free Toothbrushing Task Analysis Checklist
In less than 5 minutes you can get your free toothbrushing task analysis already written out for you in a step by step process to save you time and to teach the skill of brushing teeth.
Helpful Strategies for Toothbrushing
Toothbrushing can sometimes be an overwhelming experience for some individuals, so it can be helpful to incorporate some sensory strategies to make the process easier. Here are some ideas to make toothbrushing more enjoyable and effective:
Use a timer. Setting a timer for two minutes can help them know when the toothbrushing session is over.
Provide a variety of toothbrushes. Offering different textures, shapes, and sizes of toothbrushes can make the experience more exciting and fun.
Use musical brushing. Playing music while brushing can help them focus on the task and even encourage them to brush longer.
Watch a video or use a toothbrushing app to distract or make it more interactive.
Use flavored toothpaste. Toothpaste with interesting flavors, such as bubble gum or fruity flavors, can make brushing more enjoyable.
Toothbrushing and Flossing Toolkit to help you teach toothbrushing and flossing with step by step instructions, visual sequencing, and data collection.
Get your Free Toothbrushing Task Analysis Checklist
In less than 5 minutes you can get your free toothbrushing task analysis already written out for you in a step by step process to save you time and to teach the skill of brushing teeth.
*Learn about these sensory friendly autism showering products to help make showering easier for them and improve their quality of life and independence.
The body odor and greasy matted hair show your teenager has gone days without showering. Again. Cringing, you brace yourself for the dreaded battle if you dare intervene. But if you don’t speak up? You worry your teen will sit alone in the cafeteria or be ridiculed by cruel peers. You need to figure out a way to help them care for their body.
The teenage years bring about a lot of changes and new experiences and one big change is going through puberty and having an understanding of changes occuring in the body.
Not all autistic teens will have difficulty with personal hygiene care skills, but for some it can bring on new stress and anxiety with learning a new self care routine or how to care for their body in a different way. They may have difficulty understanding why these changes are happening or some of the social situations as to why they need to make these changes.
Why Taking a Shower May be Difficult for Them
Sensory Sensitivities to the feeling of water on their body and feeling wet
Difficulty understanding why we need to shower
Being dirty and having oily hair doesn’t bother them
The change in temperature of getting in the shower may bother them
They may have difficulty with balance and coordination with standing in the water
Getting dressed after showering their skin may feel like it hurts
Taking a shower takes so much energy
Taking a shower is sensory overload
The smells of the shampoo, conditioner, body wash
There are a lot of reasons why taking a shower may be hard for them… Just be willing to listen to them and work together to help them figure out how to take a shower.
What can you do to help?
Have an understanding and patience that this skill is hard for them. Be there to support them and help find ways that work for them to learn the skill.
I have put together a list of products that may help you adapt how to take a shower in order to make it a little easier for them.
Use these Sensory Friendly Autism Showering Products to help make Showering Easier
*This post contains affiliate links. There is no extra cost to you, but if you purchase through our link we will receive a comission.
Take a look at these sensory friendly autism showering products to help make showering easier for them and improve their quality of life.
A shower dispenser for the soap can help make it easier to get the soap out to use. They just have to push a button to get the soap out and this may help them identify better between body wash, shampoo, and conditioner.
A color changing shower headfor the correct water temperature. This may be helpful for someone who has difficulty regulating the temperature of the water on their own.
Color changing smart light that is color coded with the color lables on the soap dispenser. You can set up the color chaning smart light to be the same colors as the color labels on the soap dispenser and set each color for a certain amount of time. This will give an additional visual cue as to when to go to the next step. This way they aren’t standing under the shower for a long time without washing their body and letting the water get cold.
Swim Goggles may be helpful for someone who has difficulty getting their eyes wet while in the shower.
Ear plugs may be helpful for someone with sensitivity to the sounds in the shower.
A long handled sponge to help reach the back or lower legs and feet while showering.
A reclinging hair salon chair may be helpful to set up at a sink to wash their hair if they have difficulty washing their hair by themselves in the shower. Especially if they are older and are wanting more privacy in the shower.
These are additional ideas that are helpful for in between showers to help keep their body clean.
In this bundle, I give you tons of practical tools and resources to help you teach your teen or young adult how to shower. I give you specific strategies to teach each step of taking a shower, sensory adaptaitons, how to set up the bathroom for success, and TONS of tools to help you teach the skill. I use real life pictures of teen boys or teen girls to help them have a visual for each step.
What strategies or products have you found that work to make taking a shower easier? Let me know in the comments below.
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About This Site
This is an educational blog designed to help families how to teach children with autism life skills to help them learn to be independent as they transition into adulthood.
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