Clothing Challenges for Children with Autism

Children with autism can experience difficulties with a variety of clothing due to sensory sensitivities. This hypersensitivity can lead to intense distress, including meltdowns and anxiety. What specifically might be causing your child distress and what can be done about it—these are questions you may be asking if your child is dealing with clothing issues. With a bit of investigation and experimentation, you may be able to find solutions that work

Common Clothing Discomforts

The most common source of sensory issues include:

• Textures - plenty of materials can be itchy, rough, too thick, too thin, or otherwise uncomfortable
• Tags - scratchy tags are liable to be a constant irritant
• Seams - internal seams of clothing can often bring discomfort; this is especially common in socks
• Fit - clothing that doesn’t fit—shirts that are too small, collars that are too tight, pants that are too big, etc… can be problematic for many different reasons

Styles to Try

While tightness in some areas may be uncomfortable, many children with autism find that snug clothing can provide just enough pressure to be calming. Softer, breathable fabrics like cotton come highly recommended for children with autism. Look for seamless socks, or, if none are available, try putting socks on inside out to reduce the discomfort of the seam across the toes. Some clothing brands offer adaptive options such as hidden seams, no tags, and even simple closures for increased confidence in self-care.

Building Independence

As with so many things, routine is crucial for encouraging independence and reducing any anxiety surrounding clothing. Make dressing part of your child’s visual schedule, and use positive reinforcement to support your child in mastering their dressing routine. Add a little more autonomy to the mix by giving your child a choice between two or three options, and this will build their confidence even more.

Positive Reinforcement not only offers ABA therapy services for North Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, including cities like Glen Allen Virginia,  Winchester Virginia,  and Aba Therapy Richmond Virginia.