Hair Pulling - Hartford City, IN

This could be sensory processing, but you will probably not get help for this at a pediatricians office. I would suggest that you contact your state and see if you can get a developmental profile done, in Ohio, it is called the Help me Grow program. Most states offer this service. Tell them that your son has been pulling his hair, this is a self injurous behavior (SIB) called triceltelemaina. It could have many causes. If you dont find help from the state, and your pediatricain does not help you with a referal, then look for an evaluation privately. You can start with either an occupational therapist (to evaluate senosry processing) or a Developmental Pediatrican (check with the closest childrens hospital)

Distracting him may be helpful, you will probably have the most sucess with sensory/tactile destractions.
Hope this helps!
M.

My daughter did the same thing-she twirled her hair until it ripped out-she had a large bald spot on one side of her head for about 6 months. I was beside myself with worry, and researched all of the possible causes, the overwhelming answer was that it was just a comfort mechanism. It is probably not trichotillomania, in fact most doctors won't even use this diagnosis for someone younger than three. The advice that I got (from internet research and my pediatrician) was not to call attention to it-simply ignore when he is trying to pull out his hair (I know its hard, cut their hair (you are lucky that you have a boy, it was tough to cut off my girls hair), and give them something else to do with their hands. I got my daughter a doll with long hair to twirl, anyhow after she turned 26 months she stopped pulling out her hair on her own and in a few months it had grown out, the bald spot filled in completely. Be patient, if you keep cutting it (I had to do it 4 times) he will probably forget about it eventually. Good luck.

Heather may be referring to trichotillomania. It's when you pull your hair out. My understanding is that kinds this young pull their hair, it may be cause of something else. Most people I've talked to that have trich started pulling when they were between 7-10 years old. It's an ongoing battle to keep from pulling that isn't simply cured by a medication. Meds help some-not others.
There was just a news story on 20/20: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/Story?id=442302...

In the absence of there being some sort of problem with sensory processing which you would find out at the doctor's office, it could be stress or boredom or the ammount of attention he gets from you when he does it. At any rate if it is just a behavior thing I would try to offer him things that he can get his hands into. Things like playdough, jello paint (jello mixed with water to a finger paint consistency), shaving cream play (shaving cream on a tray - you can even make two piles and put a little powdered koolaide - different one in each - and let him mix them and make new colors), salt or sugar on a tray that he can trace in, sidewalk chalr. It will distract him and give him something else to do with his hands. Bubbles are magic. Everyone loves them. A rubbermaid kitchen tub with sand or water in it. He could wash dishes or babies in it or spoon sand into a cup both of which are good for developing small motor skills. You can give him a bucket of water and a paint brush and let him help "paint" the house or the fence.

Hope these ideas help. Between now and dr. time the best thing you can do is keep him busy, distract, stimulated, and his hands full.

Hi R.!

My husband pulls out his hair and my oldest son did for a while. There is a real disorder for it, I can't remember the name at the moment, but can be treated with medication. We have never used meds. for it and my son quit pulling it out. My husband, unfortunately still pulls his, but he really had the habit for 35 years now. When our son started pulling out his hair, my husband told me to get his hair cut too short for him to grab it. We kept it that way for a few months and he forgot about it. Good luck!