FAQautism

This may seem like an indelicate topic just days before Christmas, but the time has come for you to give yourself the ultimate holiday gift – freedom from dirty diapers. Just take a deep breath, strengthen your resolve, and tackle this issue of toilet training. Many individuals with autism can take care of their personal needs, but others are stuck in diapers, even as adults. The holiday break gives us an opportunity to give toilet training a try. Even if you are not completely successful, you can at least take some purposeful steps forward in developing this critical life skill.

Listen Now:

 

 Standard Podcast [5:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

HO! HO! HUuuuuumbug! We can always hope, but, realistically, many of our friends are simply not going to magically transform into a person who takes care of toileting independently. They need to be led down that path one step at a time. Gradually, a person can learn to sit on the toilet a regular intervals, to recognize the feeling of voiding, and to recognize the value of moving beyond diapers.

In order to be successful at toilet training, we need to consider all sides of the issue, then develop a strategy that (1) identifies and overcomes barriers to using a toilet, (2) avoids escalating the frustration on both sides, and (3) includes both patience and persistence.

The first step is very critical. Look closely and think carefully about the reasons why your friend with autism does not use the toilet. The reasons behind resisting toilet-training vary greatly. Some individuals do not have the cognitive abilities to take care of toileting independently, or they may simply not be developmentally ready. Some people cannot communicate their need to use the restroom, so they have occasional accidents. Some are not motivated to move beyond their long-time habit of having a bowel movement in a diaper. Some individuals do not seem to notice or care if they have a toileting accident. Some people with autism strongly resist changes in routine, even if sticking with a routine results in soiled pants. Some people are being purposefully defiant, or they thrive on the attention and reaction of adults around them when they have an accident. And some people with autism with extreme auditory sensitivities avoid toilets and bathrooms at all costs because of the sudden loud noises. Even if none of the scenarios seem logical to us, we need to realize that individuals with autism do not always view the world in the same way as others.

So, our goal is not to hammer logic into the heads of our friends and convince them of the folly of their viewpoint, but, rather, to help them develop a new habit of using a toilet. Quietly and without fanfare, escort your friend to the bathroom at very frequent intervals. Although “schedule-training” does not work for every single person, consistent, stress-free trips to the toilet is the first step in developing that useful habit.

TIP FOR THE DAY: Keep your eye on the prize. Taking time to tackle this issue now will only decrease your stress in the future.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

Automatically generated related posts:

1. Resisting Toilet Training As toddlers and young children grow into teens and young...
2. Toileting Troubles 3 Once we have pinpointed the specific factors contributing to toilet...
3. Toileting Troubles 2 Toileting is a serious issue for some individuals with autism....
4. Toileting Troubles 1 In spite of patient and consistent attempts, our best efforts...
5. Toileting Not a very polite topic, but more and more teens...