Toileting Troubles 1
In spite of patient and consistent attempts, our best efforts to toilet train our youngster with autism can sometimes fail miserably. Diapers, wet beds, and soiled clothing are huge issues for teens and adults with autism, with the potential of causing problems at school, at work, and in the community. If you are not dealing with toileting issues, you might want to follow this conversation anyway since some of the basic principles apply to any challenging issue you might encounter.
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What are our options when we encounter failure at every turn? 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 a person using a toilet, (2) includes two key ingredients: patience and persistence, and (3) considers the individual’s unique situation when developing and implementing a step-by-step program to teach the individual with autism to use the toilet.
Let us look at some real-life situations. A family reports that their teen daughter with autism quit wetting her bed and panties when she was four years old, but that she still has a bowel movement in her pants nearly every day. The mom said, “We try to watch her closely, but there is not the usual sign that she is going, like stopping or pushing. Sometimes we notice she straightens her upper body and stands on her toes, but not always. We haven’t found a pattern in time or place or behavior, but she definitely seems to want to stand rather then sit for her bowel movements.”
An articulate adult with autism shared these thoughts after being assured I would protect their identity. My friend wrote, “I know this sounds very bizarre, but the thought of sitting on a toilet is horrifying to me. I guess it is similar to a young child imagining monsters under the bed. To me, a toilet is like a loud, gurgling, bottomless pit. I feel as if I will be sucked down into oblivion if I sit on a toilet. As strange as this seems, it is easier for me to wear adult diapers, changing them as soon as I can after a bowel movement, than to tolerate sitting on a toilet.”
A regular FAQautism.com listener wrote, “I am at my wits end with my teenage autistic son. It appears that he has bowel movements in the toilet when he feels like it. For days in a row, he will go in the toilet, then he will go in his diaper, then it seems like he purposefully has a bowel movement on the floor.”
Other challenging issues include situations such as children smearing or eating their feces, individuals resisting the most patient efforts at toilet training, and families finding it difficult – if not impossible – to implement a consistent toilet training program because of time constraints.
In the next two podcasts, we will look briefly at some factors to consider when developing a success-oriented toilet training plan.
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
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