FAQautism

Several families and teachers have posed questions about kids and adults with autism who constantly flush toilets. This obsession not only wastes water, but it also distracts our friend with autism from interacting with other people and disrupts the classroom or family routine.

Listen Now:

Standard Podcast [ 4:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Two strategies that do NOT work in this case are (1) nagging and (2) negative reaction after the event. In spite of our best intentions, many of us tend to wait until we hear a flush, then shout, “Sammy, if I’ve told you once I’ve told you a million times to stop flushing that toilet. I really mean it this time. Don’t flush the toilet or you will have to go to time out.”

Because of the complexity of habitual, obsessive toilet flushing, and because each person is so different, solutions to the irritating issue could fill a book. Today we’ll just look at a few surface issues.

In order to develop an easy-to-implement, effective plan that works for a specific individual in a specific situation, we must follow two key steps. First, we must pinpoint the exact problem and the extenuating circumstances. Knowing these details helps us tackle the problem without spinning our wheels.

Secondly, we must change the changeable factors. For example, disabling the flush mechanism stops obsessive flushing immediately. Some people install a lock or other blocking device to keep a person out of the bathroom without supervision.

Sometimes we inadvertently draw attention to a habit like toilet flushing by dwelling on it too much. Every time we say, “Don’t flush the toilet today,” a light might go on in our friend’s head as he remembers how much he likes that loud noise and swirling water. In this case, we might make a plan to avoid mentioning flushing and to provide another noisemaking gadget to substitute the noise and sounds of flushing.

TIP FOR THE DAY: After we pinpoint the problem precisely and change any changeable factors, then we can develop an effective plan that helps that person stop irritating flushing and that replaces that obsessive interest with a less wasteful and disruptive pastime.

So, to get a head start on this and other challenging issues, check out our new FAQautism.com Toolkits – Pinpoint Problems and Change the Changeable – practical resources filled to the brim with step-by-step guidelines for families, teachers, therapists, and other interested in the well-being of people with autism. Click on the Toolkit tab at http://FAQautism.com

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. Remove Temptation A youngster with autism sneaks into the kitchen at night...
2. Constant Nagging Although we may have the best intentions, we can certainly...
3. Do and Don’t A group of teachers and therapists were talking about the...
4. Toileting Troubles 3 Once we have pinpointed the specific factors contributing to toilet...
5. In Positive Terms A teacher and a therapist both commented about the principles...