Help PTing DS with autism

[SammyeGail]

I have tried so many attempts to PT DS with autism. He used the bathroom at his previous school 3-4 times a week, we could never get him to go at home.

In Jan. We watched the Potty Power DVD, he watched it 3 times in a row! I know he understands the concept, he just refuses to stay on the potty. We have tried reading, games, singing, anything we could think of.

Anyone BTDT, or know someone? I would be so grateful for any thoughts, ideas, advice. TIA!

[daisymommy]

This book is highly recommended: http://www.amazon.com/Toilet-Trainin.../dp/1932565493

My BF who's son has severe autism is using it with him. He is 4 and making good strides in learning.

Fwiw, my brother is on the spectrum, and he always said he just couldn't feel when urine was getting ready to come out, until it was too late. He was still wetting himself in school through 1st grade That was 25 years ago though, when there were no experts on this.
My DS is on the fringes of the spectrum as well, and he was 5 before he was fully PT.
Alot of this is tied up in the sensory issues of not having body awareness, and not being able to feel it coming, let alone hold it. Also spacing out and not being in the here and now. Very normal for PT to be very delayed.

[Gena]

We had success starting with schedule training and then gradually having DS determine when he needed to go. We used incentives to get him to stay on the potty and get the job done. M&Ms worked well for us. Other kids do well with other foods, stickers, blowing bubbles, etc.

I found this book helpful: Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism or Other Developmental Issues It has a lot of good information and ideas.

Also, if you are doing ABA therapy, A Work in Progress is an ABA manual that has a whole section on the ABA method of toilet training. I found this very helpful as well.

[SammyeGail]

Thanks for the book recommendations! Ordering it now. DS was in ABA therapy at his previous school, but it's not the teaching method at our new location. His school is the only thing I miss about where we used to live, lol.

His old school would quickly tell me what they do, DS hated our small 1/2 bath, also the cramped area around toilet in our master. He would sit no longer than 10 seconds. I can tell he will try sitting on it here, but doesn't like it. The 'lukewarm' water method never worked . That one and sitting & occupying was all I was told.

I am hoping we can work on this more now that we are settled in a home. Also if the school cooperates! My other DS sees my taking J to the bathroom as the chance to create chaos. Not fun and brings down my motivation.

One question, would a padded toilet seat cover help? I've thought it might, would love to know if it really would!

[Gena]

One question, would a padded toilet seat cover help? I've thought it might, would love to know if it really would!

I guess that might depend on his sensory issues. We never used a padded toilet seat and DS didn't have a problem. But I can see how for some kids it might be more comfortable or even just more interesting.

DS potty trained during a summer and we were often out and about at speech therapy, OT, playgroup, the rec center, and other activities. So we actually did a lot of potty training in public bathrooms.

[DietCokeLover]

A friend of mine is working with her 4 yo DD on this right now. She is in ABA therapy and is following the guidelines the therapist has given her though I'm not sure if the method she is using is in the book that Gena linked.

She started by putting her DD on the potty every 20 minutes. Then she gradually has increased the time in between potty trips. Her DD is non verbal, so she has no way to let her know when she has to go at this point in time. Shes been working on it for about a month at least and her DD is still having accidents, but is having some successes. I get the impression from my friend that this is going to be a fairly long process, but they are sticking it out. I know it's been frustrating for her.

Hang in there!

[Gena]

A friend of mine is working with her 4 yo DD on this right now. She is in ABA therapy and is following the guidelines the therapist has given her though I'm not sure if the method she is using is in the book that Gena linked.

She started by putting her DD on the potty every 20 minutes. Then she gradually has increased the time in between potty trips. Her DD is non verbal, so she has no way to let her know when she has to go at this point in time. Shes been working on it for about a month at least and her DD is still having accidents, but is having some successes. I get the impression from my friend that this is going to be a fairly long process, but they are sticking it out. I know it's been frustrating for her.

Hang in there!

Yes, this is similar to what we did. We started with schedule training, which meant that we took Ds to the potty at regular intervals. We started with every 40 minutes and eventually stretched it to every 2 hours. At that time, DS was newly verbal, but did not have spontaneous speech (echolalia only). So we has "potty cards" in every room in the house. These had a picture of a toilet and the words "I have to go potty" printed on them. Whenever it was time to take DS to the bathroom, we would have him pick up the card and read the sentence (an option for non-verbal kids is to have them make the ASL sign for toilet). Then we would take him to the bathroom. Eventually he learned how to initiate going on his own.

I think the important thing is to accept that potty training is going to be a process, not an event. It can be hard to remember that when other parents talk about 3-day potty training or getting their child completely potty trained over a weekend or how they just stayed home and kept the child naked and the kid trained with little to no effort. Potty training a special needs kid just takes longer and that's OK. It took months to potty train DS. Even after that he had difficulty with wiping and with getting his clothes back in place, so it took a couple of years for him to be potty independent. And that's OK.

[melrose7]

We had the ABA therapists train DD1 at home a year and a half ago. The method they use is teaching them how to recognize the feeling of a full bladder and having them learn when it is time to go. I gave it no chance but it worked wonderfully. Lots of accidents first 2 days but then nothing. She trained in 3 days and is nonverbal and learned the sign right away. I was shocked! In the last year and a half she has had maybe 10 accidents. We are working on a wiping program right now but I have recommended there program to other parents and used it on DD2. will also use it on DS1 too next year. Pm me if you are interested in more info.