Dyspraxia & Potty Training

[laraeo]

DS just turned 3. He was diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia at the end of June 2010 and we've been going to speech ever since. He's come a very long way and we're pleased with his progress.

Today I tried to start him potty training and it was a complete and utter disaster (he's back in a nappy now). He wet himself 5 times and had no idea that it was a problem. He honestly didn't seem to notice.

If you ask him, he'll tell you he's supposed to pee & poop in the potty but he just has no clue about when he's going to pee. Poop is a whole other story. Everyone knows when he's going to poop.

He's also quite happy to sit on the potty and was excited about the reward chart. He has pee'd a few times in the potty but it was just a fluke - I happened to have him sitting on it at the appropriate time, we hadn't started any "formal" potty training.

When he started speech class, he drooled quite a bit and didn't even seem to realize he was doing it. After a few weeks of doing various exercises, he stopped (the SALT thought he needed to further develop the muscles in his mouth).

Does anyone know if there's some sort of link between dyspraxia and slow toilet training? Or bladder control?

Thanks!

Hi autumnsmum here my son is asd and dyspraxic traits and my brother is definitely dyspraxic both werent potty trained until four and a half so i think there is a link.

Don't know that there's a link but I certainly think so. I tried to potty train my DS who has a ASD DX and is quite dyspraxic, at 2.5 and it was a disaster. I kept on with it,as at the time he couldn't start playgroup unless he was trained. In retrospect I really wish I'd left it until later before starting as now, at 11, he still has a few hang ups over pooping!

It needs to be done at some point but I'd leave it until half term or summer hols. Get him in the garden with a bare bottom and potty available so he gets used to recognising the sensation of weeing. Modern nappies are just too effective at keeping the wetness from being felt. If he sees himself weeing he may just begin to associate the feeling with needing the potty. Good luck!

EllenJane's right - you will be fighting a losing battle if your DS doesn't recognise the need to go.
It still doesn't mean that you can't get him into a routine with toiletting. 20-30 minutes after a meal sitting on the potty - I always do when you get up, go out and go to bed as well!. Spending a reasonable time on the potty, washing hands, practising pulling down and up trousers and pull-ups etc. Don't stress too much as this can be picked up on. If he has no idea when the urge is happening it could become quite demoralising.
On a happier note, my DS1 id dyspraxic and was the easiest of my 3 to toilet train - at 3.7 ! In fairness, the other 2 have dietary problems, but my nearly 6 still soils regularly (daily atm) and my 3.8 only recognises very solid build ups. The joys

My dd2(isolated speech delay & hypermobile),is failing completely on toilet training laraeo,so you are not alone!!

For the past 3 weeks(have posted previously about this)we have really tried hard to toilet train her,but she just doesn't get it,she knows what the toilet is for,but doesn't seem to have the control yet.

Am giving up & trying again in the summer,unless she decides in the meantime to give it a go

Thanks for the messages.

I had him in regular underwear until dinner when I gave up.

Last night after I posted, we went to get ready for bed and after he got undressed he ran into the bathroom. By the time I got there after visiting the laundry, he'd peeled off his diaper, was sitting on the potty and he peed! There was much rejoicing.

After his bath, he said he had to go again. I didn't really believe him since he'd just gone, but he sat on the potty and again! PEE! And more rejoicing.

We're trying again today with regular underwear. So far two mistakes but he told me immediately after - I didn't discover them for myself. So maybe that's progress?

I think I need to realize perhaps this isn't going happen right now and be content that he's willing and able to pull his shorts/undies/soon-to-be-pullups down and sit on the toilet.

Luckily we're in the desert of southern California so weather isn't an issue (yesterday was about 27 ) if we decide to go the commando route. Although one wonders about sunscreen application....

They now have pull ups that become cold when wet. Perhaps we'll try those to see if he can start to get the link. Of course since it's getting hot out he might like their cooling nature.

PromoCon is a UK charity that provides impartial advice and information regarding potty training, as well as where to get potty chairs, trainer seats, washable trainer pants etc etc The website has free downloadable booklets and other resources and there is a confidential helpline where you can speak to qualified staff
www.promocon.co.uk 0161 834 2001 :-)