How do you toilet train a child with Dyspraxia?

[cktwo]

I suspect my DD1 has Dyspraxia (I am waiting for an appointment at the child development unit for assessment) and she will be 3 in January. Whilst I don't think she is quite ready to toilet train yet, she has become conscious of when she's done a poo so we might be getting nearer the point of starting.

But as she cannot communicate with us (she has around 30 words but only DH and I can understand most of them) where do I start with toilet training? Do I just let it go for now and worry about it later? or do I try it? And if so how the hell is she going to be able to tell me when she needs to go if she can't talk?

Sorry for all the questions but would be grateful for any advice

glad you posted here. I am sure you will get better advice than mine about signing.

Thanks 2shoes, although I have taken what you said on board. We do do some signing/actions with her so she communicate eg pushing her plate away when she's had enough dinner.

dd does the simple hand between legs action.
also has a picture a toilet on her tray.

In your position i think I'd leave it for now. You don't feel that she's ready and she can't yet tell you when she needs to go. Don't feel pressured by people around you who think that a child should be toilet-trained by a certain age.

Welcome to the SN board, by the way.

Obviously by "people around you" I mean people you know in real life - not 2shoes!

DS has delayed speech, and is nearly toileted trained at 3.5. He started by wanting to copy me on the toilet - first just by sitting on it without producing, then sitting on it and producing, then taking himself to the loo at home/nursery whenever he needs. So although lack of communication makes things difficult, toilet training can be done without lots of speech. you may find that some sort of signing/gesturing/picture card works to help her communicate. When I am out with S, I ask him if he needs the loo every hour or so, and/or whenever I go, and that has worked so far.

When you do feel she is ready you might try using simple pictures. I would show her a picture of a toilet when you sit her on and later she might get the idea to show you the picture when she needs to go. In fact you might want to look into PECS or similar communication system with pictures anyway if you think she might get frustrated with not being able to communicate in general.

But I agree with Coppertop that I wouldn't rush it. My son has dyspraxic type symptons as well as learning difficulties and speech and language difficulties and we are only just now starting to get some success with toilet training at the age of 6. I am not saying that will be the case with your dd (I don't think my DS2 knew when he had pooed at the age of 3) but it tends to be a long haul at the best of times.

Thanks for all your help, but can you tell me what PECS is please?

Picture Exchange System. Lots of good info and stuff to print out on the do2learn site. Which I Think is www.do2learn.com. Idea being for kids with speech problems, that they can hand you over a picture to show what they want/how they feel etc if they haven't got the words.

Picture Exchange COMMUNICATION system even

Funnily enough I had come across the do2learn.com website when I was online last night.
Think I will continue my research whilst waiting for the appointment but will bring this up with the speech therapist.

Thanks all.....I may be back with more questions over the next few months