About Michelle Fattig Expertise I can answer questions about educational testing, autism, Asperger's Syndrome, ADD/ADHD, Special Education, IEP, Learning Disabilities, Sensory Processing, Parent Advocacy, Response to Intervention, living and parenting with disabilities, parent rights in special education, school psychology, and more. I cannot provide a medical diagnosis.
Experience I am a school psychologist, medical technologist, author of the Annie Books series: Experience Aspeger's Syndrome and Attention Deficits Through the Eyes of a Child, RTI facilitator, ILCD facilitator, parent advocate, presenter, and researcher. My children and I have Asperger's, ADD/ADHD, and learning disabilities.
Organizations National Association of School Pyschologists, American Medical Technologists, Learning Disabilities Association of Nebraska
Education/Credentials Ed.S. in School Psychology, doctoral studies in SPED Law, SPED Systems Enhancement Leadership, and doctoral candidate Education Leadership. MT(AMT) and MLT(ASCP)
Question QUESTION: Our almost 4 yr old son Jake is diagnosed with autism he gets help in the normal spanisch school were he started january this year! Potty training is nog going well and i dont know what to do any more he does not want to sit on the toilet or potty, he gets very nervous when he needs to go cause he does not want to be near a toilet i put him a nappy on so he can do his thing and then i take it off again this goes normally fine but even in with a nappy he can postpone his pee for a very very long time yesterday almost 7 hours i am very worried!!! Could you help me?
ANSWER: It is very common for children with autism to be potty-training resistant or unsuccessful. Some of the issues may be sensory related (scared of the flushing noise, scared to sit unbalanced on the potty chair) or it can be an issue of holding it so often that they lose the sensation of "having to go." You can ask the school's occupational therapist to do a sensory profile and give you some helpful suggestions on reducing the sensory overload and the school psychologist could give you some help in developing a positive behavioral support plan. Early childhood teachers can also help with the process. The following are websites with helpful information.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
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QUESTION: Thank you for your quick reply. I think Jake is afraid of actually doing a pee. Jake is not showing many signs of being independent. Besides the words dadda and mummy he is still not speaking!
Next week jake is starting school again (in spain they start with 3), is it not better to let him go with a pull up pants because untill now he never went to the toilet! Or is it that Jake is holding it a sign that he is ready?
Answer I would highly recommend that a speech pathologist work with your son to increase functional language. The school may be able to work with you on toiletting issues as well. As far as pull up pants, that would be something to discuss with the school in order to minimize embarrassment while still working towards potty training. Increasing functional language at home, involving creative play, is something you also may want to consider. The following are websites that may be helpful:
Also, developing a routine with "sit time" on the potty about 20 minutes after meals, may help to reduce his fear or anxiety about the potty chair. Follow up his "sit time" with a reward and avoid punishment if he doesn't sit. Earning positives for the experience can be more helpful for long term success than discpline. Also, as he gets used to sitting, you may consider letting the sink run to sound like "tinkling" and/or slowly pouring warm (not hot) water down his tummy into the potty chair. This can stimulate the urinary response.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
