Autism/PDD

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Expert: - 11/27/2011


Question
My daughter who is 4 and 1/2 years old was recently diagnosed with PDD. She is very bright, has a memory as sharp as a tack, has a good range of vocabulary and is very loving. She is potty trained and was doing very well up until about a month ago which is when she began to pee on herself. Today she left the house to enjoy the beautiful weather sat on the porch swing and pee'd like it was a toilet. Yesterday she got in the dog's cage and pee'd and later in the day stood up on the couch and did the same. About two months ago we had trouble with her not using the toilet to poop but we cut back significantly on her diary intake and this seemed to help this resolve. Just curious if there are any techniques to help shape this behavior and help her to get back on track? Thank you very much for your time and service.

Answer
Hi Dana,

This is a difficult question because it is impossible to know what started this behavior. She may just be experimenting with independence. Or, she may have suffered some emotional upset you are unaware of. You don't have a new baby, do you? Many children revert when confronted with a new rival.

My take on this is that you cannot win this battle with negative consequences. Try concentrating on successes. When she pees inappropriately, just be matter of fact, "Oops, you need dry clothes." When she uses the toilet, thank her and point out how comfortable it is to be dry. If she works for rewards, use something reinforcing to her. Don't bribe ahead of time, "if you do this, then I will do that", surprise her with the treat.

I think this will pass if you keep your cool. If she finds she can make you upset, it becomes a power struggle and becomes a bigger issue.

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Catherine Ridenour

Expertise

I can answer your questions about parenting your High Functioning Autisic or Asperger`s Syndrome child. In particular, questions about family life, discipline, siblings, finding resources, and working with (sometimes opposing) the educational system are welcome.

Experience

I am the parent of an Asperger's Syndrome child who is now 22 years old. She went undiagnosed for 14 years of her life, so I have done extensive reading and Internet research into the possible cause of her difficulties. Even a short 8 years ago, A.S. was practically unheard of by the public educational system.

We fumbled our way through her childhood and early adolescence without any effective outside support. In some ways, that may have been a blessing as we were focused on her abilities rather than a label for her disability. However, I can think of many times when knowing WHY would have been comforting.

Had we known very early on, some social skills interventions might have made her life in school easier. At this point, I like her for who she is so I do not regret how things have turned out. More importantly, she likes herself.

Education/Credentials
I have a Bachelor of Science in Education.

I have worked to educate myself about Autism in general and HFA/AS in particular.

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