Skip to main content

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

Abstract

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience impairments in adaptive behavior, including toileting skills. Toilet training is a crucial developmental milestone for learning adaptive skills and achieving independence. Compared to their typically developing peers, children with intellectual and developmental disorders begin toilet training at a later age and face more obstacles in toilet training procedures. As such, a comprehensive assessment of the individual’s toileting problems, caregiver factors, developmental functioning, and prerequisite skills should be used to guide toilet training procedures. This chapter reviews assessment procedures, screening tools for toileting problems, adaptive behavior measures, and developmental functioning measures. A brief overview of behavioral interventions for toilet training and the assessment of treatment progress and outcomes are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 219.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 279.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the child behavior checklist and revised child behavior profile. Burlington: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Pediatrics. (1998). Toilet training: Guidelines for parents. Elk Grove Village, IL: AAP.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Azrin, N. H., & Foxx, R M. (1971). A rapid method of toilet training the institutionalized retarded. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 4, 89–99.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bainbridge, N., & Smith Myles, B. (1999). The use of priming to introduce toilet training to a child with autism. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 14(2), 106–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, B. L., & Brightman, A. J. (1997). Steps to independence: Teaching everyday skills to children with special needs. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayley, N. (2006). Bayley scales of infant and toddler development, third edition: Administration manual. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brazelton, T. B. (1962). A child-oriented approach to toilet training. Pediatrics, 29, 121–128.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chase, J. W., Homsy, Y., Siggaard, C., Sit, F., & Bower, W. F. (2004). Functional constipation in children. The Journal of Urology, 171, 2641–2643.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cicchetti, D. V., Carter, A. S., & Gray, S. A. O. (2013). Vineland adaptive behavior scales. In F. R. Volkmar (Ed.), Encyclopedia of autism spectrum disorders. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cocchiola, M. A., Jr., Martino, G. M., Dwyer, L. J., & Demezzo, K. (2012). Toilet training children with autism and developmental delays: An effective program for school settings. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(2), 60–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cocchiola, M. A., Jr., & Redpath, C. C. (2017). Special populations: Toilet training children with disabilities. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Clinical guide to toilet training children (pp. 227–250). Cham: Springer Nature.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dalrymple, N. J., & Ruble, L. A. (1992). Toilet training and behaviors of people with autism: Parent views. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22(2), 265–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foxx, R. M., & Azrin, N. H. (1973). Toilet training persons with developmental disabilities: A rapid program for day and nighttime independent toileting. Harrisburg, PA: Help Services Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frauman, A. C., & Brandon, D. H. (1996). Toilet training for the child with chronic illness. Pediatric Nursing, 22(6), 469–493.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Friman, P., & Poling, A. (1995). Making life easier with effort: Basic findings and applied research on response effort. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 583–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halligan, S. M., & Luyben, P. D. (2009). Prompts, feedback, positive reinforcement, and potty training. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 37, 177–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris, A. (2004). Toilet training children with learning difficulties: What the literature tells us. British Journal of Nursing, 13(13), 773–777.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P. L., & Oakland, T. (2003). Adaptive behavior assessment system–second edition. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, P., & Oakland, T. (2015). Adaptive behavior assessment system (3rd ed.). San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heron, J., Joinson, C., Croudace, T., & von Gontard, A. (2008). Trajectories of daytime wetting and soiling in a United Kingdom 4 to 9-year old population birth cohort study. The Journal of Urology, 179(5), 1970–1975.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jang, J., Dixon, D. R., Tarbox, J., & Granpeesheh, D. (2011). Symptom severity and challenging behavior in children with ASD. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(3), 1028–1032.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasari, C., Sigman, M., Mundy, P., & Yirmiya, N. (1988). Caregiver interactions with autistic children. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 45–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kroeger, K. A., & Sorensen-Burnworth, R. (2009). Toilet training individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities: A critical review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 3, 607–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kroeger, K., & Sorensen, R. (2010). A parent training model for toilet training children with autism. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 54(6), 556–567.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kroeger, K. A., Weber, S., & Smith, J. (2017). Risk factors. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Clinical guide to toilet training children (pp. 33–62). Cham: Springer Nature.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Dempsey, T., & Fodstad, J. C. (2010). The profile of toileting issues (POTI). Baton Rouge, LA: Disability Consultants, LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Horovitz, M., & Sipes, M. (2011). Characteristics of individuals with toileting problems and intellectual disability using the profile of toileting issues (POTI). Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 4, 53–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Neal, D., Hess, J. A., & Kozlowski, A. M. (2011). Assessment of toileting difficulties in adults with intellectual disabilities: An examination using the profile of toileting issues (POTI). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 176–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & LoVullo, S. V. (2009). Encopresis, soiling and constipation in children and adults with developmental disability. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(4), 799–807.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Neal, D., Hess, J. A., & Kozlowski, A. M. (2011). Assessment of toileting difficulties in adults with intellectual disabilities: An examination using the profile of toileting issues (POTI). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 32, 176–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarney, S. B., & House, S. N. (2017). Adaptive behavior evaluation scale- third edition (ABES-3). Columbia, MO: Hawthorne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newborg, J. (2005). Batelle developmental inventory (2nd ed.). Itasca, IL: Riverside Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohta, M., Nagai, Y., Hara, H., & Saski, M. (1987). Parental perception of behavioral symptoms in Japanese autistic children. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 17, 549–563.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rolider, A., & Van Houten, R. (1985). Treatment of constipation-caused encopresis by a negative reinforcementprocedure. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16(1), 67–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojahn, J., Matson, J. L., Lott, D., Esbensen, A. J., & Smalls, Y. (2001). The behavior problems inventory: An instrument for the assessment of self-injury, stereotyped behavior and aggression/destruction in individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31, 577–588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, J. L., & Thompson, R. H. (2006). The effects of undergarment type on the urinary continence of toddlers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30(3), 363–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schum, T. R., Kolb, T. M., McAuliffe, T. L., Simms, M. D., Underhill, R. L., & Lewis, M. (2002). Sequential acquisition of toilet-training skills: A descriptive study of gender and age differences in normal children. Pediatrics, 109(3), 1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Singh, B., Masey, H., & Morton, R. (2006). Levels of continence in children with cerebral palsy. Pediatric Nursing, 18(4), 23–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparrow, S. S., Cicchetti, D. V., & Saulnier, C. A. (2016). Vineland adaptive behavior scales, third edition (Vineland-3). Bloomington, MN: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Squires, J., Bricker, D., Twombly, E., Nickel, R., Clifford, J., Murphy, K., … Farrell, J. (2009). Ages & stages questionnaires, 3rd edition (ASQ-3). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warzak, W. J., Kennedy, A. E., & Bond, K. (2017). Monitoring progress in toilet training. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Clinical guide to toilet training children (pp. 105–117). Cham: Springer Nature.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wingate, H. V., Falcomata, T. S., & Ferguson, R. (2017). In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Clinical guide to toilet training children (pp. 119–167). Cham: Springer Nature.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Esther Hong .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Hong, E., Matson, J.L. (2018). Assessment of Toileting Problems. In: Matson, J. (eds) Handbook of Childhood Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities Assessment . Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-93542-3_24

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics