The following article reviews the current literature addressing toilet training individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities. The review addresses programs typical to toilet training the developmental disability population, most of which are modeled after the original Foxx and Azrin [Azrin, N. H., & Foxx, R. M. (1971). A rapid…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a parent training program for teaching toilet skills to children with autism and mental retardation. The study was conducted with three mothers and their children. A multiple probe design using probe sessions across subjects was used. The experimental procedure consisted of two…

A negative reinforcement intervention was used to toilet train a child with multiple disabilities. The child appeared to actively withhold urinating in the toilet and was unresponsive to two positive reinforcement training programs. Negative reinforcement required that the child remain in the bathroom during toileting opportunities until he…

Three children with autism who were previously nonresponsive to low-intensity toilet training interventions were toilet trained using a modified Azrin and Foxx (1971) intensive toilet training procedure. Effects were demonstrated using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design across participants. The training was conducted across home and school…

Diaper use is widespread and possibly even increasing across diverse populations in the United States, ranging from infants to very old adults. We found no reports of an experimental analysis of the effect of wearing diapers on the frequency of urinary accidents and the attainment of continence skills (e.g., urinating in the toilet). In this…

There is a growing trend toward later toilet training of typically developing children. This trend is a problem for caregivers and professionals who work with young children, because it is associated with a number of costs and health risks in child-care settings. Results of a recent study (Tarbox, Williams, & Friman, 2004) suggest that wearing…

Maintaining therapeutic programmes for people with learning disabilities over long periods of time presents a major challenge to care systems as the limited and slow pace of client behavioural change is often insufficient to sustain staff behaviour. In this study, a 17-year-old young man with profound learning difficulties was successfully…

In this study, the effect of response restriction as a method to establish diurnal bladder control was assessed with 40 participants with moderate and severe levels of mental handicap. Being an extension of a previous study [Am. J. Mental Retard. 106 (2001) 209], the significant decrease of the mean number of toileting accidents in function of…

Results showed no consistent trends toward acquisition when training for severely disabled autistic Ss (5-7 years old) was provided in only some settings. However, the continuity approach which coordinated all of the children's daily activities produced immediate and steady gains in successful toileting. (Author)

The current trend of hurrying a child's development, as evidenced by the popularity of disposable pants for toilet training, is criticized. The pants frustrate both parents and children and, it is concluded, serve no useful purpose in the toilet-learning process. (LB)

This case study analyzed effects of priming in introducing toilet training to a 3-year-old boy with autism. Using an ABAB design, analysis found an increase in initiation of toilet use and a decrease in wet diapers when priming was used. (Author/DB)

Parents continually struggle to find better ways to make decisions regarding their children, and many use popular parenting books. The purpose of this article is to discuss the critical thinking skills needed by parents and practitioners who work with parents to make informed parenting decisions influenced by popular media. It also addresses…

Compared the effectiveness of live versus videotape delivery of a behavioral treatment package for enuresis. Outcome was superior for the live delivery. Pretreatment measures of family and child psychosocial adjustment failed to predict treatment response. Film delivery resulted in higher confidence in children of their parents, but lower…

The author stresses the importance of toileting instruction as an educational function for severely handicapped and preschool handicapped students and reviews traditional and intensive methods of teaching bladder and bowel control. (CL)