2017 Book ClinicalGuideToToiletTrainingC

Autism and Child Psychopathology Series
Series Editor: Johnny L. Matson
Johnny L. Matson
Editor
Clinical Guide
to Toilet
Training
Children
Series editor
Johnny L. Matson
Department of Psychology
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA, USA
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/8665
Johnny L. Matson
Editor
Clinical Guide to Toilet

Training Children
Editor
Johnny L. Matson
Department of Psychology
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA, USA
ISSN 2192-922X ISSN 2192-9238 (electronic)

ISBN 978-3-319-62724-3 ISBN 978-3-319-62725-0 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62725-0
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017951390
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

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Contents
Historical Development of Toilet Training�� 1

Maura L. Rouse, Lauren B. Fishbein, Noha F. Minshawi,
and Jill C. Fodstad
omplications and Side Effects Associated with a Lack
C
of Toileting Skills�� 19
Russell Lang, Laurie McLay, Amarie Carnett, Katherine Ledbetter-cho,
Xiaoning Sun, and Giulio Lancioni
Risk Factors�� 33
K.A. Kroeger, Stephanie Weber, and Jennifer Smith
ormal Developmental Milestones of Toileting�� 49
N
Claire O. Burns and Johnny L. Matson
Theories of Toileting�� 63
Xinrui Jiang and Johnny L. Matson
Problems Associated with Toilet Training�� 89
David A. Wilder and Ansley C. Hodges
onitoring Progress in Toilet Training�� 105
M
William J. Warzak, Abigail E. Kennedy, and Kayzandra Bond
pplications of Operant-Based Behavioral Principles
A
to Toilet Training�� 119
Hollie V. Wingate, Terry S. Falcomata, and Raechal Ferguson
oilet Training: Strategies Involving Modeling and Modifications
T
of the Physical Environmental�� 143
Laurie McLay and Neville Blampied
echnology Used in Toilet Training�� 169
T
Johnny L. Matson
v
vi Contents
ighttime Toilet Training�� 181

N
Rachel L. Goldin and Delilah Mendes de Gouveia
Medical Issues�� 193
GenaLynne C. Mooneyham, Jessica Xiaoxi Ouyang,
and Cassie D. Karlsson
pecial Populations: Toilet Training Children with Disabilities�� 227
S
Michael A. Cocchiola Jr. and Caroline C. Redpath
verview and State of the Field�� 251
O
Johnny L. Matson
Index�� 257
About the Editor
Johnny L. Matson, PhD is a professor and distinguished research master in the

Department of Psychology at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
He has also previously held a professorship in psychiatry and clinical psychology at
the University of Pittsburgh. He is the author of more than 800 publications including
41 books. He also served as founding editor-in-chief of three journals: Research
in Developmental Disabilities (Elsevier), Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
(Elsevier), and Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (Springer).
vii
Contributors
Neville Blampied University of Canterbury, College of Science, Psychology

Department, Christchurch, New Zealand
Kayzandra Bond Department of Psychology, 985450 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE, USA
Claire O. Burns Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology, Baton Rouge,
LA, USA
Amarie Carnett Department of Educational Psychology, University of North Texas,
Denton, TX, USA
Michael A. Cocchiola Jr. Capitol Region Education Council-River Street Autism
Program, Windsor, CT, USA
Delilah Mendes de Gouveia The Emerge Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
Terry S. Falcomata Department of Special Education, University of Texas at
Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Raechal Ferguson University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Lauren B. Fishbein Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine,
Indianapolis, IN, USA
Jill C. Fodstad Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine,
Rachel L. Goldin Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of
Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Ansley C. Hodges Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA
Xinrui Jiang Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge,
LA, USA
ix
x Contributors
Cassie D. Karlsson Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of

Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Abigail E. Kennedy Department of Psychology, 985450 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE, USA
K.A. Kroeger Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division of
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical
Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, ML, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Giulio Lancioni University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Russell Lang Department of Special Education, Clinic for Autism Research Evaluation
and Support, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
Katherine Ledbetter-cho Department of Special Education, Clinic for Autism
Research Evaluation and Support, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Johnny L. Matson Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton
Rouge, LA, USA
Laurie McLay University of Canterbury, College of Education, Health, and Human
Development, Christchurch, New Zealand
Noha F. Minshawi Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine,
GenaLynne C. Mooneyham Department of Psychiatry and Department of
Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
Jessica Xiaoxi Ouyang Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Caroline C. Redpath Capitol Region Education Council-River Street Autism
Program, Windsor, CT, USA
Maura L. Rouse Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine,
Jennifer Smith Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division of
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical
Xiaoning Sun Department of Special Education, Clinic for Autism Research
Evaluation and Support, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
William J. Warzak Department of Psychology, 985450 Nebraska Medical Center,
Omaha, NE, USA
Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
Contributors xi
Stephanie Weber Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division
of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical
David A. Wilder Florida Institute of Technology, School of Behavior Analysis,
Melbourne, FL, USA
Hollie V. Wingate University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
Historical Development of Toilet Training
Maura L. Rouse, Lauren B. Fishbein, Noha F. Minshawi, and Jill C. Fodstad
Introduction
The completion of toilet training is considered to be an early childhood developmental

milestone. Wagoner (1933) defined the completion of toilet training as the “the
development of voluntary control over the sphincters…” that “…involves both
maturation and learning” (p. 224). Brazelton (1962), a fixture in the toilet training
literature for his work in introducing child-oriented toilet training, wrote about suc-
cessful toilet training as a step toward maturing into adulthood and identifying with
adult society. The ultimate goal of completing toilet training in early childhood has
remained relatively constant. However, the specific age at which this occurs, and
the age at which initiation of training occurs, has not. History has seen differences
in recommended ages of beginning toilet training from a few months to a few
years old.
This chapter emphasizes the history of toilet training practices in the United
States. Although there are similarities (e.g., physiology, general step-wise progres-
sion), toilet training practices vary widely across different cultures. Other research-
ers (e.g., Ainsworth, 1967; Varkevisser, 1973) have written extensively about the
diversity of training practices in different nations and groups. Members of many
cultures advocate beginning toilet training their children at early ages. For example,
children born in some African, Chinese, and Indian cultures begin toilet training by
the time they are a few weeks to a few months old (deVries & deVries, 1977;
M.L. Rouse • L.B. Fishbein • N.F. Minshawi • J.C. Fodstad, PhD, HSPP, BCBA-D (*)
Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital
Dr., Suite 4300, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
e-mail: [email protected]
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 1

J.L. Matson (ed.), Clinical Guide to Toilet Training Children, Autism and Child
Psychopathology Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62725-0_1
2 M.L. Rouse et al.
Paradox, 2016). The majority of children in the United States, however, do not begin
toilet training until 21–36 months (Joinson, Heron, Von Gontard, Butler, Emond, &
Golding, 2009). It is noted that within the United States, many cultural variations
exist. Authors have documented some of the many differences in toilet training
practices among people of the United States from a variety of ethnic, socioeco-
nomic, and religious backgrounds (e.g., Davis & Havighurst, 1946; Ojha &
Pramanick, 1992; Schulze, Harwood, Schoelmerich, & Leyendecker, 2002).
Cultural variations will not be discussed within this chapter to allow in-depth focus
on the historical development of the trends of major toilet training practices within
the United States.
Over several centuries, the teachings and methods used to toilet train children in
the United States have drastically changed. This chapter provides a review of these
changes, focusing primarily on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries till today. The
authors present factors that have influenced toilet training practices. Several major
practices are discussed, including Brazelton’s (1962) child-oriented toilet training
method and Azrin and Foxx’s (1971) rapid toilet training (RTT). Additionally, future
directions of toilet training are discussed.
Factors Influencing Toilet Training Practices
Prerequisite Skills
The process of toileting is a complex chain of events (Radford & Anderson, 2003).
Appropriate toileting requires that an individual recognizes the need to void, com-
municate this need, mobilize him/herself to get to the bathroom, waits before elimi-
nation, voids into the toilet, engage in appropriate hygiene behaviors, and removes
and replaces clothing (Keen, Brannigan, & Cuskelly, 2007). There are several pre-
requisite skills to consider prior to implementing behavioral toilet training: (1)
Physiology: children should be able to recognize and interpret the sensation of a full
bladder. Children must be able to physically control their bladder and bowel mus-
cles to withhold urine or stool until they get to the toilet (Kiddoo, 2012). (2) Regular
voiding: voiding on a regular schedule allows the interventionist to maximize
opportunities for success and reinforcement. (3) Compliance and remaining seated
on the toilet for several minutes: this helps with the ease of implementing the inter-
vention. Compliance may need to be taught prior to formal toilet training if this skill
is not present. (4) Gross and fine motor skills: children should be able to mobilize
themselves to get to the toilet and to manage clothing removal and replacement. (5)
Communication skills: children need to have the ability to communicate the need to
use the bathroom as they learn to self-initiate going to the bathroom. (6) Social
knowledge and awareness: children must learn where and when it is appropriate to
go to the bathroom. (7) Absence of medical conditions that may interfere with or be
exacerbated by toilet training procedures: physicians should be consulted prior to
Historical Development 3
implementing toilet training procedures. It is important to rule out the presence of

medical conditions that may interfere with or be exacerbated by toilet training pro-
cedures such as increasing fluid intake (Lowenthal, 1996).
Technology
The materials used in toileting have greatly influenced the course and timing of
toilet training. As materials requiring less financial and time-intensive attention to
toilet training became more available, the initiation of toilet training took place
at later ages (Harrison, 2013). The materials used to cover infants’ genitalia have
changed over time. For example, many centuries ago in European countries with
warm climates, mothers covered their babies with leaves, animal skins, moss, and
grass, or would leave them bare. In cooler climates, infants were covered in swad-
dling bands made of linen and wool strips (Harrison, 2013).
The end of the 1800s and early 1900s marked the beginning of the use of cloth
diapers in infants and toddlers. Diapers that were wet (i.e., with urine) were usually
not washed, but instead they were hung to dry then reused. At the turn of the cen-
tury, scientists and mothers became more aware of the possibility of illness from
bacteria from unwashed diapers, which changed this practice. With the increasing
threat of illness from dirty diapers, parents become more motivated to eliminate the
use of reusable diapers. The first disposable diapers were invented in the 1940s and
surpassed the popularity of the cloth diaper by the 1980s (Harrison, 2013). The wide
availability of disposable diapers, even for older children (i.e., 5 year olds), likely
impacted the trend toward a later age of toilet training initiation and completion in
the latter half of the twentieth century (Engelhart, 2014). Because of the new rela-
tive ease of disposable diapers, many parents took advantage of the opportunity to
initiate toilet training at later ages that disposable diapers offered.
Brief Overview of Approaches to Toilet Training
Toilet training is a complex process that is affected by physiological, anatomical,

and behavioral factors. Norms for toilet training, such as when and how to train, are
more culturally based than empirically -based. Families often seek advice from their
pediatricians when they first initiate toilet training (Kiddoo, 2012). In 1990, Berk
and Friman conducted a review of literature of the past 40 years of research on toilet
training. In this review, the authors concluded that the majority of children are toilet
trained between 24 and 36 months of age and almost all typically developing chil-
dren are trained by 48 months of age. They also found that toilet training techniques
that emphasized independent, voluntary control resulted in later development than
training approaches focused on biobehavioral factors and caregiver attention to chil-
dren’s readiness for toilet training. Recently, toilet training has had a trend toward
4 M.L. Rouse et al.
delayed approaches (i.e., approaches that do not begin until the child is between 2
and 3 years old). However, the importance of completing toilet training has increased
due to a number of factors including the institutionalization of child care centers
(e.g., daycare) and the risk for infectious diarrhea and hepatitis, as the incidence of
these problems have increased in children in day care settings who are not yet toilet
trained. Given these considerations, it is possible that approaches to toilet training
will shift from delayed to earlier approaches (Berk & Friman, 1990).
The methods and approaches to toilet training have fluctuated over the last
100 years between more passive, child-readiness approaches to more structured,
behaviorally based approaches. Since the 1950s, more child-oriented approaches to
toilet training have been adopted by western societies. This has resulted in delayed
toilet training approaches characterized by waiting to begin toilet training until the
child is between 2 and 3 years of age (Joinson et al., 2009; Polaha, Warzak, &
Dittmer-McMahon, 2002). Brazelton (1962) initiated the child-centered approach
to toilet training, which provided the first toilet training recommendations supported
by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP; Stadtler, Gorski, & Brazelton, 1999).
Spock (1968) quickly followed Brazelton’s lead when he published the third edition
of his widely popular book The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care that
promoted a child-oriented, unstructured approach to toilet training. Spock’s empha-
sis on maturation served to popularize the gradual, passive approach to toilet train-
ing (Kiddoo, 2012; Luxem & Christopherson, 1994).
Toilet Training in Early Civilizations
Little data is available in peer-reviewed journals about the toilet training practices
of individuals before the late 1800s and early 1900s. However, it is obvious that
children were toilet trained before this time. The earliest civilizations documented
in history used systems to eliminate their waste. For instance, the Roman Empire
adopted the use of public bathhouses, flushing toilets, and sewer systems, as well as
legislation related to waste management (Beck, 2016). As toilet usage was seem-
ingly integrated in the lives of the Roman people, it then follows that parents would
want their children to learn to effectively use toilets. The Romans are credited with
developing the first example of a child’s toilet; however, little is known about the
methods they used in toilet training. In general, children’s education emphasized
obedience to authority and self-reliance, which provides some insight into the soci-
etal values during this time (Andrews, 2016).
Parent-Centered Toilet Training
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the general practice of
toilet training began when the child was approximately 3 months old. According to
a review of popular women’s magazines dating from 1890 to 1949, the emphasis on
general child development was on physical development (e.g., nutrition), as opposed

to the moral development of children (Stendler, 1950). The magazines purported
that very young children needed to build strength to grow, and that holding them
when they cry could deprive them of opportunities to build this strength. With this
emphasis, mothers practiced rigidity in all schedules, including feeding, eating,
sleeping, and toileting (Stendler, 1950). Pediatricians suggested that mothers allow
their babies to continue to cry if they cried before the scheduled mealtime. This
behavioral strictness is likely an effect of the rising influence of the teachings of
Watson (1919) and behaviorism in general. Watson’s teachings greatly influenced
the behavioral strategies that were later used in behavioral methods of toilet training
(e.g., Azrin and Foxx’s Rapid Toilet Training; Azrin & Foxx, 1971).
Extending from the behavioral movement, classical conditioning was used to
develop the daytime wetting alarm to toilet train children. This device was attached
to a child’s underwear and an alarm sounded when the child began to void. When
the alarm sounded, parents placed children on the toilet (Kiddoo, 2012). In 1938,
Mower and Mower published a paper, Enuresis: A Method for its Study and
Treatment. This article helped popularize the bed wetting alarm for nocturnal uri-
nary incontinence. This approach is thought to help children identify physiological
sensations that cue them to void in the toilet (Kiddoo, 2012). The bed wetting alarm
(i.e., Bell and Pad method) is still popular today as a treatment for nocturnal incon-
tinence (Antony & Roemer, 2011).
Not all researchers adhered to this strict behavioral training model of infants and
very young children. Woolley (1931) suggested that learning should be positive and
that children should be praised for their efforts. Although he suggested praise for
positive behaviors, he wrote that children should not receive special prizes; moth-
ers’ praise for positive effort (e.g., attempt to urinate in the toilet) should be suffi-
cient to further encourage this behavior. He stated, “only failures deserve special
notice” (p. 55).
As society entered into the 1930s, the focus of childrearing continued to be on
the physical development of children, but with a leniency not witnessed in the past
decades such that the rhythm and natural maturational processes of children’s bod-
ies were considered (deVries & deVries, 1977). Still, parents decided when children
would begin toilet training. The emphasis of beginning toilet training and achieving
successful toilet training remained quite young; researchers and parents wished to
capitalize on the believed trainability of very young children (deVries & deVries,
1977). In the United States in the 1930s, children were expected to achieve dryness
by the time they were 18 months old, with toilet training occurring between
12 months and 18 months (Woolley, 1931). If children were not toilet trained by the
time they turned 2 years old, mothers were told to seek a special physical and m ental
health evaluation (Woolley, 1931), indicating that their 2-year-old children were in
need of medical and/or psychological treatment.
The more lenient approach to toilet training in the 1930s was made clear when
many authors of articles in popular magazines at this time wrote that there were
some limitations to expectations of achieving toilet training so early in a child’s life.
For instance, these authors wrote that although children typically established a
6 M.L. Rouse et al.
regular elimination schedule by the first 6 months of life, this schedule did not
indicate that elimination patterns were under the child’s control. Instead, mothers
read popular articles stating that their children’s bowel and bladder functioning was
not under conscious control until their fourth year of life (Stendler, 1950). This was
due to the time it took for nerve fibers in the muscles of the bladder and sphincter to
properly mature such that children could recognize when to relax and contract these
muscles (i.e., recognize full and empty sensations). Additionally, as children grow
older, their elimination patterns become more regular and spread out. Although
infants urinate two to three times per hour, 2 year olds are able to urinate and have
bowel movements on a more regular schedule, such that maintaining dryness during
the night was possible (Stendler, 1950).
Mothers in the first half of the century encountered problems when attempting to
toilet train their infants and toddlers (i.e., achieve dryness by 18 months old). One
of these difficulties was that mothers (because mothers did most of the childrearing
at this time) were told to devote their time exclusively to their children’s toilet train-
ing schedule. If they did this, the final steps of toilet training (i.e., maintaining dry-
ness) should last only a few weeks; this was true if mothers provide their children
with constant attention (Woolley, 1931). Idealistically, uninterrupted contact
between mother and child seemed to be a wonderful goal; however, logistically,
mothers experienced great difficulties in the day-to-day details of toilet training
their 12–18 month olds, which may have led to feelings of guilt and failure in
mothers.
Mothers were told to anticipate the elimination patterns of their children. With
this advice, mothers placed their children on the toilet at the “right time.” However,
when children refused to urinate at that specific time, and mothers took them off the
seat, children often urinated without warning. Fulton (1926) described this as a situ-
ation involving a problem of release and inhibition. He wrote that when children
were learning to stay dry, they must learn the times to release their bladder and
sphincter muscles and when to inhibit. Children that did not eliminate on the toilet
seat inhibited for too long and did not learn to voluntarily release. When mothers
and children entered into a pattern such that children inhibited and released at incor-
rect times, particularly if children had already established, at least to some degree,
a regular toileting schedule, retraining could be very difficult. As Woolley (1931)
noted, retraining after these backslides (often due to illness, changes in environ-
ment) was often more difficult than initial training because mothers were less patient
the second time around. This sentiment points to the parent-centered approach and
mindset that researchers, clinicians, and parents held in the beginning of the 1900s.
Child-Centered Toilet Training
Problems faced by parents and caregivers to toilet train children in the early twenti-
eth century gave rise to a different approach and philosophy in the 1940s and 1950s.
Although the beginning of the 1900s saw a parent-focused approach to toilet
training (e.g., mothers decided when children were ready to begin toilet training),
children who were toilet trained in the middle of the century experienced a child-
centered approach. A child-oriented method to toilet training began to emerge as
researchers (e.g., Huschka, 1942; Montgomery, 1947; Trainham & Montgomery,
1946) recognized the advantages of a more flexible training schedule with the
child’s natural rhythm of elimination taken into consideration. Instead of the stan-
dard of beginning toilet training at 6 months of age, physicians began to consider
the physiological readiness of children before they encouraged regulation of their
elimination schedules, such that providers did not suggest that mothers begin to
train their children before 18 months old (Stendler, 1950).
The 1960s brought a significant change in the conceptualization and overall
teachings of toilet training as the AAP outlined elements of child readiness for toilet
training (Stadtler et al., 1999). The AAP based these assumptions and general prin-
ciples of toilet training on Dr. Barry Brazelton’s seminal paper written that outlines
a child-oriented approach to elimination training (1962). In this paper, Brazelton
described basic assumptions of early childhood training, which he based off of a
program he developed using observations he made over approximately 10 years of
1170 children approximately 2 years old.
Assumptions
Brazelton’s (1962) toilet training procedure was based on several theories, which
described physical and developmental maturation when children are approximately 2
years old. Physically, although Brazelton wrote that children as young as 9 months old
can be conditioned (i.e., when children are put on a toilet, they urinate), and noted that
voluntary cooperation with parents can begin at 12–15 months old (i.e., children
agree to use the toilet when suggested), he argued limitations in beginning toilet
training at such a young age. Physiologically, Brazelton wrote that the “myelinization
of pyriamidal tracts to these areas [bladder and bowel] are not completed until the
12th to 18th month” (p. 121). He also wrote that an “inner resistance to outside pres-
sure” (p. 121) may be responsible for the difference in timing between reflexive con-
ditioning or compliance and a developmental accomplishment of toilet training.
Further, Brazelton wrote of the motor tasks children should be able to achieve before
beginning a toilet training program. These requirements include sitting and walking
independently. He noted that after 15–18 months old, children are able to perform
these tasks with much more ease than when they were younger. As these physiological
skills become easier and they require less effort to perform successfully, children are
able to direct their cognitive focus toward sphincter control, a newer skill.
Brazelton (1962) also noted markers of developmental maturity that could signal
children’s readiness for toilet training. Again, his consideration of children’s
developmental stage illuminates the new child-centered approach to toilet training.
Along with physiological readiness to begin toilet training, he also wrote about a
psychological readiness to begin training. He highlighted the growing ability of
8 M.L. Rouse et al.
young children, those approximately 18–30 months of age, to control their impulses

(i.e., urinate and defecate). Brazelton wrote that children’s realization that they are
able and wish to control these impulses is influenced by several factors, including
the parent–child relationship, children’s wish to identify with and imitate parents,
and children’s wish to develop mastery and autonomy of selves and impulses.
According to Brazelton, along with impulse control, other developmental factors
that affect the early stages of toilet training are 2-year-old children’s tendency to
prefer personal cleanliness, organization, and setting things in their places. He also
noted the trend toward negativism at this age, indicating a need for parents to be
flexible in their responses to their children.
Consistent with a child-centered approach, Brazelton (1962) believed it was impor-
tant to explore parental attitudes toward toilet training, as they were influential in the
way in which parents’ toilet trained their children. He discovered that parental attitudes
and thoughts about sexuality (i.e., allowing children to watch as they toileted) signifi-
cantly influenced how they carried out toilet training procedures. As Sears, Maccoby,
and Levin (1957) wrote, the subjects of toilet training and sexuality are closely linked
for parents. When interviewing parents about their toilet training practices, parents
reported that by adhering to the American culture of modesty (i.e., covering genitals,
especially in public) required a different method of teaching toileting behaviors than
most other behaviors children learned (i.e., imitation). Essentially, parents’ attitudes
about sexuality influenced whether or not parents allowed their children to observe
them using the toilet and imitating their toileting behaviors.
Brazelton (1962) also wrote about pressures from older generations on parents
about methods and timing (i.e., when to begin) of toilet training. However, some
parents may have also felt pressure to begin toilet training later with the new empha-
sis on the child-oriented approach, although they may have wished to begin at a
younger age. Finally, while Brazelton highlighted the tendency toward cleanliness
of children, he also noted that the cleanliness practices of parents influenced their
methods of training their children.
Brazelton (1962) introduced a new conceptualization of toilet training.
Theoretically, he highlighted physiological and psychological maturation that needs
to take place within children before they are ready to begin a toilet training proce-
dure. Without these markers of readiness, Brazelton noted that successful training is
less likely, will take longer (although he noted questions about increased tension
around training with a later onset of training, partially due to the negativism of 2
year olds), and children will have greater conditioning as opposed to reflexive
compliance if parents begin later (i.e., 2 years old) than was previously practiced
(i.e., within the first 6 months of life).
Procedure
As noted above, Brazelton (1962) observed the toilet training practices of 1170
children who were approximately 2 years old between 1951 and 1961, paying par-
ticular attention to the beginning stages of toilet training, age of successful training,
and parenting practices. Brazelton’s procedure served as the model for

recommendations for toilet training practices for the AAP in the 1960s.
To begin toilet training, Brazelton (1962) told parents to introduce a potty chair
on the floor to children as their own chair. Eventually, parents explicitly associate
the potty chair and the toilet. At the same time each day (one time per day), mothers
were instructed to take their children to sit on the chair with their clothes (including
diapers) on to increase comfort with the chair. During this time, children and mother
read and received a treat for complying. Children were able to leave the seat during
this time. After 1 week of this procedure, children performed the same behaviors,
but sat on the chair with their diapers off.
Once children demonstrated interest in “catching” their stool or urine, parents
were instructed to take their children to the chair a second time during the day.
Importantly, as children were still wearing diapers at this point, Brazelton (1962)
suggested that waste from diapers be emptied into the potty chair and tell children
that they will eventually make this action happen. With a combination of children’s
understanding of toileting and a desire to comply with toileting procedures, their
general compliance to the first sit in a day increased. Therefore, Brazelton encour-
aged parents to watch for other times throughout the day when they could be taken
to the chair. With increasing interest from children, Brazelton suggested that parents
remove diapers or training pants for short periods of time. He also recommended
that parents make the potty chair easily accessible to children by placing it in a bed-
room or play areas. Although children might require reminders to use the toilet,
parents were told to highlight their children’s ability to toilet independently. At this
point, parents were told that children could use training pants if needed, but children
should remove them independently. This protocol aimed to gradually increase chil-
dren’s independence in toilet training.
In following this protocol, Brazelton (1962) noted that the majority (i.e., 80.7%)
were successfully trained during the day by the time their children were between the
ages of 2 years and 2.5 years (average age was 28.5 months) under situations of
typical stress (i.e., no illness or major environmental changes). He wrote that when
parents used coercive methods to train their children, children often developed con-
stipation. No significant differences were noted between male and female children.
Brazelton (1962) reported that most children began toilet training at 24 months of
age, with the earliest being 12 months and the latest being 36 months. Interestingly,
150 of the 1170 children were not toilet trained by 42 months, 48 of which began
training before 18 months. Clearly, this relationship is not causal, as there were
children in this study who were successfully trained that began training at 12 months
old, but it is worth noting nonetheless.
This study also presented a protocol for and examined the success of nocturnal
toilet training. Brazelton (1962) suggested that parents begin nighttime toilet train-
ing with their children 1–2 years after successful daytime toileting had been accom-
plished; however, he noted that daytime and nighttime training often occurred
simultaneously. He reported that out of the nearly 1200 children he observed, 80.3%
were trained at night by 36 months old (average age of 33.3 months), only slightly
later than daytime training was achieved. Contrary to daytime training, female chil-
dren were trained an average 2.46 months before males.
10 M.L. Rouse et al.
Consistent with his theoretical assumptions, Brazelton (1962) emphasized the

vital importance of parental involvement during training. Throughout the 10 years
he observed this protocol in use, he noted factors that contributed to the success and
delay of toileting. Specifically, he noted factors common to parents and family com-
position that influenced children’s achievement of this developmental milestone.
Children with older siblings were more likely to achieve toilet training earlier than
first or only children; Brazelton wrote that this is probably because children use
their siblings as models, which facilitates training. Results of this study indicated
that children without siblings to serve as models were slower to achieve successful
nighttime training by 1–7 months. Parent characteristics also impacted children’s
success. While not unique to children who were unsuccessful in training, parental
anxiety about the toilet training was cited as a significant negative influence on all
children’s experience and progress in toilet training.
Rapid Toilet Training
In 1971, Azrin and Foxx developed the behaviorally based RTT approach, which
garnered strong empirical support. The authors published the book Toilet Training
in Less Than a Day to disseminate these effective procedures to the lay public. This
approach offered a more structured method of toilet training and was parent-
directed, as opposed to the child-directed approaches of the 1950s and 1960s
(Kiddoo, 2012). One of the benefits to this approach was that toilet training could
be achieved within a very short time period (e.g., several hours to several days).
Once a child was physically and psychological ready, based on the presence of pre-
requisite skills, children underwent RTT that broadly included increased fluid
intake, scheduled toileting, positive reinforcement, and overcorrection for acci-
dents. Azrin and Foxx demonstrated the effectiveness of this intensive toilet training
procedure in both typically developing children and in children and adults with
intellectual and developmental disabilities that exhibited urinary incontinence
(Kiddoo, 2012; LeBlanc et al., 2005; Warzak Focino, Sandberg, & Gross, 2016).
Treatment
The original treatment package included the following components: (1) scheduled
toileting; (2) positive reinforcement for in-toilet urination; (3) positive reinforce-
ment for remaining dry between scheduled toileting; (4) increased fluid intake; and
(5) overcorrection. In 1973, Azrin and Foxx demonstrated that RTT could be accom-
plished in less than a day. The study included 34 participants between ages
24–36 months. The results demonstrated that participants achieved toilet training
within an average of 3.9 h and that these gains were maintained at 4-month
follow-up. In a second study with 49 children who demonstrated readiness skills

(e.g., compliance), children achieved toilet training in an average of 4.5 h.
Positive reinforcement for in-toilet urination was given through providing access
to edibles (e.g., preferred foods) and praise. In this seminal study, individuals who
received these differential reinforcement procedures had fewer accidents than those
who did not receive differential reinforcement. Positive reinforcement for remain-
ing dry involved what the authors termed a “dry pants inspection.” Dry pants ins
pections were used to teach children to remain dry between scheduled toiletings.
Children’s hands were placed on the crotch of their pants and were given verbal
feedback regarding whether they were wet or dry. Positive reinforcement was deliv-
ered if children were dry and corrective feedback was given if they were wet. The
purpose of the dry pants inspection was to help children associate the sensation of
being wet with going to the bathroom.
Overcorrection was used whenever accidents occurred. This component was res-
titutional in nature and involved children participating in cleaning up the accident.
Overcorrection is viewed as a punishment procedure, and more recent variations
have included positive practice as a treatment component instead of overcorrection.
Overall, research on Azrin and Foxx’s behavioral toilet training approach has shown
that when this method is systematically applied, typically developing children and
children with developmental disabilities show an accelerated rate of becoming inde-
pendently trained relative no treatment (i.e., maturational) approaches. These effects
are most notable when dry pants inspections and professional assistance are included
as a component of toilet training (Luxem & Christopherson, 1994).
Professional Use
Although the procedure was pioneered for typically developing children, RTT has
been more widely studied in individuals with intellectual and developmental dis-
abilities (see Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009 for a review of this literature).
There is minimal research on the use of RTT in typically developing children.
Although it is strongly supported by the literature, physicians typically do not rec-
ommend the RTT approach for either typically developing children or children with
developmental delays, and instead recommend a more passive, child-directed
approach that takes approximately 3–6 months for children to become fully toilet
trained (Warzak et al., 2016). Some authors speculate that physicians do not recom-
mend these procedures, despite the evidence for the effectiveness of RTT, because
RTT is perceived as very involved and difficult for parents to implement without
assistance from a trained professional (Warzak et al., 2016). Polaha et al. (2002)
surveyed 103 pediatricians about current practices regarding recommendations for
toilet training typically developing children and physician acceptability of the inten-
sive RTT approach. The results indicated that the majority of physicians (72%)
favored a gradual, passive approach, indicating “child interest in the toilet” as the
top criteria children must demonstrate before beginning toilet training. Overall, the
participants had an unfavorable opinion of intensive toilet training procedures (i.e.,
only 29% of physicians endorsed the use of RTT).
Benefits and Drawbacks
The benefits to the child-directed approach include that it is popular among parents
and that parent–child conflict can be minimized because parents place few demands
on children. Passive approaches also require fewer resources, are less intensive, and
require less patient education and less professional support compared with inten-
sive, behavioral toilet training (i.e., RTT). Drawbacks to a passive approach include
minimal evidence to support the long-term effectiveness of the passive approach.
Additionally, the length of training time is longer and children do not become toilet
trained until they are older (i.e., delayed toilet training). There is also concern that
children who train later may contribute to the spread of disease in day care centers
and could contribute to a larger public health problem (Polaha et al., 2002).
In contrast, there are a number of benefits to RTT, the main benefit being how
quickly children become toilet trained. This approach is also associated with
decreased long-term parent and child stress, as well as improved hygiene in day care
settings. Drawbacks include the intensity with which the procedure must be imple-
mented and the need for professional support. Child compliance is also an important
factor that needs to be assessed before implementing intensive toilet training, to
minimize negative emotional effects for the parent and the child. There is also evi-
dence that without professional support, typically developing children do not main-
tain gains at 10-week follow-up (Polaha et al., 2002).
When Azrin and Foxx published their book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day in
1974, the book was intended for a lay audience. That is, it was meant for parents to
read and independently implement the RTT procedures with their children on their
own. There was no intention or recommendation that parents consult with a profes-
sional or implement under supervision of a professional (Matson & Ollendick, 1977).
This approach came under scrutiny of some clinicians and researchers who
questioned the effectiveness of parent implementation and also posed questions
about negative side effects of parent-implemented RTT. Kimmel (1974) expressed
reservations regarding the utility of the book for parents performing toilet training
on their own. He listed several precautions including the need for research support
of the contention that parents using the book alone could train their child, the
impressions that not many mothers would be able to develop the self-control and
manage the disciplined, subtle guidance required by the method by only reading the
book and possible unforeseen emotional consequences from parents using this
method.
Matson and Ollendick (1977) were among those authors who had reservations
about the utility of this self-help book. They conducted a research study to evaluate
(1) the effectiveness of the RTT procedure; (2) the amount of time to acquisition
(compared with the results demonstrated by Azrin and Foxx); and (3) any potential
side effects in a group of parents who used the RTT book alone compared with a
group of parents who implemented the RTT book and supervision with a behavioral
psychologist. Parents included in the study were parents of children without a devel-
opmental disability. Five parents and their children (ages 20–26 months) were ran-
domly assigned to the book-only condition and five parents were assigned to the
book plus supervision condition. The authors found that training was more effec
tive and there were fewer emotional side effects when implementing RTT (for the
mother and the child) in the book plus supervision condition compared with the
book-only condition. Two of the five children in the book-only condition achieved
toilet training compared with four of the five children in the book plus supervision
condition. Emotional side effects of RTT implementation included tantrums and
avoidance behavior. However, all mothers reported these behaviors across condi-
tions. Many of these behaviors were attributed to the positive practice and/or gradu-
ated guidance for remaining seated components of the procedure. Mothers reported
feeling uncomfortable and several sought to terminate training early, one parent
terminated participation prematurely due to her own reaction to her child’s tan-
trums. Overall, the authors concluded that the RTT book only, without professional
supervision is not a sufficient approach for toilet training most children. Instead,
they recommend that the use of RTT be implemented under the supervision of a
professional (Matson & Ollendick, 1977).
Evidence
In 2006, the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality published a systematic

review evaluating the evidence for methods of toilet training. Within this review,
only three studies included typically developing children and none of these studies
directly compared the two most common approaches: Brazelton and Azrin and
Foxx’s methods (Kiddoo, 2012). However, the results from a randomized trial with
71 children comparing the Spock method to the RTT method showed that children
who received the RTT procedure achieved successful toilet training (i.e., decreased
accidents, increased voiding in the toilet, increased self-initiations) at a faster rate
than those who received the Spock method (Kiddoo, 2012).
Recent Variations to Rapid Toilet Training
Principles of operant and classical conditioning have been used to modify the RTT
method. Operant conditioning has included positive reinforcement to reward dry-
ness, and when children have accidents, their behavior (i.e., wetness) is punished or
positive reinforcement is withdrawn (Kiddoo, 2012). Warzak and colleagues con-
ducted a study to adapt Azrin and Foxx’s RTT procedures for typically developing
children within a primary care setting. The authors included practiced sittings on the
toilet and positive reinforcement for appropriate eliminations and omitted positive
practice as a corrective procedure (2016).
Although behavioral approaches to toilet training, such as Azrin and Foxx’s RTT
approach, have demonstrated efficacy in a variety of populations and for young
children, the approach involves a number of intensive components. Greer, Neidert,
and Dozier (2016) conducted a component analysis of toilet training procedures
recommended for young children. They evaluated the combined and sequential
effects of the following components: (1) putting the child in underwear instead of a
diaper; (2) dense toileting schedules; and (3) differential reinforcement for remain-
ing dry. The authors evaluated the effects of each component on increasing urinary
elimination, decreasing urinary accidents, and increasing self-initiations and/or
independent requests to sit on the toilet. There were a total of 20 children (mean
age = 26 months), and the study was conducted in a childcare center with teachers
as the interventionists. Children were included if they showed slow progress with
“low-intensity” (i.e., child-directed) toilet training, showed readiness for toilet
training (e.g., compliance, ability to remain seated for several minutes), parents
expressed interest, and teachers recommended the child be included in the study.
Children were either given all components together or were sequentially presented
with the treatment components. The authors used a nonconcurrent multiple baseline
design across subjects in which implementation of the treatment package or the first
component was staggered across subjects.
The results demonstrated that two out of six children who received the entire
package showed clear and immediate improvements in overall toileting perfor-
mance, as defined by increased urinary eliminations in the toilet, decreased number
of accidents, and increases in self-initiations to use the toilet. Two of the four chil-
dren improved in overall toileting performance from the underwear component, and
four of six improved in overall toileting performance when underwear was added as
the second or third component of intervention. Zero out of eight children who expe-
rienced the dense schedule or differential reinforcement following baseline showed
improvements in overall toileting performance. However, three of six children
showed improved appropriate elimination when differential reinforcement was used
in conjunction with underwear. Based on these results, the authors concluded that
the underwear component of the intervention was the most successful component
and that self-initiations only improved for children who were not exposed to a dense
(e.g., every 30 min) sit schedule (Greer et al., 2016).
Problems with Toileting Training Approaches
Researchers and clinicians discuss the potential for negative emotional and physio-
logical side effects that can take place when toilet training children. Adverse events
that are often discussed in the toilet training process include refusals, withholding
stool, encopresis, hiding when defecating, and urinary disorders of elimination

(Kiddoo, 2012). From a cost-benefit perspective, there are a number of reasons why
early, behavioral toilet training procedures are preferable. In addition to the added
financial cost of diapers, there are also health risks related to delayed toilet training
such as dermatitis, infections spread through stool and diarrhea, and public health
hazards in child care settings to the point that child care facilities often require
children to be toilet trained before they can attend day care. Additionally, family
events such as a new child entering the family and parents returning to work
may precipitate the need to toilet train children at younger ages (Luxem &
Christopherson, 1994).
A common question from parents is the age at which they should begin toilet
training. A recent change in common practice among families has occurred. This
was evidenced by a study conducted by Bakker and Wyndaele (2000) who investi-
gated the timing of initiation and practices of toilet training over the past six decades.
Of those participants who were 60 years old (i.e., likely trained their children in the
1940s and 1950s), daytime toilet training was initiated in 88% of children before
they were 18 months old. However, only 20% of parents who were aged 20–40 years
old (i.e., likely trained their children in the 1990s) initiated daytime toilet training
with their children before they were 18 months old. These authors indicate that
among the changes in toilet training practices throughout history is the age at which
toilet training is typically initiated.
This trend may lead to harmful consequences. Findings from two recent studies
indicated higher incidence of incontinence and urinary tract infections when chil-
dren were trained later in development (Bakker et al., 2002; Taubman, Blum, &
Nemeth, 2003). One group of researchers found that more adverse effects can take
place when toilet training begins after 18 months (Bakker et al., 2002), whereas
another group of authors suggested that adverse effects are more likely when toilet
training begins after 42 months (Taubman et al., 2003). In another study, researchers
found that toilet training at a younger age (18–26 months) was associated with a
longer training interval but significantly fewer adverse effects (Blum, Taubman, &
Nemeth, 2004).
Joinson et al. (2009) used regression analysis to investigate the association
between age of initiating toilet training and the development of bladder control and
to determine whether initiating toilet training after 24 months was associated with
increased odds of daytime urinary accidents in school-aged children. The sample
included a cohort of over 8000 children ages 4.5–9 years old from the Avon
Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children in the United Kingdom. The authors
found that beginning training after 24 months was associated with higher odds of
daytime wetting, delayed acquisition of daytime bladder control, or relapse in
daytime wetting when compared with children whose toilet training was initiated
between 15 and 24 months. The authors concluded that there is evidence to suggest
that toilet training before 24 months is associated with achieving and maintaining
daytime urinary continence (Joinson et al., 2009).
Conclusion
In general, toilet training is considered an early child milestone and approaches to

toilet training date back to early civilizations. There are a variety of methods used to
toilet train children and most of these approaches emphasize the importance of readi-
ness skills, including physiological and psychological factors, in the child (Kiddoo,
2012). There are some differences in the various toilet training approaches that have
been used in the past and currently. These differences can be seen in the ages recom-
mended to begin toilet training, cultural variations in toilet training approaches, and
parental expectations and beliefs about appropriate toilet training methods.
Pediatricians tend to be the primary resources parents seek guidance from when
toilet training their children. Currently, the AAP (2011) recommends that child care
centers be involved in the toilet training process including identifying when a child
is ready to begin toilet training, assisting parents in developing a training strategy,
and implementing the procedures outlined in the training strategy. The AAP also
recommends the use of incentives to encourage toilet training skills (Greer et al.,
2016). Despite a paucity of evidence to support the effectiveness of child-directed
approaches, the AAP favors this method of toilet training on the basis of expert
opinion (Kiddoo, 2012).
Although there is empirical evidence to suggest behavioral approaches to toilet
training are effective in a variety of child populations, the acceptability of these
procedures among parents and pediatricians is poor, and therefore, not widely used.
One reason for this is the potential for negative effects when conducting intensive,
behavioral toilet training (i.e., RTT) without support from a trained professional.
Perhaps with the recent shift toward psychologists working in primary care settings,
there will also be more opportunities for families to implement efficient, effective
behavioral toilet training through the support of psychologists in integrate primary
care settings. Additional empirical investigation is needed to determine the best
methods for toilet training typically developing children. There is limited informa-
tion available regarding the long-term effects (positive and negative) of specific
toilet training methods; however, there is some evidence to suggest that children
who toilet train late may experience a higher likelihood of developing elimination
disorders than those who toilet train earlier in development (Kiddoo, 2012).
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Complications and Side Effects Associated
with a Lack of Toileting Skills
Russell Lang, Laurie McLay, Amarie Carnett, Katherine Ledbetter-cho,

Xiaoning Sun, and Giulio Lancioni
The majority of children in the United States acquire both bowel and urination
toileting skills around 3 years of age following training by parents, daycare staff,
and other typical caregivers (Brazelton et al., 1999). Unfortunately, despite the
provision of typical toileting instruction, not all children acquire the skills neces-
sary to identify the need to void, obtain access to the toilet, and then use the toilet
appropriately. Toileting skill deficits are generally transient and treatable, but in
cases where highly specialized toilet training is required, or when bowel or urinary
incontinence is related to anatomic or pathophysiological problems, toileting defi-
cits have been associated with a number of adverse health effects as well as psy-
chological and social challenges. This chapter first provides an overview of medical
problems and operant behavior that can affect functional voiding and the immedi-
ate- and long-term side effects of such problems. Next, the psychological and
R. Lang, PhD, BCBA-D (*) • X. Sun

Department of Special Education, Clinic for Autism Research Evaluation and Support,
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
L. McLay
University of Canterbury, College of Education, Health, and Human Development,
Christchurch, New Zealand
A. Carnett
Department of Educational Psychology, University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
K. Ledbetter-cho
Department of Special Education, Clinic for Autism Research Evaluation and Support,
Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA
The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
G. Lancioni
University of Bari, Bari, Italy

20 R. Lang et al.
social ramifications of poor toileting skills are considered. Implications of the

adverse side effects for practitioners involved in the remediation of toileting defi-
cits and directions for future research and implications are discussed throughout.
edical and Operant Factors Related to Dysfunctional

M
Voiding and Toilet Training
A number of abnormal voiding patterns can adversely affect the toilet training pro-
cess. Dysfunctional voiding is a term used to refer to problems controlling both
bowel and bladder function; for example, withholding behavior, infrequent elimina-
tion, constipation, and incontinence (Berry, 2005; Chase, Homsy, Siggard, Sit, &
Bower, 2004). Although dysfunctional voiding problems are often transient and are
not usually attributed to an underlying organic cause, it is important to be aware of
gastrointestinal (GI) and urinary tract issues that may impact the voiding process
(Cook, Talley, Benninga, Rao, & Scott, 2009; Issenman, Filmer, & Gorski, 1999;
Rasquin et al., 2006). If not adequately addressed, these problems can effect bowel
and bladder continence and delay the achievement of independent toileting.
Fecal or Bowel Voiding Dysfunction GI problems refer to issues that affect the GI
tract (e.g., the stomach, small and large intestines, rectum). Two of the most com-
mon GI problems are constipation and chronic diarrhea, but these may also include
abdominal pain, gastritis, and/or food intolerance. GI problems that affect defeca-
tion are often referred to as functional defecation disorders (FDD) and include con-
stipation, diarrhea, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
According to Rome III criteria (Hyman et al., 2006; Rasquin et al., 2006), some
of the core diagnostic features of functional constipation (FC) include: (a) the
occurrence of two or fewer defecations in the toilet per week; (b) a minimum of one
episode of fecal incontinence per week; (c) a history of painful or hard bowel move-
ments; (d) the presence of a large fecal mass in the rectum; and (e) a history of large
diameter stools, which may obstruct the toilet (Wang et al., 2013). Constipation is a
relatively common and often chronic childhood problem with estimates suggesting
that problems with constipation are responsible for 25% of outpatient visits to pedi-
atric gastroenterologists (Levine & Bakow, 1976; Loening-Baucke, 1993). In con-
sidering treatment for constipation, it is important to distinguish FC from the less
common, functional fecal retention, which consists of repetitive attempts to avoid
defecation because of fears associated with doing so (Rasquin-Weber et al., 1999).
Diarrhea is a GI problem that may cause a loss of bowel continence and may
impede the acquisition of toileting skills. In the majority of cases, symptoms of diar-
rhea do not last more than a few days, and the loss of continence or delay in toilet
training effects are likely temporary. However, chronic nonspecific diarrhea (CNSD)
is more persistent. CNSD is considered the most common cause of prolonged diar-
rhea in children who are otherwise healthy (Issenman, Hewson, Pirhonen, Taylor, &
Tirosh 1987). CNSD includes repeated bouts of diarrhea, which continue for over
Complications and Side Effects Associated with a Lack of Toileting Skills 21
3 weeks and usually affect children under 3 years of age (Cohen, Hendricks, Mathis,
Laramee, & Walker, 1979). CNSD is defined as diarrhea in children under 4 years
of age and IBS in children 5–18 years of age (Baber, Anderson, Puzanovova, &
Walker, 2008).
Those affected by IBS may experience a variety of symptoms including: (a)
abdominal discomfort or pain that is associated with an improvement following
defecation; (b) a change in frequency of defecation and/or appearance of stool fol-
lowing the onset of symptoms; and (c) an absence of inflammatory, anatomic, meta-
bolic, or neoplastic processes that may explain the presence of these symptoms
(Hyman et al., 2006; Wang et al., 2013). A diagnosis is typically applied when
ongoing bowel upset cannot be explained by an alternative underlying pathology.
These include Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and coeliac disease, all of which
can result in GI problems and, although rare, can occur during childhood and dra-
matically influence toilet training outcomes or efficiency (Read, 2012).
As noted, it is uncommon for GI problems to be the result of functional, ana-
tomic, or organic issues. Rather, these are often attributed to idiopathic, transient, or
relatively benign causes, such as a restricted or imbalanced diet (Issenman et al.,
1987), food intolerances (Moukarzel, Lesicka, & Ament, 2002), and/or the malab-
sorption of nutrients (Guarino et al., 2012); side effects from medications such as
diuretics, sedatives, muscle relaxants, and nerve blockers (Frauman & Brandon,
1996); viral or bacterial infections (bacterial gastroenteritis, rotavirus, Norwalk
virus, or Escherichia coli infection), and chronic illness (Frauman & Brandon,
1996; Frauman & Myers, 1994). Children with physical disabilities (e.g., cerebral
palsy, muscular atrophy) may also be at greater risk of incontinence (Murphy,
Boutin, & Ide, 2012) due to a lack of mobility, or being confined to a particular
position for long periods of time.
Urinary Voiding Dysfunction Urinary voiding dysfunction describes a pattern of
urinating that is abnormal for the child’s age and may include issues with the fre-
quency and urgency of voiding, enuresis, an intermittent urine stream, or straining
to void. Among the most common urinary voiding issues are overactive bladder,
dysfunctional voiding, underactive bladder, and constipation. There are a number of
possible causes for these dysfunctions, and if not addressed, they have the potential
to have a significant impact on the toilet training process.
Overactive bladder is characterized by symptoms in which an individual has a
frequent urgent need to urinate, urge incontinence, or nocturia. Children who expe-
rience an overactive bladder may also demonstrate holding techniques (e.g., squat-
ting on the floor) to avoid urination. Conversely, infrequent voiding or an underactive/
lazy bladder is a syndrome that is characterized by infrequent urination. Children
may be diagnosed with this condition if they eliminate three or fewer occasions over
a 24-h period, or if they do not eliminate for 12 h. Children with this condition may
develop enlarged bladder capacity experience minimal urge to void and may exhibit
incomplete and infrequent voiding (Berry, 2005).
Dysfunctional voiding describes a problem in which children are unable to relax
the urethra and pelvic floor muscles during elimination. Dysfunctional voiding is
likely caused by involuntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles or urethral
22 R. Lang et al.
sphincter during voiding. Children who experience dysfunctional voiding may

exhibit posturination dribbling, incontinence, attempts to withhold urination (e.g.,
pelvic holding), and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI; Berry, 2005; Hellerstein
& Linebarger, 2003). Typically, children with urinary dysfunction or uncomplicated
enuresis do not have increased incidence of urologic disease, show normal physical,
psychiatric, and neurological development, and normal urinalysis and urine culture
(Rushton, 1993). As with GI problems, symptoms of urinary voiding dysfunction,
including nocturnal enuresis, are usually transient, and are the result of a temporary
and highly treatable problem. This can include UTIs, infection of the vulva or
vagina (e.g., vulvovaginitis), irritants, moisture around the vulva, and yeast infec-
tions (Caldwell, Hodson, Craig, & Edgar, 2005).
In rare cases, urinary problems may be the result of metabolic or nephrological
disorders (e.g., kidney disease, diabetes) or there may be an underlying functional
anatomic problem (Caldwell et al., 2005; Rushton, 1993). For example, in children
with an underactive bladder, the pelvic floor muscles become overactive, which
results in discoordination between the bladder, rectum, and pelvic floor muscles
(Kajiwara Inoue, Usui, Kurihara, & Usui, 2004). This discoordination can cause the
bladder muscle contraction to become weak or absent. As a result, children with this
condition tend to strain in an attempt to void (Berry, 2005; Schulman 2004).
Although it is generally accepted that enuresis occurs when the nocturnal bladder
volume exceeds capacity due to normal delays in development (Issenman et al.,
1999), it is estimated that up to 1/3 of children with enuresis may experience
detrusor over activity and reduced bladder capacity while asleep (Yeung et al.,
2002). Neurogenic bladder is another condition that can negatively affect urinary
voiding functions, particularly in those with spinal cord, neurological, or nerve
problems. Neurogenic bladder can occur as the result of diseases (e.g., multiple
sclerosis), but it can also occur in people with disabilities such as cerebral palsy and
spina bifida (Murphy et al., 2012). In situations in which functional anatomic, neu-
rological, metabolic, or nephrological problems are suspected, further assessment
may be required if planning to commence toilet training.
Operant Voiding Dysfunction It is important to note that behaviors that impede
voiding and toilet skill acquisition may be learned (operant) behaviors (Hellerstein
& Linebarger, 2003) that serve operant functions. There are a variety of reasons why
children may learn to withhold voiding. For example, a child may engage in with-
holding to escape or avoid unsanitary toileting conditions or if the toileting process
has been associated with pain (perhaps due to a previous medical condition) or
some other aversive stimuli (Kistner, 2009). Over time, withholding of stool or
urine can become a chronic, habitual response that can negatively impact voiding
patterns and complicate toilet training efforts.
Anatomical and Physiological Side Effects and their Impact on Toilet
Training Soiling, withholding, and constipation can result in a number of medical
ailments that greatly impact children’s physical well-being. If untreated, these med-
ical ailments may exacerbate the voiding problem and result in increased difficulties
with toilet training. For example, as a consequence of constipation, many children
experience physical discomfort. This can include pain while defecating (Partin,
Hammill, Fischel, & Partin, 1992; Van den Berg, Benninga, & Lorenzo, 2006),
abdominal pain (Loening-Baucke, 2005; Loening-Baucke & Swidsinski, 2007), and
anal fissures (i.e., superficial cracking or tear around the anus). In response to pain
while defecating, many children may learn to withhold stool and avoid use of the
toilet, further worsening constipation and its side effects. In rare cases, habitual
stool withholding can lead to “functional” megacolon. Functional megacolon is
characterized by overdistention of the colon (large intestine) and insensitivity
around the rectum (Partin et al., 1992). Functional megacolon results in severe con-
stipation, abdominal pain, fecal obstruction, and fecal soiling. Kelly (1996) estimate
that in 80–90% of cases, fecal incontinence is the result of chronic constipation with
fecal impaction and consequent overflow soiling.
Children with urinary or fecal incontinence that results in frequent soiling may
experience skin problems, such as perineal dermatitis (Driver, 2007) or perineal
infections. Anal fistulae (i.e., a small occlusion between the end of the bowel and
the skin around the anus) may then occur as the result of the infection (Wang et al.
2013). Though this is relatively uncommon, it can result in intense pain, particularly
during defecation.
Constipation directly affects bowel function and may also impact urinary func-
tion. Withholding stool and constipation are common risk factors for nocturnal
enuresis, fecal incontinence, and daytime incontinence, as children may have a lack
of control over these functions when constipated (Berry, 2005; Cooper et al., 2002).
This may be the result of the fecal mass obstructing the urinary outflow system,
which can prevent complete elimination of the bladder, and/or the fecal mass may
put pressure on the bladder, which can prevent complete relaxation of the muscles
controlling the bladder or result in irritation (Cooper et al., 2002; Kasirga, Akil,
Yilmaz, & Polat, 2006). Therefore, treating constipation may have the secondary
benefit of reducing urinary tract problems (Schulman, 2004).
UTIs are the most common of all bacterial infections afflicting children
(Hoberman et al., 1993; Stull & LiPuma, 1991). The relationship between GI prob-
lems, urinary voiding dysfunction, and UTIs is well established (Berry, 2005; Koff,
Wagner, & Jayanthi, 1998). Constipation can result in the retention of urine in the
bladder or obstruction of the urinary tract (Kajiwara et al., 2004; Loening-Baucke,
1997), which can lead to the proliferation of bacteria. Constipation can cause fecal
pathogens to colonize the perineal area, which can, in turn, colonize the urinary
tract. UTIs result in painful urination and, if untreated, may result in kidney infec-
tions (Cooper et al., 2002). On rare occasions, recurrent UTIs result in vesicoure-
teral reflux (VUR; Cooper et al., 2002). VUR involves a retrograde flow of urine
between the bladder and the ureters and kidneys (Elder et al., 1997). Children with
unstable bladder, infrequent voiding, and recurret UTIs are at increased risk of
developing this problem, which may result in kidney infection, scarring, and other
complications (Shah & Upadhyay, 2005).
If dysfunctional voiding patterns are not treated, problems with bowel and blad-
der function can persist into adulthood (Bongers, van Wijk, Reitsma, & Benninga,
2010; Bower, Sit, & Yeung, 2006). Many of those affected by voiding problems
24 R. Lang et al.
have a history of fecal soiling, constipation, and UTIs (Bower et al., 2006). Research
suggests that symptoms associated with FDD (e.g., constipation) are thought to
persist into adulthood in 25–30% of children (Bongers, et al., 2010; Procter &
Loader, 2003). Intervention for voiding problems can reduce the risk of ongoing
problems (Loenig-Baucke, 1993).
The extent to which GI and urinary voiding problems impact toilet training likely
depends on the pervasiveness, severity, and cause of the problem. For most children
with voiding problems, the underlying cause is easily and quickly treated and is
unlikely to have a long-term impact on toilet training. In such cases, delaying the
onset of toilet training or briefly returning to diapers until the issue is remediated
may be all that is necessary. For children with functional anatomic problems, or
learned responses that may impact voiding function, the implications for toilet train-
ing need to be more carefully considered. For example, as a result of constipation, a
“lazy bladder,” or reduced sensitivity to the urge to void, children may eliminate at
a much lower frequency than would normally be expected. As a result, it may be
difficult to develop a toileting schedule in which regular practice opportunities are
provided and the children are reinforced for in-toilet elimination. This decreases the
likelihood that children will be able to be reinforced for in-toilet elimination. In
such cases, it is important to explore ways of increasing the frequency of in-toilet
elimination and subsequent practice opportunities (e.g., augmenting the children’s
fluid or dietary fiber intake). It is important to note here that consultation with a
medical professional is necessary when implementing liquid or food alterations that
may complicate or exacerbate underlying medical problems. For example, because
some fruit juices can exacerbate diarrhea, it may be unwise to autonomously
decide to increase fruit juice intake in an effort to occasion more urination practice
opportunities.
Children who are constipated may also experience painful voiding. As a result,
children may learn to withhold, and the toilet or toileting process may become aver-
sive through conditioning (e.g., Christophersen, 1991). Although stool withholding
is not uncommon, children who withhold stool are at increased risk of having dif-
ficulties acquiring independent toileting skills (Blum, Taubman, & Nemeth, 2004;
Taubman & Buzby, 1997). Children who initially resist stool toilet training are also
more likely to engage in chronic patterns of soiling and are more likely to require
more time (past 42 months of age) to achieve independent toileting. This problem
may be exacerbated in those with secondary or overflow encopresis that often results
from constipation (Issenman et al., 1999; Taubman & Buzby, 1997). There is a risk
that these symptoms may be perceived as toileting “accidents” by caregivers during
toilet training, complicating instructional contingencies (e.g., overcorrection and
reinforcement) placed on behaviors presumed to be operant and reducing the effec-
tiveness of behavioral intervention.
Children who are experiencing incontinence due to an overactive bladder or
chronic diarrhea may also experience a number of toileting accidents during the
toilet training process. It is therefore important to carefully gather information about
the child’s voiding schedule (i.e., the times of day that the child is likely to urinate).
This information can be used to determine the frequency and timing of daytime
practice opportunities in order increase the likelihood of in-toilet voiding and

decrease the likelihood of accidents. For these children, it may also be necessary to
avoid bladder irritants and consultation with a medical professional prior to the
onset of training is advisable.
If, as a result of medical screening ruling out anatomical or physiological causes,
voiding dysfunction appears to a learned behavior, then it is important to assess the
environmental context of the behavior (antecedents), the consequences that may be
affecting the child’s ability to void in the toilet, and ultimately the function of stool
or urine withholding. Functional behavioral assessment is a tool that can be used to
formulate an intervention that addresses the hypothesized function of the voiding
dysfunction (e.g., Tsutomu & Fumiyuki, 2011). If learned withholding behavior is
not adequately addressed, it may directly result in GI problems such as constipation,
or other medical ailments, all of which may further impact the toilet training
process.
Finally, there are many causes of GI and urinary voiding problems that may need
to be addressed when planning toilet training programs. For example, for children
with mobility problems and associated GI issues, it may be necessary to explore
strategies that promote regular bowel motions. It may also be necessary to consider
barriers to independent toileting such as bathroom access, undressing, sitting com-
fortably on the toilet, and self-cleaning (Sansome, 2011). The impact that medica-
tion, medical history, infection or disease, and diet may have on the child’s GI or
urinary tract should also be evaluated.
sychological or Social Side Effects Associated with Limited

P
Toileting Skills
Failure to acquire hygienic toileting behavior may increase risks for a variety of
psychological and social challenges, such as bullying, teasing, and social exclusion
(Baeyens et al., 2006; Shreeram, He, Kalaydjian, Brothers, & Merikangas, 2009;
Wolfe-Christensen, Veenstra, Kovacevic, Elder, & Lakshmanan, 2012). In addition
to externalizing comorbidities, risks for internalizing comorbidities such as sadness,
anxiety, and stress may also increase (Reiner, & Gearhart, 2006). These psychologi-
cal and social difficulties have been associated with additional adversity (e.g., more
restrictive residential and educational placements) that is likely to negatively impact
an individual’s well-being across the life span (Tai, Tai, Chang, & Huang, 2015).
Potential social side effects include negative social repercussions (e.g., stigmati-
zation or social teasing/ridicule) or lack of social opportunities (Chase et al., 2004;
Despande & Caldwell, 2012; Kistner, 2009). For example, Butler and Heron (2008)
reported children view bed-wetting as a social problem rather than health-related
problem and found that children 9 years old were aware of negative social ramifica-
tions of bed-wetting, such as social teasing and exclusion. In a review of the litera-
ture related to nocturnal enuresis, Schulpen (1997) reported that most children were
26 R. Lang et al.
concerned with their ability to participate in social actives (e.g., sleepovers and
school trips), and almost half of the children perceived intolerance by their family
and reported being teased by siblings. Further, Philips and colleagues (2015)
reported that children with fecal incontinence had significantly more exposure to
stressful life events (e.g., bullying, punishment by a parent during toilet training,
child abuse) when compared to other children.
With regards to the school environment, parents express frustration when schools
have more restricted access to toilets or different toileting procedures than the
child’s home, particularly when children who have some toileting success at home
fail to generalize to school settings (Garman & Ficca, 2012; Palmer, Athanasopoulos,
Lee, Takeda, & Wyndaele, 2012). Har and Croffie (2010) identified conditions
involving limited toileting skills that tend to result in teasing, bullying, and/or social
exclusion in school. These adverse social consequences have in turn been linked to
child mental health risks (e.g., reduce feelings of self-worth) and, more concretely,
delayed academic progress.
Although some studies have reported rates of psychological issues within the
normal limits (Hirassing, van Lerdam, Bolk-Bennin & Bosch, 1997; Robinson,
Butler, Holland, & Doherty-Williams, 2003), the majority of current research
reports issues associated with psychological side effects for children who struggle
with enuresis and fecal incontinence (von Gontard & Hollmann, 2004; Van Hoecke,
Fruyt, De Clercq, Hoebeke, & Vande Walle, 2006; Wolfe-Christensen et al., 2012).
For example, von Gontard and Hollmann (2004) analyzed somatic and behavioral
symptoms associated with functional enuresis and encopresis. The authors reported
that 65% of the children (n = 167) with enuresis and encopresis were reported by
their parents to have severe behavioral problems. Specifically, children that were
encopretic were reported to have a significantly higher rate of externalizing behav-
ioral disorders, such as conduct disorder. In other studies, children with both types
of enuresis (night and day) were found to have a higher rate of psychological
problems compared to children who have more isolated occurrences of accidents
(Joinson, Heron, Emond, & Butler, 2007; Theunis, Van Hoecke, Paesbrugge,
Hoebeke, & Vande Walle, 2002; Van Hoecke et al., 2006). Further, Wolfe-Christensen
and colleague’s (2012) findings indicate that the severity levels of voiding dysfunc-
tion and/or enuresis are related to the severity of psychosocial difficulties.
Comorbidity of psychological issues can include anxiety, depression (Cox,
Morris, Borowitz, & Sutphen, 2002), reduced self-esteem (Joinson et al., 2007), and
attention-related issues (Cox et al., 2002). Wolfe-Christensen and colleagues (2012)
reported that 19% of children with urology issues (n = 600) had been diagnosed
with at least one psychological disorder, and 26 of these children had more than one.
Further, approximately 15% were found to have clinically significant psychosocial
difficulties.
Poor self-esteem in children with urological issues has also been reported in the
literature (Theunis et al., 2002). In a review, Redsell and Collier (2001) concluded
there is an increased likelihood of behavioral problems purportedly related to
self- esteem for children with nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting). The authors
hypothesized that if bedwetting and low self-esteem were causal, there would be a
likely reduction of these psychological problems when instances of bedwetting
were reduced. Children who have both nocturnal and diurnal enuresis are reported
to experience more distress and have lower self-esteem than children who only have
nocturnal enuresis (Feehan, McGee, Stanton, & Silva, 1990; Schulpen, 1997).
Further, Schonwald, Sherritt, Stadtler, and Bridgemohan (2004) evaluated tempera-
ment profiles of children who were classified as difficult to toilet train and found
them to have difficult temperament (e.g., less adaptive, more negative in mood, less
persistent) compared to other children.
For some children, psychological issues related to anxiety are reported (Cox
et al., 2002; von Gontard, Moritz, Thome-Granz, & Equit, 2015, Reiner & Gearhart,
2006). For example, von Gontard and colleagues (2015) found that symptoms of
anxiety and depression were higher among children with any subtype of inconti-
nence (12.8%) and children with any subtype of functional GI disorder (21.4%)
when compared to children without any subtype of incontinence (7.7%).
Several studies have reported toileting deficits more often in children with atten-
tion deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; Baeyens et al., 2006; von Gontard,
Mortiz, Thome-Granz, & Freitag, 2011; Van Hoeck et al., 2006; Shreeram et al.,
2009). Night wetting was reported to occur more often in children with ADHD
(21.9%) compared to day wetting (6.5%; Robson et al., 1999). Mellon and colleagues
(2013) reported approximately 9.8% (n = 35) of children (mean age 6.7 years) with
ADHD had a comorbidity of enuresis compared to the control group where approxi-
mately 4.7% of children met the criteria for enuresis (n = 34). Shreeram and col-
leagues (2009) reported that 12.5% of children (ages 8–11) with nocturnal enuresis
had a comorbidity of ADHD compared to 3.6% of children without nocturnal
enuresis. Approximately 25% of children with diurnal urinary incontinences

(Joinson, Heron, & von Gontard, 2006) and approximately 9% of children with
fecal incontinence (Joinson, Heron, & von Gontard, 2006 or Joinson, Heron, Butler,
& von Gontard, 2006) were reported to have a comorbidity of ADHD.
Health-Related Quality of Life A number of studies have looked at the effect of
voiding problems on children’s quality of life (Clarke et al., 2008; Rajindrajith
et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2013). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a concept
that is used to capture dimensions of emotional, physical, psychological, and social
functioning. HRQOL, including physical dimensions, is often rated lower in c hildren
with FC or fecal incontinence (Clarke et al., 2008; Peeters, Noens, Kuppens, &
Benninga, 2016; Rajindrajith Devanarayana, Weerasooriya, Hathagoda, &
Benninga, 2013; Wang et al., 2013). Furthermore, those with fecal incontinence and
constipation have been found to have lower HRQoL scores than those with consti-
pation alone (Rajindrajith et al., 2013). The impact of functional voiding problems
and associated medical ailments on children’s well-being underscores the impor-
tance of toilet training and the extent to which such factors may impact training
outcomes.
28 R. Lang et al.
Conclusion
Children can be affected by a variety of medical issues related to voiding and toilet
training. The impact these anatomical and/or physiological problems may have on
the toileting training process depends on the cause, trajectory, and persistence of the
problem. The current body of literature also identifies a number of psychological
conditions that tend to be found in children who struggle with enuresis and fecal
incontinence; the most commonly reported comorbidity is ADHD, followed by
anxiety and depression. Further research is needed to examine how these comor-
bidities relate to intervention procedures and to identify more efficient or effica-
cious interventions suitable for children with these conditions. Although research
has identified some social side effects, further research is needed to determine the
extent to which a lack of toileting skills may impede a child’s opportunities to par-
ticipate in social environments. Regardless of the cause or type of toileting deficit,
early intervention is necessary in order to minimize the short- and long-term impact
on children’s physical health, psychological, and social-emotional well-being.
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Risk Factors
K.A. Kroeger, Stephanie Weber, and Jennifer Smith
Risk Factors
Risk factors are inherent to any activity in life. Toileting is a natural life activity.
Therefore, it is logical to assume that there are risk factors natural to toilet training.
The World Health Organization defines a risk factor as “any attribute, characteristic
or exposure of an individual that increases the likelihood of developing a disease or
injury” (World Health Organization, 2017). In reference to the current topic, risk
factors pose as barriers to delaying successful toilet training or ultimately prevent-
ing successful toilet training from being achieved. In training toileting, continence,
where an individual must be able to recognize the sensation for elimination, and
mastery of the entire chain of behaviors accompanying a toilet visit including travel-
ing, excreting, washing, and redressing must be present in order to achieve indepen-
dent and appropriate toileting skills (Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009). Risks
to successful toileting behavior are inherent across those areas of continence and
toileting behavior. This chapter explores continence potential risk factors related to
child and caregiver characteristics, environmental challenges, and cultural barriers.
Directions for future research endeavors and considerations not yet addressed by the
current empirical body are also presented as additional areas of potential risk.
K.A. Kroeger (*) • S. Weber • J. Smith

Kelly O’Leary Center for Autism Spectrum Disorders, Division of Developmental and
Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of
Cincinnati College of Medicine, ML 4002, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA

34 K.A. Kroeger et al.
Child Factors
Risk factors related to child characteristics are vast and, while not a comprehensive
list, include factors related to developmental concerns, special healthcare needs,
developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, chronic illnesses, comorbid psychiat-
ric diagnoses, phobias, noncompliance, behavioral disorders, stand-alone symptoms,
such as anxiety, and personality traits, such as temperament or birth order. Each of
these factors alone could present risk and, in combination of one or more, potentially
limit achievement of continence.
Children with Special Healthcare Needs The federal Maternal and Child Health
Bureau (MCHB) defines the population of children with special healthcare needs
(CSHCN) as “those who have (or are at increased risk for) a chronic physical, devel-
opmental, behavioral or emotional condition and who also require health and related
services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally” (2012). In
order to ascertain that children who fall within the category of special healthcare
needs receive the necessary intervention for remediation of skills that are less than
expected of their typical age-matched peers, the MCHB defined the category
broadly and across developmental domains. In light of this qualifying definition,
researchers have discussed risk potentials and include overall disruptive behaviors
(and “difficult” temperament described children) as baseline qualifiers for inclusion
of CSHCN and worthy of consideration for readiness in terms of approaching
developmental milestones, such as toileting (Howell, Wysocki, & Steiner, 2010;
Macias, Roberts, Saylor, & Fussel, 2006). The American Academy of Pediatrics
makes strong statements against forcing children to initiate a training program prior
to being behaviorally, emotionally, or developmentally ready (Stadtler, Gorski, &
Brazelton, 1999). Research determining “readiness” for toileting is scarce, and pro-
fessional opinion currently guides those readiness parameters. Previous literature
on toilet training various populations of children describes a number of behaviors to
identify if a child is ready to train. These include asking to use a potty chair, remov-
ing and putting clothing back on, demonstrating interest in using the toilet and imi-
tation of adults using the toilet, and communicating in some way when soiled or wet
or when in need of voiding (Schum, McAuliffe, Simms, Walter, Lewis, & Pupp,
2001; van Nunen, Kaerts, Wyndaele, Vermandel, & Hal, 2015). While it is generally
agreed upon that “toileting readiness” should be assessed and determined before
beginning the training, especially for CSHCN, exactly what those readiness behav-
iors are have yet to reach consensus.
It is noted that for CSHCN, some children experience toileting readiness earlier
or later than other children of the same chronological age. In preparing to train
CSHCN, delayed readiness is considered (Macias et al., 2006). Delays in readiness
to train may be related to a variety of developmental factors including physical
development, for example, as in the case of children with spina bifida, psychologi-
cal development, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or cognitive delays,
such as intellectual disability. Howell and colleagues (2010) further the concept
of readiness for CSHCN by discussing the topic in regard to children being
Risk Factors in Toilet Training 35
“ neurophysiologically ready” (p. 262) and note factors that would make a child
completely independent in toileting including having the capability to follow adults’
instructions, maintaining dry pants for 2 h or more, demonstrating the interest and
ability to stay dry, potentially imitating others who remain dry, and physically
manipulating clothing and sitting on the toilet. It should be noted that the standards
for CSHCN as outlined by these authors are obviously similar to the standards for
typical children who do not meet special needs qualifications. Given that some
CSHCN may never be “neurophysiologically ready,” such children and individuals
may never accomplish independent toileting due to developmental delays in or
across key areas of development, such as motor planning (Howell et al., 2010).
However, as “toilet trained” is defined by continence in conjunction with mastery of
the chain of behaviors that goes along with the bathroom trip, it might be that chil-
dren, who do not become fully toilet trained, do indeed master a specific one or set
of toileting behaviors, contributing still to an improved quality of life. Such that the
child with spina bifida may need assistance with getting to the bathroom, but is
otherwise continent and able to communicate the need “to go,” the child with ADHD
may remain daytime toilet trained, but struggle with nocturnal enuresis ongoing,
and the child with intellectual disability may be continent and able to complete the
chain of bathroom behaviors, but may not be able to communicate the need “to go.”
Regardless of complete readiness, the authors of this chapter believe in the impor-
tance of attempting to train CSHCN as improvement in quality of life factors for
child and family could be achieved with mastery of even a specific toileting behav-
ior, if not the entire chain.
In continuing the topic of readiness, researchers agree upon the importance of
psychological readiness for children prior to toilet training (Brazelton, 1962; Foxx
& Azrin 1973), mostly typically described as the ability to cooperate with training
and the ability to follow a finite number of instructions. Psychological readiness is
twofold: one, to reduce the potential for parent-child power struggles and, two, to
assure the child is able to respond to simple directions. Also, readiness of physical
factors, such as reflex sphincter control and motor skills, is important for indepen-
dence in training (Vermandel, Van Kampen, Van Gorp & Wyandaele, 2008). Still
other researchers suggest readiness factors include an IQ score of 20 or higher
(Lohmann, Eyman & Lask, 1967), regular urinary and bowel voiding (Lowenthal,
1996), and ability to void in a large amount (Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Richmond, 1983).
Many factors, across development and across children, should be reviewed when
considering initiation of toilet training, especially for children who do not meet age-
appropriate developmental markers. Given the more broad lists above or the more
specific areas here, readiness should be considered, even though consensus has not
been established on what true skill “readiness” is required for successful training.
Toileting, as a mastered skill, is critical for independent living, meaning that incon-
tinence is a significant quality of life barrier for individuals with special healthcare
needs and developmental disabilities (Kroeger & Sorensen, 2010). Hence, readiness
behaviors should be assessed and, if lacking, subsequently targeted for intervention
in order to prepare CSHCN for toilet training. This is especially important as the
general early intervention research body demonstrates that the earlier children
d emonstrate acquisition of such (toileting) behaviors, the more opportunity they

have to participate in typical community events and mainstream educational place-
ments (LeBlanc, Carr, Crossett, Bennett, & Detweiler, 2005).
Developmental Issues, Delays, and Disabilities As the diagnoses suggest, chil-
dren displaying one or more developmental issues are likely to be delayed in devel-
opment, including typical benchmark milestones, such as toileting. Delays in
development, specifically delays in cognitive development, have been presented as
a particular noteworthy risk factor for toilet training in the literature (Brazelton,
1962; Brazelton et al., 1999; Ellis, 1963). Children who fall within the overarching
umbrella of “children with special healthcare needs” should be followed particu-
larly closely given that they are already considered to be a vulnerable population
and at risk for marginalization. Incontinence brings a diminished quality of life for
those who experience it due to stigma, reduced self-confidence, personal hygiene
issues, and limitations on engagement with others in one’s environment (Kircaali-
Iftar, Ulke-Kurkcuoglu, Cetin, & Unlu, 2009). Therefore, the combination of devel-
opmental issues and ongoing incontinence poses particular threat to the individual’s
self-esteem, social opportunities, and school and vocational placements. These fac-
tors are even more important when considering the improved quality of life that may
result upon successful toilet training for children with delayed development.
Teaching toileting skills is both challenging and highly advantageous for caregivers
of children with delayed development (Kircaali-Iftar et al., 2009). Therefore, while
obtaining continence in individuals with developmental disabilities may require
extended training time or the presence of more systematic teaching protocols, pur-
suit of this developmental milestone holds significance in increasing both the child
and family’s quality of life, perhaps especially in light of the life-long implication
of the developmental delay.
Extended time in training for individuals with developmental disabilities is a
commonplace notion that general and developmental pediatrics alike often counsel
families, assumedly from reviewing the general literature on toileting training (e.g.,
Bettison, 1986; Brazelton et al., 1999). However, upon closer inspection, it appears
that the current body of research would challenge that generally held belief and
posit that extended training time is not always required and that some children with
developmental disabilities (particularly autism) actually train quicker than typically
developing children in some instances. Studies on single case studies and small
sample, controlled studies with individuals with developmental disabilities cite
completion training times in less than 2 weeks (Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Kroeger &
Sorensen, 2010), 1 month or less (Bainbridge & Myles, 1999; Cicero & Pfadt, 2002;
LeBlanc et al., 2005; Post & Kirkpatrick, 2004), 2–3 months (Hagopian, Fisher,
Piazza, & Wierzbicki, 1993; Luiselli, 1994, 1997; Wilder, Higbee, Williams, &
Nachtwey, 1997), and 4–10 months (Keen et al., 2007; Luiselli, 1994, 1996a). These
findings counter the commonplace belief that toilet training takes longer with chil-
dren with developmental disabilities and perhaps even instill hope in that the diag-
nosis of autism is often associated with significant deficits, perhaps leading to the
belief that toilet training is unobtainable – but now is potentially obtainable and in
relatively reasonable amounts of time. However, before making recommendation to

families of children with developmental disabilities, two caveats should be kept in
mind when considering time of training: (1) these studies used highly specific pro-
tocols for training and were supervised variously by professionals, and (2) these
were small sample studies as opposed to large, controlled population studies.
Recommendations should be made to reflect that while there is promise that the
presence of a developmental disability may not pose as much of a risk factor to
training as originally suspected, the higher the likelihood of training in a timely
manner will be influenced by the direct involvement of professional supervision
and/or specific, detailed protocols for implementation.
An additional risk factor to this specific population exists in that even after
trained and independent in toileting, regression of skill could occur. It is not likely
that the individuals will regress to lose all toileting behavior but more likely that an
individual might lose a specific toileting behavior, such as communicating the need
“to go” or self-initiating to use the bathroom. Dalrymple and Ruble (1992) gener-
ated survey results that indicated 30% of individuals with autism who were toilet
trained regressed in training at some later point in time, while Hyams and colleagues
(1992) additionally noted regression in reference to self-initiation in a review of
long-term follow-up of toilet training in developmental disabilities. Kroeger and
Sorensen (2010) suggest to engage the parents as primary trainers so that they have
the training tools necessary to problem-solve toileting issues that may arise once
trained and to ultimately prevent backslide or subsequent regression. Treating clini-
cians should continue to monitor once children are reportedly trained to be sure that
regression is not occurring and to recommend to families to intervene sooner rather
than later if accidents start to occur as it is may be the beginning of a backslide in
skills, rather than an isolated incident. Therefore, while a diagnosis of a develop-
mental disability carries inherent risk to continence, evidence exists that training
within normal parameters is possible, but again the ongoing issue of continence
carries additional risk in that the threat of regression may remain for some
individuals.
Chronic Illnesses Children suffering from childhood chronic illnesses are at three-
fold risk. First, it might be that simply having a chronically ill child is enough to
make a parent reticent to pursue toilet training for a number of reasons including
sympathy for the child, perceived ability to train based on illness, and reduced
resources including parent’s stamina, focus, and time (Brazelton et al., 1999;
Frauman & Brandon, 1996). Second, beyond any attributed sympathy is the addi-
tional risk associated with chronic care, including reduced parent one-on-one time
due to increase coordination of care time for the illness and medical follow-up, and
financial strain and potential loss of family income, leading to increased caregiver-
associated risks (Turchi et al., 2009). Third, children with chronic illnesses may also
have inherent risk factors affecting the ability to achieve continence, including
organic functioning (e.g., renal transplant, kidney disease), ongoing prescribed
medications such as diuretics or diarrhea-inducing antibiotics and/or steroids, or the
opposite-effect medications such as muscle relaxants and constipating narcotic pain
relievers or related and associated developmental cognitive or motoric delays

(Brazelton et al., 1999; Frauman & Brandon, 1996; Frauman & Myers, 1994). The
associated risks are pervasive within children with acute long-term or chronic ill-
nesses. Regardless of risk factor at play, it is generally recognized that despite the
chronic illness, such children should still attempt toilet training and at seemingly
similar age (before the age of 4) as typically developing, healthy children (Brazelton
et al., 1999). Toilet training is a developmental milestone and becomes self-
reinforcing once learned, and extended use of diapers has additional hygiene and
risk factors that would be best eliminated by effective toilet training.
Comorbid Psychiatric Symptoms and Diagnoses As suspected, coexisting psy-
chological symptoms are likely to act as potential barriers to successful toilet train-
ing. Children with both internalizing and externalizing psychiatric disorders are
more likely to experience issues in the area of continence, and more so, even chil-
dren with subclinical features are at higher risk than the general population for toi-
leting difficulties (von Gontard, Baeuns, Van Hoecke, Warzak, & Bachman, 2011;
Zinc, Freitag, & von Gonard, 2008). If left untreated, the unresolved toileting issue
then places the child at further risk for additional associated psychological issues
including reduced quality of life, chronic stress, and reduced self-esteem and sense
of self-worth, not to mention the lingering associated physical hygiene risks.
Children presenting with all types of incontinence are more likely to be diag-
nosed with a comorbid psychological disorder (von Gontard et al., 2011). The high-
est co-occurring childhood disorder is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD), where diagnosed children are more likely to be difficult to train and treat,
likely to wet more frequently and problematic toileting patterns more likely to per-
sist (Baeyens et al., 2006). Clinicians working with children diagnosed with ADHD
should be particularly aware of this increased risk and monitor ongoing in order to
intervene in a timely manner to reduce the long-term negative associated outcomes.
Additionally, sharing with parents this coexisting tendency between ADHD and
toileting difficulties may help to alleviate parental distress (who may place the toi-
leting burden of blame elsewhere, such as on themselves or the child) and lead to a
shortened lag time between problem presentation and obtaining targeted treatment.
Other externalizing and behavioral disorders with increased risk for enuresis
include (but not limited to) oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder and
internalizing or emotional disorders such as depressive and anxiety disorders. For
children who do not meet full diagnostic criteria though, inherent risk still exists for
those who present at the subclinical level. The global coexistence of behavior prob-
lems and toileting issues is high, and children with incontinence issues are two to
four times more likely to present with such issues; children with the highest associ-
ated rate of behavior problems are those with fecal incontinence (Law, Yang, Coit,
& Chan, 2016; von Gontard et al., 2011). Additional subclinical issues that present
as risk factors include noncompliance, fears, and nonclinical anxiety and low self-
esteem. Given the wide range of associated comorbid diagnoses, as well as associ-
ated isolated psychological symptoms, clinicians would benefit from generally
assessing for underlying toileting issues initially and periodically thereafter, as
s econdary enuresis or encopresis can present even once trained, especially with the
onset of significant life stressors. With earlier identification of toileting issues in
these populations at risk and implied earlier intervention, the subsequent outcomes
may be less intensive, pervasive, or enduring for children and their families.
Temperament Temperament is often characterized as the pattern of differences in
individuals’ emotions, reactivity to the environment, and behavioral and emotional
self-regulation (Putnam, Sanson, & Rothbart, 2002; Thomas, Chess & Birch, 1970).
Despite there being various theories on this topic, a child’s temperament is widely
agreed to emerge shortly after birth, has biological foundations, can be influenced
by the environment, and remains consistent throughout childhood (Saudino, 2005).
As discussed by Thomas and colleagues (1963), children can be described on a
continuum of “difficultness” and can be identified as “easy,” “slow to warm,” or
“difficult” based on key variables such as child’s mood, adaptability, activity level,
attention span and persistence, intensity of reaction, and other factors (Thomas,
Chess, Birch, Hertzig, & Korn, 1963; Thomas et al., 1970). Literature on the influ-
ence of temperament has been inconsistent in regard to toilet training, though the
key categories of rhythmicity (i.e., regularity of hunger, excretion, sleep, and wake-
fulness), approach withdrawal (i.e., response to a new object or person), attention
span and persistence, and general mood are important factors to a child’s participa-
tion and successful completion of toilet training as a developmental milestone
(Thomas et al., 1970).
Difficult temperament has been suggested as a risk factor in toilet training (Blum,
Taubman & Osborne, 1997). Schonwald, Sherritt, Stadtler and Bridgemohan (2004)
presented the first study to demonstrate a “positive correlation among difficult toilet
training, constipation, and temperament” (p. 1755). These researchers used parent
report on the Carey-McDevitt Behavioral Style Questionnaire and the Parenting
Scale to examine differences between a group of children identified as “difficult to
train (DTT)” and a comparison group. They found children in the comparison group
were more likely to have “easy” temperament cluster ratings than the DTT group.
Though DTT children were not rated as significantly more “difficult” or “slow to
warm up,” they were significantly rated as less adaptable, less persistent, lower in
approach, and with more negative mood than comparison children (Schonwald
et al., 2004). Schum et al. (2001) examined the impact of temperament on toilet
training using The Toddler Temperament Scale (1- to 2-year-olds) and Behavioral
Style Questionnaire (3-year-olds). These researchers did not find significant differ-
ences when comparing the easy and difficult temperament clusters. They were sur-
prised to find that children who were less rhythmic were more likely to have
completed toilet training, which suggested that less predictable child behavior led to
successful toileting (Schum et al., 2001). These findings are counter to what is
known about child development overall; therefore, findings should be replicated
before making global statements about the relationship between routines and toilet-
ing. Blum, Taubman and Osborne (1997) used the same temperament measures as
Schum and colleagues (2001) and examined temperament on stool toileting refusal
but did not find statistically significant results on any of the nine temperament
s ubscales. While research has been mixed in regard to the impact of a child’s tem-
perament on toilet training success, these individual child factors cannot be ignored
when determining a toilet training approach or likelihood of success. Such factors
though should be loosely interpreted and suggested more as guidelines on how to
problem-solve pitfalls of temperament and not presented as hard fact to families
attempting toilet training as it may delay attempts to toilet train simply for fear of
temperamental influence on outcome.
Additionally, it should be noted that the research on temperament and toilet
training has limitations related to recall bias and small sample sizes (Joinson, Heron,
Gontard, Butler, Golding & Emond, 2008). The studies described reviewing tem-
perament utilized small samples of children referred to clinics that specialized in
treatment for children with toileting difficulties. Given that these caregivers were
seeking support for difficult to train children, bias in reporting on assessment mea-
sures must be considered when examining these results. More research on children
without clinical levels of toileting problems is necessary to further delineate the
impact of child’s temperament on toilet training.
Clinicians who undertake toilet training work with parents and children should
consider the implications of temperament on the process. Clinicians may consider
recommending toilet training methods that align with the child’s temperament. For
instance, the more structured Azrin and Foxx (1971) intensive method may be
encouraged for children with easier temperaments, whereas the child-centered
approach may be considered for children with more difficult or slow-to-warm tem-
peraments (see Chapter “Applications of Operant-Based Behavioral Principles to
Toilet Training” for detailed description of training methods). Zweiback (1998)
suggested the importance of determining a child’s activity level prior to approach-
ing training. If a child is overly active, he/she may not be ready for frequently sched-
uled sits requiring him/her to remain on the toilet or “potty chair” for longer than a
minute or two. Children with predictable rhythmicity may be more successful with
toileting use at regular intervals. A child’s attention span is important to consider
when training to best predict the reminders he/she may need to leave preferred
activities to use the toilet since young children may have difficulty shifting attention
when focused on a task or activity. Intensity is a temperamental factor that may lead
a child to protest toilet training and lead to more work on the part of the parent to
engage and reinforce the child for appropriate attempts (Zweiback, 1998).
Caregiver Factors
Caregivers are inherent to the toilet training process in that they are the “keepers” of
children, and even if not the primary trainers, such as with children who attend day-
care full time during the week, they are the ones the children return home to and are
ultimately responsible for the completion of training in order to be fully “toilet
trained.” Given the expansiveness of the toilet training literature, it is surprising to
find that parent variables are not better studied than would be suspected. Perhaps
this lesser studied area is due to the fact that most typical children are toilet trained
at one point or another, and therefore, the reason to study parent factors is null.
There is more work that focuses on children with special needs, and these studies
are more likely to question the impact of incontinence rather that the success or risk
factors. Nonetheless, it would be hard to find a professional anywhere within the
field of child development who would argue that caregiver factors are irrelevant in
toilet training.
General Caregiver Traits One trend that is consistent in parent factors is the
increase in age of onset toilet training. In the early to mid-twentieth century, toilet
training was initiated at or before 18 months of age, whereas during the latter half
of the twentieth century, training onset was closer to 2 to 3 years of age and cur-
rently nearer to 3 years of age with 30 months of age on average for onset (Bakker
& Wyndaele, 2000; van Nunen et al., 2015; Schum, Kolb, McAuliffe, Simms,
Underhill, & Lewis, 2002). Perhaps parenting over the century took into consider-
ation its own assessment of risk and determined that delays in age would be benefi-
cial in increasing the likelihood of initial training success.
Specific parent correlated risk factors generally focus on parenting style, as well
as parent mental health. While we previously noted that psychological symptoms
are more likely to be present in children with toileting difficulties, it appears that the
presence of maternal depression or anxiety around the time of toilet training of the
child also poses risk for development of toileting difficulties (Joinson et al., 2008).
The phase of toilet training should be of clinical discussion in mothers of toddlers
who present for treatment both in order to reduce maternal stress and related psy-
chological correlates and to also decrease the risk of subsequent toileting problems
in their toddlers. While studied and hypothesized, it was not found that parenting
style in general presents as a risk factor for incontinence (Schonwald et al., 2004),
although it is still held that unusual harshness and parental rigidity could lead to
toileting difficulties regardless (Joinson et al., 2008). Interestingly, researchers have
hypothesized that single parenthood would be a risk factor associated with delayed
toileting and related toileting difficulties given the potential for reduced resources;
however, research demonstrates the converse in that single parents are more likely
to be successful in toilet training (Schum et al., 2001). Possible explanation for this
relationship might lie in those same potential resources. That is, increased motiva-
tion to reduce family costs by eliminating the use of diapers and increased training
plan consistency by the default of one parent and not an additional spouse having
conflicting feelings or ideas on how to train effectively could be the same reasons
single parents are more successful.
Parents of CSHCN Parents of incontinent children with developmental disabili-
ties and related special (healthcare) needs report higher personal stress and distress
likely related to the toileting problems presented by their children than parents of
toilet-trained children without CSHCN (Macias et al., 2006). Given theories of per-
sistent distress and the noted relationship between maternal stress and subsequent
toileting difficulties, it is suggested that families of CSHCN be provided with addi-
tional resources and support in order to reduce the potential for risk and increase the
likelihood of initial and maintained success with toilet training. It could be deduced
then that continence training not only increases quality of life factors for the child
by increasing associated hygiene factors and access to activities and placements but
also increases the quality of life for the parents by reducing stress and subsequently
for other family members such as siblings as corollary recipients of the distress.
Toilet training, and protecting against the risk of incontinence, could then be one
source of long-term stress reduction for families with individuals with pervasive
developmental disorders and CSHCN.
Environmental Factors
Environmental factors posing risk are wide reaching and are as close as the child’s
physical and immediate environment and as far reaching as cultural climate and
beliefs. Within the more immediate environment, risk is possible in physical set-
tings, such as the child with spina bifida who lives in a second-floor-only bathroom
home, to access to medical resources for tough to train children, such as those who
may live in rural areas, to support from childcare or daycare settings for working
parents, and to children living in multiple households and multi-generational care-
givers. Likewise, clinicians may disregard cultural variables and potentially alienate
families from seeking help, make over, or under assumptions about a particular race
or class of families, or ultimately search out the literature for toileting answers and
find that the research itself may pose risk by sample bias and reporting.
Cultural Climate Parental beliefs and attitudes regarding the age at which to start
toilet training play a primary role in the process of toilet training. These beliefs and
attitudes may vary according to cultural factors. The Fundamentals of Toilet
Training study by Schum and colleagues (2001) examined the influence of child
demographics compared to family demographics on the status of toilet training (not
started training, in training, and training complete) in typically developing children.
A majority of participants were Caucasian (76%), while 14% were African-
American, and 10% were reported as from an “other” racial group. African-
American children were found to start and complete toilet training much earlier
than Caucasian children and children from other racial groups. The 50th percentile
for starting toilet training was 21 months for African American children, compared
to 29.5 months for Caucasian children. The 50th percentile for completing toilet
training was 30 months for African American children, compared to 39 months for
Caucasian children. Whereas only 4% of Caucasian parents reported that it was
important for a child to be toilet trained by 2 years of age, 50% of African American
parents reported this as an important developmental milestone for this chronologi-
cal age.
Similarly, Horn, Brenner, Rao and Cheng (2006) examined differences in paren-
tal beliefs about the appropriate age at which to start toilet training in relation to
various factors including race, family income, and parental education and age. A
majority of respondents were African-American (59.4%) or Caucasian (32.4%) and

were female (85.3%). Other racial groups including “Asian or Pacific Islander,”
“American Indian or Alaskan Native,” and “others” were included in a single “other”
category due to accounting for only 8.1% of total respondents. Parents reported a
range of 6–48 months for when toilet training should be initiated, with the average
age reported at 20.6 months. Caucasian parents reported a later age when initiation
should occur (25.4 months), compared to African-American parents who reported
an initiation age of 18.2 months and parents from “other” groups reporting an initi-
ated age of 19.4 months on average. Hence, when counseling on toileting to the
general population, population estimates are appropriate markers to cite with atten-
tion paid to racial differences; however, when counseling on individual cases,
minority status should be considered when providing recommendations, with full
awareness of potential population bias.
Role of Socioeconomic Status As indicated by Horn et al. (2006) and Schum et al.
(2001), parents from different races have differing attitudes and beliefs regarding
the age at which toilet training should be initiated. Horn and colleagues (2006)
found that parents with higher incomes (above $50,000 per year) reported beliefs
that toilet training should begin around 2 years of age, compared to 18 months of
age reported by parents with lower incomes. It has been speculated that the cost of
disposable diapers and disposable, pull-on style absorbent pants is a factor that
impacts toilet training beliefs and practices of parents with lower incomes.
Socioeconomic status (SES) is a factor that intersects with race and culture. It is
unclear where such differences in attitudes and beliefs should be attributed as previ-
ous studies comparing toilet training in families from different races have been con-
founded by socioeconomic status (SES). One of the limitations of the Schum et al.
(2001) study was the comparison between predominantly Caucasian children from
suburban areas and urban African American children from lower-SES families
(from Milwaukee) with the complete rule out of Hispanic children whose families
did not speak English. Given these major study limitations, economic and cultural
factors must be taken into account when examining child-rearing beliefs and prac-
tices such as toilet training. This factor is especially true in light of the fact that
pediatricians and other professional providers often treat patients from different cul-
tural backgrounds than their own, and, in turn, families seek guidance from such
medical providers in primary care settings when concerns arise regarding typical
childhood processes such as toileting. Practitioners should proceed with culturally
competent recommendations that reflect awareness that “typical childhood pro-
cesses” have different parameters and expectations for any given race or SES
bracket.
Research Sample Bias as a Risk A majority of research studies conducted on
toilet training include samples that are predominantly educated Caucasian parents
in suburban settings, reflecting significant sample bias. It is critical that research on
toilet training and other child-rearing practices reflect the racially, ethnically, and
economically diverse population in which we live today. Therefore, when reviewing
the body of research for at-risk, minor, and/or impoverished patient consultation,
recommendations should be made with caution given the potential for population
bias and for the potential of such patient populations to be susceptible to majority/
medical authority influences, for either positive or negative outcomes.
Professionals’ Beliefs Perhaps one of the most subtle, yet powerful, risk factors is
the belief of the childcare professionals themselves. Preschool teachers, daycare
workers, program coordinators, and developmental specialists are key players for
today’s young children, providing extensive time spent with the majority of children
(US Census Bureau, 1994), as well as sources of comfort and counsel for parents
and viable resources of parenting recommendations simply by the nature of their
roles. Ritblatt and colleagues compared parents’ and childcare professionals’ prac-
tices and attitudes on toilet training for typical children (Ritblatt, Obegi, Hammons,
Ganger, & Ganger, 2003). They found that childcare professionals are significantly
more likely to recommend a later age to initiate toilet training, have higher expecta-
tions for toileting readiness behaviors, display more endorsement for positive prep-
aration for training, and demonstrate higher tolerance for and child education
around accidents. Professionals should be aware of their own preconceptions in
attitude and higher expectation for toileting readiness and training routines, espe-
cially if they have children in their care for extended hours of the day whose parents
are ready to start training at an earlier age. Likewise, parents should be aware that
they might not be met with support and agreement if attempting to solicit help (in
initiating toilet training) from childcare providers if those providers are not in agree-
ment with the child’s readiness to train.
Noncustodial Caregivers Related to professional care providers are noncustodial
caregivers that spend a significant amount of time with today’s young. If not in for-
mal daycare settings, the majority of youth with working parents spend their time in
their own homes with babysitters or nannies, in relatives’ homes (or living within a
multi-generational home themselves) or in shared childcare provider homes. As
with professional childcare providers, these additional sources of care may have
differing opinions on how and when to toilet train from the child’s parents or guard-
ian. Differing opinions on training readiness lead to potential risk of giving the child
mixed messages, differential reinforcement, and to the potential for different conse-
quences across levels of training leading to delayed time in training to a host of
toileting difficulties.
Conclusions
Perhaps one of the most pervasive topics in risk alludes to the concept of child
“readiness” and the potential of risk to falter or fail in toileting. For as pervasive as
this concept is throughout the literature, there is little to no true empirical evidence
to support what actual readiness is nor support for the behaviors or cognitions rec-
ommended to be present at the time of initiating training. This paucity in the research
body is more interesting given the “age” of toileting research – nearly 50 years ago,
the seminal Foxx and Azrin studies were published for toilet training adults with
intellectual disabilities. Fifty years is a long time to talk about toilet training, both
typical children and CSHCN, and create multiple, detailed problem-solving proto-
cols to train the hardest-to-train children without ever evaluating the true readiness
criteria referred to in publications ubiquitously. Future research would benefit from
evaluating the various recommended readiness behaviors, both in true readiness
(i.e., Do children display them prior to successful continence training?) and parental
and caregiver beliefs (i.e., Do parents feel the need for these behaviors to be present
or assume that they already are regardless of true demonstration of target skill?).
Findings might suggest that such readiness behaviors are indeed required and likely
to lead to success; alternatively, they might find that such suggested readiness
behaviors actually act as prohibitors to training certain children under the guise of
the risk of not being ready.
Awareness of risk factors are important for a number of reasons: (1) to make
families aware of potential risk and prevent for feelings of failure and related psy-
chological correlates if training is not completed and (2) to give families at risk
needed additional resources and support in order to increase the likelihood of suc-
cessful toilet training. As outlined, there are endless sources of potential risk to
continence. Hopefully though, it is highlighted that while risk is evident, it should
not be debilitating and instead should act as a prompt to provide additional support
and resources as necessary in order to increase the likelihood of those carrying risk
potential to ultimately be toilet trained and without residual difficulty. Most impor-
tantly, clinicians should be aware of these areas of risk (and areas of non-risk as
shown that some suspected risk factors are indeed not, or even protective factors
instead) as patients present at their offices for counsel on when and if to initiate
training, to seek help in problem-solving toileting difficulties and to be encouraged
to try again after a failed attempt to train their child. To quote Carmelo Anthony, a
popular basketball player of the time, who risks traumatic brain injury each time he
steps onto the court, “Life is a risk.” As clinicians, guidance and informed decision-
making are the best guards against risk in the long run for counseling families who
are considering toilet training for their child.
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Normal Developmental Milestones of Toileting
Claire O. Burns and Johnny L. Matson
Introduction
Many parents hold different perceptions regarding when children should begin and
complete toilet training. Although there is no exact age at which parents ought to initi-
ate toilet training, many children follow similar developmental trajectories. The extant
literature on toilet training indicates that the average age in the United States is between
24 and 36 months (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009), and the majority of chil-
dren do not achieve successful toilet training before 24 months of age (Largo, Molinari,
Siebenthal, & Wolfensberger, 1999; Mota & Barros, 2008b; Stehbens & Silber, 1971).
Researchers have also found that toilet training is usually begun later than it has been
in the past (Bakker & Wyndaele, 2000; Blum, Taubman, & Nemeth, 2004; Schum
et al., 2001). This may be reflective of a move toward more focus on child readiness
(Berk & Friman, 1990) and less emphasis on specific age milestones. The American
Academy of Pediatrics (2009) suggests that this is a positive shift, as children become
more self-sufficient as they get older, so the older children are at the initiation of train-
ing the more quickly they are likely to achieve successful toilet training.
The current chapter reviews the extant literature on current toilet training milestones
and the ages at which these targets are typically met. These include prerequisite skills for
toilet training, or “readiness” skills, as well as differences between urine and bowl con-
trol and daytime and nighttime control. The authors also address some of the current fads
in toilet training methods and attempt to dispel common misconceptions. In particular,
the idea that toilet training can be completed early in infancy, before children have either
the physiological or psychological abilities necessary to attain this skill, is evaluated.
C.O. Burns, BS (*)

Louisiana State University, Department of Psychology, Baton Rouge, LA 70830, USA
J.L. Matson
Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA

50 C.O. Burns and J.L. Matson
Definitions of “Toilet Trained”
There is a lack of consensus within the field as to what exactly constitutes “toilet
trained” (Vermandel, Van Kampen, Van Gorp, & Wyndaele, 2008). Therefore, dis-
crepant measures are often used to define successful toilet training across research
studies. Researchers have used criteria such as absence or very low rates of acci-
dents (Foxx & Azrin, 1973), staying consistently dry (Schum et al., 2002), urinating
or defecating on the toilet (Smeets, Lancioni, Ball, & Oltva, 1985), and communica-
tion of need (e.g., reaching/grabbing responses; Smeets et al., 1985). There are also
inconsistent requirements for how long a child must be dry (e.g., day, week, month)
or how infrequently accidents must occur in order for the child to be considered
toilet trained. The ambiguity regarding the definition of toilet training makes it dif-
ficult to interpret the current literature on the topic, as researchers have found differ-
ent results for particular criteria. For the purposes of integrating the literature for the
current chapter, any criterion that indicates a socially significant amount of success
is considered “toilet trained”; however, this success should be achieved indepen-
dently, without the direct assistance of a parent or caregiver.
Toileting Readiness
Signs of toileting readiness are generally factors that are related to physical (e.g.,
musculature, reflex sphincter control) or psychological abilities (e.g., understanding
of toileting-related words, interest in toilet training, verbal and nonverbal indication
of soiled diaper; Vermandel et al., 2008). The American Academy of Pediatrics pro-
posed that some of these factors include physiological and motor skills. Certain
cognitive, social, emotional, and language skills are also involved. This is consistent
with the aspects of physical and emotional readiness proposed by Brazelton in his
child-oriented approach (1962) as well as the readiness tests used by Azrin and
Foxx (i.e., bladder control, physical readiness, and instructional readiness; 1974).
Most children possess some physiological readiness factors (i.e., the digestive sys-
tem and bladder are developed enough to postpone bowel movement and urination)
at approximately 18 months of age. However, most children lack the cognitive
abilities and more advanced physiological development necessary until around
24 months of age (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009).
Physiological Maturity
Certain physical processes are necessary for children to possess in order to have
sufficient control over their bladder and bowel movements. Researchers have found
that from birth to age 3, the number of voiding events decreases while bladder
Developmental Milestones of Toileting 51
capacity increases (Jansson, Hanson, Hansom, Hellström, & Sillén, 2000).

Micturition, or the ejection of urine from the urinary bladder, involves the following
steps: (1) filling of the bladder, (2) desire to expel the contents of the bladder, (3)
delaying expulsion, (4) initiating bladder contraction and sphincter relaxation, (5)
control of flow of urine during expulsion, and (6) refilling of the bladder (Berk &
Friman, 1990). The delayed elimination phase is the target of toilet training efforts,
as it allows for the bladder control necessary to achieve successful toileting behav-
ior. Each of the steps in the micturition cycle involves a certain amount of muscle
control, particularly of the detrusor and sphincter muscles (Berk & Friman, 1990).
Some control of these muscles may develop in children as young as 9 months old,
but voluntary control of sphincter muscles usually does not fully develop until
12–18 months of age (Brazelton, 1962). A similar timeline has also been found for
bowel control, which indicates that both of these processes rely on physical matura-
tion (Largo et al., 1999).
Motor skills are also necessary for toilet training. Gross motor skills (e.g., the
ability to walk to and sit on the toilet; Brazelton, 1962), as well as fine motor skills
(e.g., the ability to take on and off necessary articles of clothing and effectively
clean themselves), contribute to the ability to use the toilet (American Academy of
Pediatrics, 2009; Azrin & Foxx, 1974). These capabilities give children the physical
autonomy to use the toilet independently.
Psychological Maturity
In addition to physiological maturity, several psychological factors are involved in

toilet training. One of these variables is cognitive abilities, as children must be able
to make the association between the urge to eliminate and the act of using the toilet.
It is also necessary for the child to avoid becoming distracted so that the he or she is
able to complete the toileting process. Cognitive processes such as symbolic
thought, problem solving, and memory are also thought to be involved in toileting
skills (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009).
Emotional maturity should also be considered, as it enhances the drive for inde-
pendence as well as social readiness (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009).
Brazelton (1962) specifically emphasized the importance of impulse control and
how it is induced by social and emotional abilities. Brazelton cited social factors
such as the desire to please parents and imitate socially appropriate behavior of
adult models, as well as the emotional drive to develop autonomy, as important
influences on impulse control. Lastly, language skills are relevant to the toileting
process, as children must have the receptive language skills necessary to understand
an explanation of how to use the toilet and what steps are necessary (Azrin & Foxx,
1974). Expressive language can also facilitate this process so that children can com-
municate their need to use the toilet or express any discomfort they may be having
(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). The development of these internal psy-
chological processes is crucial to the progression of toilet training.
General Timeline of Readiness Skills
As previously discussed, certain readiness skills (e.g., understands words related to

toileting and verbal or nonverbally indicates that they have to go) emerge earlier
than others (e.g., tells before having to urinate; Schum et al., 2002). While these
skills can be broadly separated into two types of development (i.e., physiological
and psychological) and six types of skills (i.e., physiological, motor, cognitive,
emotion, social, and language), there are specific abilities within these domains that
tend to emerge around the same time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (2009)
suggests that the simultaneous achievement of certain skills represents the follow-
ing age-related developmental milestones for toddlers:
Before 12 months of age: Infants develop a general association between cause and
effect. They also begin to recognize and be positively reinforced by social atten-
tion and praise.
12–18 months: Physiological skills emerge such as the physical awareness that they
need to eliminate, as well as gross motor skills such as walking. Cognitively,
children become able to associate the sensation of needing to eliminate with the
physical act of elimination. They also begin to develop the early verbal commu-
nication skills. With regard to social and emotional development, the inclination
to imitate increases and children start to desire more independence.
18–24 months: Children begin to be able to control the sphincter muscles for short
periods of time, and their memories and goal-oriented cognition increase.
Receptive language skills as well as verbal language development also progress,
so children are better able to understand explanations and communicate expres-
sively. Emotional desire for self-mastery and social desire to please parents and
receive praise also intensify.
24–36 months: Children’s fine motor skills develop to the point where they are able
to manipulate clothing, which is necessary to independently use the toilet. Their
memories improve and they are able to better remember toileting routines.
Emotional and social development also progress, furthering their desire for com-
petence, independence, and social reinforcement. By 3 years old, many children
possess the necessary skills to be considered successfully toilet trained.
These guidelines represent a range of ages for certain developmental milestones;
however, more advanced toileting development continues into childhood. Children
over 3 develop more mature digestive systems and muscular control, which
decreases the likelihood of accidents. Attention abilities also continue to increase,
and children become less easily distracted and more likely to complete tasks
(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009).
These recommendations are consistent with the findings of several researchers.
For example, Gesell and Amatruda (1941, cited from Berk & Friman, 1990) esti-
mated that at 18 months of age children may have the ability to briefly delay urina-
tion, though not for long periods of time, and may not be able to communicate their
need to urinate until 24 months. They also posited that at 36 months of age children
can use the toilet independently. This is in accordance with the findings of MacKeith
and colleagues (1974, cited from Berk & Friman, 1990), who suggested that chil-
dren can nonverbally indicate that their diaper needs to be changed at 15 months,
verbally request changing between 18 and 24 months, and communicate their need
to urinate at 24 months. They also proposed that by 36 months of age children are
able to delay urination for long enough to reach a toilet, though completely appro-
priate toileting behavior may not be achieved until 48 months of age. Relatedly,
Brazelton (1962) found that the average age that children first successfully used the
toilet was 27.7 months and that 80.3% were fully trained by 36 months of age.
These ranges represent general ages for the acquisition of these skills, but as men-
tioned previously, there are no specific and concrete ages at which children should be
“ready” to toilet train, just as there is no definitive age at which children should
be expected to achieve successful toilet training.
Stages of Toilet Training
Once children have achieved the prerequisite readiness skills for toileting, they
begin to progress through the stages of toilet training. The term “toilet trained”
encompasses continual control over bladder and bowel movements; however, there
are several milestones in successful toileting. The general progression of these
stages is nighttime bowel control, then daytime bladder and bowel control, and
lastly nighttime bladder control (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009).
For daytime training, some children may attain bladder control earlier than bowel
control, and vice versa. A possible explanation for this discrepancy is that for some
children it is easier to urinate into the toilet than defecate; however, it is easier to
postpone bowel movements (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009). Therefore,
children sometimes begin urinating in the toilet at a younger age but achieve suc-
cessful bowel training earlier. Other children may attain both aspects of daytime
training simultaneously. For example, Brazelton (1962) found that 12.3% achieved
bowel training first, 8.2% achieve bladder training first, and 79.5% achieved both
simultaneously. This is similar with Bloom and colleagues’ (1993) estimate that the
28 months was the average age for both daytime bladder and bowel control. Further,
Largo and colleagues (1999) found that by age 3, 53% of males and 84% females
were daytime bladder trained and 54% of males and 82% of females were bowel
trained. The results across these studies indicate that bowel training and daytime
bladder training occur at roughly the same time.
There is substantial evidence that nighttime bladder control occurs significantly
later than daytime bladder control. Multiple researchers have estimated daytime
bladder training to be around 28 months (Bloom et al., 1993; Brazelton, 1962).
However, Brazelton (1962) found that the average age for nighttime training was
33.3 months. The results of a study conducted by Largo and colleagues indicated
that 53% of males and 84% of females were daytime bladder trained at 36 months
of age, but only 23% of males and 42% of females were nighttime bladder trained.
Additionally, the results of a longitudinal study on bladder control by Jansson and

colleagues (2005) found that the average age for daytime dryness was 3.5 years and
for nighttime dryness was 4 years. Although it is possible for children to attain
nighttime bladder control at the same time as daytime bladder control, most chil-
dren do not achieve nighttime bladder control until several months or more after
daytime training (Stadtler, Gorski, & Brazelton, 1999).
Several factors have been suggested to contribute to late completion of toilet
training. These include physiological factors such as constipation, as well as
psychological factors such as adaptability and temperament (Schonwald, Sherritt,
Stadtler, & Bridgemohan, 2004). One particularly common issue is stool refusal,
where the child is considered toilet trained for urination but does not defecate in the
toilet for at least 1 month. Stool refusal can lead to constipation and painful bowel
movements (Taubman, 1997). These concerns are discussed in greater detail in
other chapters but are worth noting as they may interfere with normal developmen-
tal milestones of toileting.
Age at Initiation Versus Completion
Researchers have posited contradictory opinions regarding whether the age when
children begin toilet training is related to the age at which children achieve success-
ful toilet training. Blum and colleagues (2004) found that age at initiation signifi-
cantly predicted age at completion, with parents who began training earlier reporting
success at a younger age. Specifically, children who were toilet trained before
42 months of age on average began initial training at 20.6 months and began inten-
sive training around 28 months. Those who did not achieve toilet training until after
42 months of age on average began toilet training around 22.3 moths and intensive
training around 31.9 months. These results and the findings of other researchers
suggest that earlier age of initiation may lead to earlier completion (Rugolotto, Sun,
Calò, & Tatò, 2008).
However, the results of other studies offer conflicting results that suggest that
toilet training at a young age is not associated with earlier training (Berk & Friman,
1990). For example, Largo and colleagues (1999) found that neither age at initiation
of training nor intensity of training was related to age at successful bladder or bowel
control. These researchers also investigated whether early toilet training and fre-
quent prompting facilitate the development of bowel control. Their findings indi-
cated that bladder control is not effectively improved by these methods, as there was
not a significant difference in progress at age 18 months between children that
began toilet training near the beginning of the first year of life (i.e., 1–6 months of
age) and those who began toilet training near the end of the first year (i.e.,
8–12 months of age; Largo & Stutzle, 1977).
Similarly, Matson and Ollendick (1977) found that children who began training
before 24 months of age required a longer training duration than those who
began after 24 months, despite the fact that all children passed a readiness test.
This is consistent with the findings of Foxx and Azrin (1973) that when the same
toilet training method was used, children aged 26–36 months completed toilet
training in less time than those 20–25 months old. These results indicate that older
children are able to toilet train faster than younger children (in general those under
2 years of age).
Overall, much of the literature supports the concept that a physical maturation
process leads the development of bowel and bladder control, and it is therefore
unlikely that control can be attained at a very young age by beginning training ear-
lier or using a more intensive approach (Largo et al., 1999; Largo, Molinari, von
Siebenthal, & Wolfensberger, 1996). While this does not necessarily imply that
there are no differences in age at completion based on when a child begins training,
it does offer evidence that training at a very young age (i.e., before 12 months
of age) is unlikely to yield lasting benefits in terms of earlier successful toilet
training.
Factors Related to Age of Training
Although many professionals emphasize the importance of readiness factors and a

child-centered approach, there is also research that suggests that external factors play
a significant role in toilet training. For example, Schum and colleagues (2001) found
that demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, race) were more closely related to toilet-
ing success than readiness factors (i.e., cognitive development and temperament).
Although the influence of age has already been explored, researchers have also found
noteworthy trends regarding considerations such as gender, race, and culture.
Gender, Race, and Socioeconomic Status
There are specific gender differences that have been observed in toilet training.
Specifically, researchers have found that females tend to achieve successful toilet
training earlier than males (Mota & Barros, 2008b; Oppel, Harper, & Rider, 1968;
Schum et al., 2001). Schum and colleagues (2002) found that the median age for
daytime toilet training was 32.5 months for females and 35.0 months for males.
Also, the average age at start of the study was 2 months earlier for females than
males. This is consistent with the assertion that females develop physically and
cognitively faster than males (Schum et al., 2002), but may also be related to paren-
tal expectations that girls will achieve toilet training earlier (Stehbens & Silber,
1971; Vermandel et al., 2008).
Race and socioeconomic status have been implicated as factors related to age at
initiation of toilet training. Horn and colleagues (2006) found that race and income
significantly predicted the age at which parents thought toilet training should begin.
Specifically, Caucasian race and higher income were related to later age at toilet
training. On average, African American parents believed in initiating training at

18 months of age, while Caucasian parents on average stated 25 months. This is
consistent with the results of a study by Schum and colleagues (2001), whose find-
ings indicated that African American children begin and complete toilet training at
younger ages than Caucasian children and children of other races. These findings
indicate that there may be demographic variables that are related to differences in
parental attitudes toward toilet training.
Cross-Cultural Differences
Researchers have also found cross-cultural differences in toileting practices on a

multinational scale. Some countries have similar developmental trajectories for toi-
let training as the United States. For example, a study conducted nearly 30 years ago
in Japan found that the average age for toilet training (i.e., no longer wearing dia-
pers) was 27 months and that this was 6 months later than the average age 20 years
previously (i.e., 1950s; Takahashi, 1986). Both the average age for completion of
toilet training and the fact that this age has increased in recent years are consistent
with findings in samples from the United States. Similarly, researchers in Brazil
and Sweden have found that the age at toilet training completion has increased in
recent years (Mota & Barros, 2008a), which indicates that this trend may indicate a
global shift.
Conversely, in some regions such as parts of Asia, Africa, South America, Central
America, and Europe, caregivers begin toilet training at much younger ages (Sun &
Rugolotto, 2004). Many caregivers in these regions begin some type of training with
their child prior to 12 months of age. deVries and deVries (1977) investigated toilet
training in East Africa and found that children in a Digo village began toilet training
around 2–3 weeks of age and were successfully toilet trained by 5 or 6 months of
age. This training system consists of mothers holding their infants in a position
thought to encourage elimination. For bladder training, mothers make a “shuus”
noise to facilitate an association between the noise and urination. Most children are
expected to reliably respond to this stimulus by 4–5 months of age. In regard to
bowel movements, mothers hold their infants in a position facing them and using
their feet as a “toilet.” No verbal stimulus is used, as the position is thought to serve
as the stimulus. deVries and deVries posit that this training differs from that under-
taken in the Unites States in that the infant is an active participant and the training
is less strict and more child-centered (deVries & deVries, 1977). The findings of
these studies suggest that cultural influences impact toilet training practices both in
terms of age at initiation and the type of training used.
Similar practices were reported from a study conducted in Vietnam, which indi-
cated that 100% of mothers who participated were potty training their children at
12 months of age and 82% had already begun toilet training by 3 months (Duong,
Jansson, Holmdahl, Sillén, & Hellstrom, 2010). Relatedly, a comparison of children
in Sweden and children in Vietnam indicated that 98% of Vietnamese children who
participated had completed toilet training by 24 months, while only 5% of Swedish

children had begun toilet training at that age (Duong, Jansson, Holmdahl, Sillén, &
Hellström, 2013). However, the training methods and the definitions of toilet train-
ing are often much different than those previously described in this chapter, as the
training primarily involves caregiver response to the infants cues that he or she is
about to eliminate. Therefore, successful training is more often defined as no longer
wearing diapers than as independent use of a toilet.
Birth Order
While less extensively researched than other factors, there is some evidence that
birth order may play a role in age at training completion. For instance, Brazelton
(1962) suggested that first children tended to achieve daytime training around
1–2 months later and nighttime training 1–7 months later than their younger sib-
lings. Other researchers, such as Taubman and colleagues (1997), found that the
presence of siblings was not associated with age at toilet training, but was associ-
ated with stool toileting refusal, which was more common in children with younger
siblings. Although the impact of birth order is not well established, future research
on this topic may help to clarify whether parental expectations and practices are
influenced by the presence of siblings.
“Diaperless Babies” and Elimination Communication
The Theory
The preceding sections outline the prerequisite skills to toilet training, many of
which are not attained until well after infancy; however, there is a great deal of pub-
licity in the media regarding parents who advocate for beginning toilet training at
much younger ages. There have been multiple books and articles published recently
describing the trend of raising infants without using diapers (Boucke, 2003; Bruno,
2012; Gross-Loh, 2007; Hartocollis, 2013; Kelley, 2005). This method is often
referred to as “elimination communication,” and parents who subscribe to this tech-
nique begin toilet training as early as a few weeks after birth.
The concept behind elimination communication is that infants are aware of their
elimination urges and it is possible for parents to recognize their infant’s cues
(Bauer, 2006; Kelley, 2005). Parents work to identify physical or verbal signals that
their child is about to eliminate. They then take steps to prepare the child for elimi-
nation, such as holding them over the toilet or placing a bowel or other receptacle
under the child. Once parents have identified their child’s cues, they pair these with
their own verbal prompts (e.g., “sss,” “grunting”) in an effort to get the child to
associate the parent’s cue with elimination. They then use these cues to prompt their
child to use the toilet at appropriate times (i.e., while being held over the toilet;
Gross-Loh, 2007; Hartocollis, 2013). Parents of one child even claimed that the
6-month old infant toilet trained herself, as she said reportedly “boo boo” to indicate
that she needed to use the toilet and refused to eliminate until her parents put her on
the toilet (Sheldrick, 2012).
The proposed advantages of this technique for families include financial (e.g.,
reduced need to buy diapers), environmental (less waste), and social (a closer rela-
tionship between infant and parent; Kelley, 2005) benefits. The suggested benefits
for the child include earlier understanding of toileting habits and a potentially easier
transition to independent toileting (Sun & Rugolotto, 2004). However, as previously
discussed, there is evidence that earlier training may not necessarily be related to
earlier toileting completion. Nevertheless, this ideology has encouraged the trend of
“diaper-free” infants.
Advocates for the elimination communication method also cite practices in
countries other than the United States. Parents state that comparable techniques are
customary in parts of Africa, South America, and Asia (Gross-Loh, 2007), and the
method is similar to the one described earlier that is in practice in East Africa
(deVries & deVries, 1977). Although limited, some researchers have investigated
the results of elimination communication. Sun and Rugolotto (2004) found that a
child being raised in a Western family setting attained bowel movement control at
approximately 5 months of age. However, it should be noted that this was with the
assistance of his mother, who had learned to recognize and differentiate his cues for
defecation from those for hunger or fatigue. The authors reported that the child was
not able to clearly communicate his defecation need or to stay dry during the day
until 2 years of age. This case study stressed the role of the mother and her ability
to pick up on and respond to the infants’ elimination cues, rather than the infant’s
independent ability to communicate his needs.
In a similar study, Rugolotto and colleagues (2008) found that children whose
parents began toilet training when the children was under 6 months old completed
toilet training at a younger age. Ninety percent of respondents in this study reported
that their child displayed elimination signals, and all participants began toilet train-
ing prior to 12 months of age. However, many of the participants from this study
were obtained through an infant potty training mailing list, and therefore, the sam-
ple may be overly representative of parents who subscribe to early toilet training
methods. Also, daytime dryness was defined as the child urinating in a receptacle
either independently or with assistance. This suggests that some of the participants
were not able to independently use the toilet, which is inconsistent with other defini-
tions of successful toilet training.
While many parents endorse this method and assert that it enhances their bond
with their child, many experts in the field are skeptical. In a 2005 New York Times
article, the main proponents of the method were parents, whereas researchers ques-
tioned its feasibility in terms of parent availability as well as its overall effectiveness
(Kelley, 2005). Other researchers have also expressed the concern that the procedures
for these types of trainings may not be practical for most mothers due to the large
investment of time and effort (Smeets et al., 1985). Relatedly, the general literature
on the topic consists of parenting blogs and books published by parents who advo-
cate for the method. There is little published research on elimination communica-
tion and toilet training in infants, as well as a lack of endorsement from professionals
in medical fields. This indicates that the majority of the information on this tech-
nique is based off of anecdotal evidence rather than empirical research.
There are also physical concerns with this method. Some experts caution parents
against toilet training at too young an age. One potentially negative aspect is the fact
that it may be physiologically healthier for infants to engage in unconstrained elimi-
nation, as training children to attempt to control their bladder and bowel movements
can result in chronic holding (Hodges, 2012). Chronic holding is related to a variety
of toileting issues, such as constipation and urinary tract infections (Issenman,
Filmer, & Gorski, 1999).
The reports of success of this method also warrant discussion of the definition of
“toilet training.” In regard to this type of training, Berk and Friman (1990) raised the
question of whether training is considered complete when “caregivers can anticipate
and respond to children’s need to eliminate” or whether it is complete when children
can respond when a parent asks them if they need to use the toilet. Relatedly, Smeets
and colleagues (1985) found that a similar program was successful in teaching infants
under 12 months of age to indicate when they had to eliminate; however, the research-
ers stated that the skill that was successfully trained did not meet the criteria used by
most child care professionals. Based on the criteria commonly used by researchers,
“toilet trained” typically constitutes some level of ability to independently communi-
cate the need to eliminate or use the toilet without help (Mota & Barros, 2008a). Berk
and Friman (1990) emphasized the importance of the clinician’s role in helping
parents to distinguish between “independent performance” and “interactional per
formance.” The elimination communication method represents an interactional
performance because parents are taught to identify their child’s signals and help the
child to associate their signals to toileting behaviors. However, they cautioned against
encouraging parents to expect independent performance from their infants. By most
researchers and clinicians’ definitions, the results of the elimination communication
method typically do not represent true control over the bladder or bowel, but rather the
caregiver’s ability to successfully get their child to a toilet or receptacle in time.
Although it is likely that infants display certain cues when there is an impending
bladder or bowl movement and quite possible that parents can learn to pick up on
and respond to these cues, overall the extant literature does not support the idea that
infants under 12 months can be trained to control their urination or bowel move-
ments. Parents who are interested in exploring this method should be informed that
these techniques more accurately represent parent training than child training. This
practice therefore reflects the parents’ ability to recognize and respond to when their
child is going to urinate or have a bowel movement and does not necessarily repre-
sent the child’s own ability to recognize his or her bodily cues and respond appro-
priately. Even if infants do learn to associate their physical need to eliminate, there
are more complex developmental abilities, such as motor skills and cognitive under-
standing of directions, that are necessary for true toilet training.
Conclusion
Toilet training is a process that requires physiological, behavioral, and emotional

development on the part of the child, as well as sufficient support provided by par-
ents or caregivers. Overall, the extant literature supports the practice of beginning
toilet training around 24 months of age and predicts that many children become
successfully toilet trained by 36 months and almost all by 48 months. Researchers
also suggest that beginning toilet training at a very young age (i.e., before 12 months)
usually does not significantly influence the age at completion (Largo et al., 1999) or
the amount of time needed to successfully toilet train the child (Foxx & Azrin, 1973;
Matson & Ollendick, 1977). There is no exact time to begin toilet training or spe-
cific age at which children should be expected to be toilet trained, as individual
differences also play a role in acquisition of skills.
According to parent-report questionnaires, many parents do not discuss concerns
they have about toilet training with professionals and are more likely to confer with
relatives or friends (Stephens & Silber, 1974). Therefore, it is recommended that
clinicians consult with parents regarding any questions they may have about toilet
training, as healthcare professionals can provide parents with evidence-based rec-
ommendations (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2009; Stadtler et al., 1999).
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Theories of Toileting
Xinrui Jiang and Johnny L. Matson
Introduction
The acquisition of independent toileting is a critical developmental milestone and is

an event that every parent faces when raising a child. The failure in achieving or
maintaining control of eliminative functions can be distressing to both the child and
the parents. In addition to the physical discomfort and reduced personal hygiene,
children may also experience limitations in participation in activities, loss of sense
of self-control, and reduced self-confidence (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; McCartney &
Holden, 1981). The concern of the parents can lead to a heightened level of stress
(Macias, Roberts, Saylor, & Fussell, 2006; Plant & Sanders, 2007) and conflicts
may arise between family members regarding appropriate treatment of the child.
Independent toileting is not only dependent on learning the set of complex skills
related to this process (e.g., postponement of voiding, undressing, and redressing)
but also on the maturation of the individual attempting to master these skills. While
the former component bears similar meanings to different individuals, the latter
component is subject to change across time (Berk & Friman, 1990; Kaerts, 2013;
van Nunen, Kaerts, Wyndaele, Vermandel, & Hal, 2015) and cultures (Abramovitch
& Abramovitch, 1989; Hindley, Filliozat, Klackenberg, Nicolet-Meister, & Sand,
1965; Schulze, 2000; Schulze, Harwood, Schoelmerich, & Leyendecker, 2002).
X. Jiang (*) • J.L. Matson

e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

64 X. Jiang and J.L. Matson
Enuresis and Encopresis
There are two common forms of elimination disorders, namely, enuresis and encop-
resis. The word enuresis derives from the Greek word “enourein” which means “to
void urine.” As defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
Fifth Edition (DSM-5), it involves “repeated voiding of urine into inappropriate
places” in children at or above the age of 5. It can occur during the day or at night
and can be divided into two types, primary enuresis and secondary enuresis. While
primary enuresis is applied to individuals who have never established urinary conti-
nence, secondary enuresis is used to describe the development of disturbance after
a period of continence (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013).
Encopresis was initially coined by Weissenberg in 1926, referring to soiling in
inappropriate situations (Feeney, 2005). In DSM-5, it is defined as “repeated pas-
sage of feces into inappropriate places” with or without accompanying constipation
in children that are at least 4 years old (APA, 2013). Similar to enuresis, encopresis
can also take the primary or secondary form.
While the above definitions are sufficient for the purpose of this chapter, when
closer examinations of different elimination disorders are required, one should refer
to the taxonomy proposed by the International Children’s Incontinence Society
(ICCS) for enuresis and urinary incontinence (Austin et al., 2014; Nevéus et al.,
2006) and the ROME-III categorizations for functional gastrointestinal disorders
including constipation (with and without fecal incontinence) and fecal incontinence
without constipation (Rasquin et al., 2006). These criteria have proven to be more
reflective of existing research data and provide more precise categorizations for
research and clinical purposes (Alpaslan, Koçak, Avci & Güzel, 2016; Equit, Klein,
Braun-Bither, Gräber, & von Gontard, 2013; von Gontard, 2013).
To account for the etiology of incontinence, several theories have been proposed
and these can be divided into three main categories: behavioral theories, physiologi-
cal and biochemical explanations, and also propositions regarding the effects of
psychological disturbance. Behavioral theories are based on the principles of learn-
ing and conditioning and regard incontinence as the result of a failure to learn.
Treatments based on behavioral theories using classical and operant conditioning
have been widely adopted and consistently demonstrated their effectiveness
(Chopra, 1973; Hundziak, Maurer, & Watson, 1965; LeBlanc, Carr, Crossett,
Bennett, & Detweiler, 2005; Luxem & Christophersen, 1994; Waye & Melnyr,
1973). Sometimes the learning process can be hindered by organic problems (e.g.,
central nervous system lesions, structural problems of the urinary system). In the
presence of these problems, researchers should also take a physiological and bio-
chemical perspective, as assessments and treatments for the interfering physiologi-
cal or medical conditions should be considered and carried out. In addition to
organic problems, psychological disturbances can also interfere with one’s learning
of toileting skills. In fact, the most widely held etiological theory regarding toileting
used to be that of emotional disturbance (Walker, Kenning, & Faust-Capanille,
1989). In more recent studies, however, researchers have been putting more
Theories of Toileting 65
e mphasis on the first two categories. Some also alluded to a combination of these
theoretical models may better account for some instances of toileting related
conditions.
Behavioral/Learning Theories
To successfully master independent toileting, children must acquire cognitive

control over the reflexes involved in this process, including the postponement of
voiding and the control over sphincter relaxation and bladder contraction (Berk &
Friman, 1990). To gain cognitive control, a wide range of prerequisite skills must be
developed or learned in gradual stages (Azrin & Foxx, 1989; Brazelton, 1962).
While most individuals are expected to achieve physical (e.g., voluntary control of
sphincter muscles) and psychological (e.g., desire to control impulses to defecate
and urinate) readiness within a certain period of time, learning theories postulate
that individual differences are present. Specifically, some individuals might
have more difficulties than others in learning these skills, in the same way that some
people may experience difficulties learning how to swim or how to ride a bike
(Mash & Barkley, 2006).
Based on the principles of learning and conditioning, behavioral toileting pro-
grams have been developed and were demonstrated to be effective within various
populations, including adults with intellectual disabilities (Azrin, Sneed, & Foxx,
1973) and Alzheimer’s disease (Lancioni et al., 2011), children with autism (Cicero
& Pfadt, 2002; Eikeseth, Smith, Jahr, & Eldevik, 2002), intellectual disabilities
(Edgar, Kohler, & Hardman, 1975), and constipation (Wassom & Christophersen,
2014). The core components of behavioral theories are classical conditioning and
operant conditioning. This section will introduce each of these core components and
relevant constructs.
Classical Conditioning
Classical conditioning occurs through the pairing of a conditioned stimulus (CS;

usually a neutral stimulus that does not yet readily produce a certain response) and
an unconditioned stimulus (US; usually a stimulus that already produces a reliable
response/unconditioned response [UR]). After this pairing is established through
repetition, the presence of the CS will serve as a predictor of the US and subse-
quently elicits the conditioned response (CR), which is the same as or similar to the
UR (Clark, 2004). The term “conditioned” is used to indicate that this response is
“learned” and “unconditioned” indicates the behavior is innate and “not learned”
(Clark, 2004).
Ivan Pavlov The most widely known development of classical conditioning

stemmed from the work of Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist in the 1880s. At that
time, Pavlov and his colleagues’ work focused on digestion, including the investiga-
tions of the gastric and salivary functions in dogs. The subjects (dogs) were con-
strained and fed, their production of saliva and gastric juices were collected and
measured by special devices. Salivation and the production of gastric fluids were
thought to be the innate reflex response to the tasting of foods, however, Pavlov
observed that the presence of the experimenter, the sound of experiment equipment,
or another neutral stimulus that was repeatedly paired with food, was enough to
make the dogs salivate even without the presence of food; this phenomenon was
reported as “psychic secretion.” Pavlov and colleagues concluded that salivation, a
reflexive response, can be produced as the result of two types of stimuli: those that
produce salivation without previous training (i.e., food or US), and those which
were learned to predict the presence of food (e.g., experimenter, or CS; Fontaine,
2008; Kimble, 1967).
Edwin Twitmyer At around the same time, although having received little attention,
another researcher in the United States, Edwin Twitmyer, also made the discovery
of classical conditioning in his study of “knee-jerk” reflex in human. In his doctoral
dissertation, Twitmyer proposed studying the variability of the patellar tendon reflex
with two forms of augmentations, namely, the ringing of a bell right before and
squeezing of the hands at the tapping of a hammer on the patellar tendon. In
one incidence the hammer failed to fall after the ringing of the bell, despite this, the
participant was still observed to kick both legs, in Twitmyer’s words, “without the
usual blow of the hammers on the tendons.” He then followed up with this observa-
tion by repeating this “accident” and found that the same response could be elicited
in all participants, specifically, the knee jerk was produced by a stimulus (i.e., bell
or CS) other than the usual one (i.e., tapping of the tendon or US; Fernberger, 1943;
Twitmyer, 1905).
With the repetition of pairing of the CS and the US, the former gains control of
the CR, leading to acquisition. This pairing process is influenced by contiguity and
contingency – the temporal relationship between CS and US, and the frequency of
their pairing. If US is taken out of the process, the repetition of CS in the absence
of US will lead to the extinction of CR. While so far we have discussed the effect of
CS to be signaling the presence of US/excitation, a CS can also function as an indi-
cator of the omission of the US/inhibition (Davis & Buskist, 2008; Pierce & Cheney,
2004). Based on classical conditioning, in 1938 at Yale University, Mowrer and
Mowrer developed the first conditioning device, an apparatus composed of an iron-
sensitive pad and a bell that activates an alarm when the pad detects the presence of
urine. This bell-and-pad system was designed to wake the individual who must
manually turn off the alarm, go to the bathroom to complete voiding, change the
sheet, and then reset the alarm (Mowrer & Mowrer, 1938). They regarded enuresis
as a simple faultily trained habit and suggested that through pairing the propriocep-
tive stimuli from the bladder with the alarm, the individual will gradually learn to
wake up when experiencing sensory input from the bladder. The following sections
will briefly discuss the above-mentioned constructs in relation to the bell-and-pad
method.
Acquisition Often, toilet training using classical conditioning is aimed at training
the individual to acquire the connection between the feeling of fullness in the blad-
der (CS) and the action of waking up (CR) through the repeated paring of the CS
with a US (e.g., alarm noise) that naturally leads to the target UR (e.g., wakeful-
ness). Once the connection between CS and CR is established, acquisition is said to
have taken place (Davis & Buskist, 2008; Pierce & Cheney, 2004).
Contiguity The temporal contiguity of the CS and US can affect the effectiveness of
the acquisition process. In the case of the bell-and-pad method, the US (alarm) takes
place shortly after the CS (the feeling of fullness of the bladder). As you can imagine,
if there is to be a long delay between CS and US, the acquisition might need a longer
time or more effort to be achieved (Davis & Buskist, 2008; Pierce & Cheney, 2004).
Contingency In addition to contiguity, another factor also plays a role in the estab-
lishment of connection between CS and US, namely, contingency. It refers to the
correlation between CS and US, or the frequency that the two occur together versus
apart (Davis & Buskist, 2008; Pierce & Cheney, 2004). Even if the US (alarm)
occurs shortly after the CS (fullness of the bladder), if they are not consistently
paired together, one may still experience difficulties acquiring their connection.
Extinction With appropriate contiguity and contingency, CS’s acquisition of con-
trol over the CR can be completed effectively. However, if the contingency is broken
where the CS (fullness of the bladder) is no longer paired with US (alarm), their
connection can be lost and so is the control of the CS (fullness of the bladder) over
CR (waking up), this phenomenon is called extinction (Davis & Buskist, 2008;
Pierce & Cheney, 2004).
Excitation and inhibition In the case of bell-and-pad, the presentation of the CS
signifies the occurrence of the US, this relationship is referred to as excitation, pre-
sentation of the CS “excites” the production of the CR. In other cases, the opposite
may apply, where the presentation of the CS “inhibits” the production of the CR,
and this is known as inhibition (Davis & Buskist, 2008; Pierce & Cheney, 2004).
The initial study of the treatment effect of Mowrer and Mowrer’s bell-and-pad
system reported that all participants achieved “elimination of enuresis.” This suc-
cess sparked numbers of subsequent studies evaluating the effectiveness of this
urine alarm system. Although lower than the initial rate of 100%, these studies dem-
onstrated impressive rates of success in the elimination of bedwetting, ranging from
70% to 90% (Brown, Pope, & Brown, 2011; Doleys, 1977; Friman & Jones, 2005;
Ikeda, Koga, & Minami, 2006; Lovibond, 1964). Despite the high success rates,
treatments utilizing the bell-and-pad system were reported to have a high relapse
(Azrin & Thienes, 1978; Brown et al., 2011; Doleys, 1977; Friman & Jones, 2005)
and dropout rate (Azrin & Thienes, 1978; Brown et al., 2011). The high relapse rate
may not need to be considered a major drawback as the reinstatement of treatment
usually reduced or eliminated the problem (Azrin & Thienes, 1978; Brown et al.,
2011; Doleys, 1977; Friman & Jones, 2005). Having said this, the additional train-
ing and monitoring do add to the overall effort and time required to achieve success,
which may be one of the reasons leading to the high dropout rate. Other reasons that
families may prematurely terminate the treatments include the initial long period of
time needed to achieve elimination (from weeks to months), the parents’ annoyance
at being awakened by the alarm (Azrin & Thienes, 1978), frequent breakdowns of
the apparatus (Walker et al., 1989), and the efforts parents may need to put in mak-
ing sure the children are following the protocols consistently.
While the bell-and-pad urinary alarm system was initially conceptualized to a
paradigm of classical conditioning, where the tension of the bladder is associated
with the awakening alarm, later studies pointed out that this may not be the only
factor taking place here, as most children treated with this method learn to sleep
throughout the night instead of waking up to go to the bathroom. Some have sug-
gested that operant conditioning also may be a potential underlying mechanism of
this learning process. Children learn to retain urine or wake up as avoidance of the
aversive alarm or due to the positive reinforcement of dry nights (Ikeda et al., 2006;
Walker et al., 1989). We will next discuss the theory of operant conditioning.
Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement
Before the 1940s, classical conditioning was often referred to as the “conditioned
reflex,” or “conditioning” (Walker et al., 1989). By the 1930s, researchers began to
understand the difference between the learning processes based on conditioned
reflexes and those contingent on reinforcements, and the latter came to be known as
operant or instrumental conditioning (Clark, 2004; Konorski, 1948; Marquis &
Porter, 1939; Skinner, 1937). While the learning process in classical conditioning is
achieved through the pairing of a US and a CS, in operant conditioning, one’s learn-
ing is mediated by the relationship between a behavioral response and the conse-
quence. Specifically, the frequency or possibility of the behavior is modified by its
consequence (Murphy & Lupfer, 2014).
Edward L. Thorndike Operant conditioning was first extensively studied by Edward
L. Thorndike through his observations of the behaviors of cats attempting to escape
puzzle boxes. To escape from a puzzle box, a cat must complete one or a set of spe-
cific responses (e.g., pulling a cord). With the repetition of trials, Thorndike observed
that the time needed by the cats to perform the target action(s) is reduced, the cats
“learned” to escape from the puzzle boxes with increased speed. He then general-
ized his findings into the Law of Effect, which states that responses that produced
satisfactory consequences will be more likely to be produced and those that lead to
discomforting results will be less likely to occur again (Davis & Buskist, 2008;
Thorndike, 1965).
B. F. Skinner Burrhus Frederick Skinner (often known as B. F. Skinner) is often
considered the father of operant conditioning. He studied observable behaviors in
highly controlled laboratory conditions and created several experiment apparatuses
including the operant chambers, in which subjects (animals) can be exposed to care-
fully designed and controlled stimuli, allowing the observation and recording of
specific target behaviors (e.g., rats pressing a lever, pigeons pecking a disk). His
findings of what we now know as operant conditioning was first articulated in his
book, The Behavior of Organisms, published in 1938. Skinner reported that b ehavior
can be modified through its consequences and that different schedules of conse-
quences also produce different effects on the behavior (Davis & Buskist, 2008;
Skinner, 1990).
Based on the effect a consequence has on the frequency of the behavior, it can be
divided in to reinforcement and punishment. In addition to the choice of specific
reinforcement or punishment, different techniques can be applied when designing
the sequence and scheduling of the display of the chosen behavioral modification
methods. They include chaining of events in a certain order, the use of prompting
and shaping to guide an individual towards a target behavior, and the establishment
of independence through fading of assistance. These terms are further explained
below.
Reinforcement and punishment A consequence that increases the frequency of a
behavior is considered a reinforcement and one that decreases the frequency of a
behavior is a punishment (Murphy & Lupfer, 2014). The core element of toileting
treatments based on operant conditioning is the systematic reinforcement of appro-
priate toileting behaviors. In correspondence with the cultural and political zeit-
geist, positive reinforcements constitute the main choice of behavioral protocols
compared to punishment.
Chaining The end goal of toilet training is for the individual to master the entire
chain of behaviors associated with going to the toilet: from indicating the need to
use the bathroom, to going to the bathroom, to voiding in the toilet, and to washing
one’s hands. Through the systematic presentation of response cues and contingent
reinforcements, behavioral protocols based on operant conditioning may assist indi-
viduals in learning the components of or the complete behavioral chain of toileting.
In the context of toileting, forward chaining is often utilized where the first step of
the task (e.g., going to the toilet) is taught at the beginning, and as the individual
acquires new skills, additional segments further down the behavior chain are added
until the last step of the task (e.g., washing one’s hands) and the complete behav-
ioral sequence is presented (Drysdale, Lee, Anderson, & Moore, 2015; Shrestha,
Anderson, & Moore, 2013). The sequence of the behavior chain can also be reversed,
that the last step of the task is taught first while the initial step is taught last, and this
is referred to as backward chaining.
Prompting In addition to reinforcement, prompting is also needed at the beginning

to guide the individual along the behavioral chain. Common methods used include
visual, verbal, and physical prompting (Hyams, McCoull, Smith, & Tyrer, 2008). A
visual schedule with each step drawn out for the child is an example of a visual
prompt. Verbal prompts are also frequently used to provide verbal guidance, for
example, “wash your hands;” and the corresponding physical prompt maybe hold-
ing the child’s hands over the sink.
Fading To attain the goal of independence so that the child can perform the task
without external assistance, the technique of fading is often utilized by gradually
removing the prompts until the need for them fade away (Hyams et al., 2008).
Fading can take place in two ways with regard to the quantity and quality of the
prompts used. Specifically, one can choose to remove prompts by individually omit-
ting each prompt (e.g., removing the physical guidance of holding the child’s hands
over the sink) or fading the prompt into a less intrusive form (e.g., fading from hold-
ing the child’s hands to pushing the hands towards the sink).
Shaping Individuals may not be able to perform a target action initially either due
to the task being aversive or too complex for the person. For example, some children
may dislike sitting on the cold toilet seat or some may not know how to pull up their
pants and redress appropriately. In situations like this, the components of the behav-
ioral chain need to be broken down further into successive approximations of the
target behavior which are reinforced, gradually guiding an individual towards the
end behavior. This process is referred to as shaping (Fernald & Fernald, 1999;
Skinner, 1953).
Compared to the bell-and-pad method, treatments based on operant conditioning
are more individualized, with greater variations produced by differences in any of
the constructs described above. Through the systematic reinforcement of appropri-
ate toileting behaviors, treatments based on operant conditioning were shown to be
more effective, require shorter training time (from hours to days), and have a lower
relapse and dropout rate (Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Azrin et al., 1973; Stover, Dunlap, &
Neff, 2008; van Londen, van Londen-Barentsen, van Son, & Mulder, 1995). Since
the work of Pavlov, Twitmyer, Thorndike, and Skinner, the studies of behavior have
extended from animal behaviors to arrays of complex human behaviors. This branch
of scientific study of behavior, known as experimental analysis of behavior, is con-
cerned with the controlling and changing of behaviors and related factors. One
major application and contribution of the knowledge gained from experimental
analysis of behavior is the development of applied behavioral analysis (ABA), one
of the liveliest fields of applied psychology today. It involves both the application of
behavioral principles, including classical conditioning and operant conditioning,
into the improvement of socially significant behaviors, and the development of
effective behavioral interventions (Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968; Davis & Buskist,
2008; Pierce & Cheney, 2004).
Physiological and Biochemical Explanations
While behavioral principles are able to address the observable components of toilet
training, successful independent toileting also involves the mastery of a series of
processes that behavioral approaches may not be suitable or capable to explain.
Specifically, these processes are the functioning of the physical structures
(e.g., sphincter and bladder muscles), neural systems (e.g., central nervous system,
CNS; peripheral neural system, PNS), and the regulatory endocrine system
(Madersbacher, 1990; Stanhewicz & Larry Kenney, 2015). Abnormalities in these
processes may hinder or even prohibit one’s learning of independent toileting skills.
Understanding the physiology and biochemical mechanisms of urination and
defecation is essential to select appropriate pharmacological, surgical, and other
interventions to remediate related problems and assist one’s learning of independent
toileting. Our discussion will be divided into two components: (1) the physiological
perspective involving the physical structures and the neural systems; and, (2) the
biochemical perspective revolving around the neuroendocrine system.
Physiological Perspective
Normal bladder functioning involves coordination of the relaxation and contraction

of the detrusor and sphincter (i.e., relaxation of the detrusor and contraction of the
sphincter during the urine storage phase; detrusor contraction and sphincter relax-
ation during voiding). These processes are dependent on the CNS and PNS which
govern the control and reflexes of related muscles in correspondence with the sen-
sory input and feedback (Dorsher & McIntosh, 2012). Similarly, normal bowel per-
formance relies on functioning bowel and sphincter structures, the innervations of
these structures, and the central and peripheral nervous systems. Mechanisms
involved include delivery of contents to the rectum, regulation of rectal capacity and
compliance, reception and communication of anorectal sensation, and control of
pelvic floor and anal sphincter functioning (Jorge & Wexner, 1993). Structural
insufficiencies, impairments to the innervations, as well as deficits in the above-
mentioned nervous systems can lead to toileting difficulties. Infections, medical
conditions, and certain injuries or surgical procedures are common causes of these
disturbances.
In some cases, urinary or fecal incontinence is the consequence of deficits,
damage, or surgical trauma to the pelvis. Some of the examples are congenital
malformations including anorectal malformation [ARM], Hirschsprung’s disease
[HD], sacral and presacral abnormalities, and kidney and urinary tract anomalies
(Hanneman et al., 2001; Moore, Jackson, Boyko, Scholes, & Fihn, 2008; Wallner
et al., 2008). ARM is also known as imperforate anus; it is a wide spectrum of defi-
cits involving the fetal development of the anus and the rectum with varying degrees
of anomalies (e.g., rectourethral fistula/ an abnormal hole between the urethra and
the rectum, anal stenosis/ narrowing of the anal canal; Holschneider et al., 2005;
Peña, 1995). HD is a genetic disorder resulting from missing nerve cells in the large
intestine muscles leading to partial to complete obstruction of the passing of stool
(Lukac et al., 2016; Romeo et al., 1994). Toileting processes may also be compli-
cated by sacral and presacral abnormalities, including sacral agenesis and abnormal
mass in the presacral area. While the former refers to a congenital condition charac-
terized by partial or full absence of the vertebral column and spinal cord, the latter
may be congenital or developmental (Cho et al., 2016; Kocaoglu & Frush, 2006;
Sharma, 2015). Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT)
represents around 20–30% of prenatal malformations, including a broad range of
disorders affecting the kidney(s) and/or lower urinary tract (dos Santos Junior, de
Miranda, & Simões e Silva, 2014; Nakai, Asanuma, Shishido, Kitahara, & Yasuda,
2003). In addition to the above-mentioned and other congenital conditions, urinary
and fecal incontinence may also be a consequence of physical damage such as pel-
vic fracture, or a complication of surgical procedures including radical prostatec-
tomy and vaginal prolapse repair (Bartley, Sirls, Killinger, & Boura, 2015; Galiano
et al., 2016; Welk et al., 2015). Among these, the more relevant to children is pelvic
fracture, which can lead to urethral and/or bladder injuries with incontinence as a
common complication (Brandes & Borrelli, 2001; Gomez et al., 2004; Koraitim,
Marzouk, Atta, & Orabi, 1996).
Neurological impairments in other relevant structures may also negatively
impact one’s urinary and fecal functioning. Neurogenic bladder (NB) refers to
bladder dysfunctions caused by congenital neurological deficits (e.g., spina bifida)
and diseases or lesions of the central and/or peripheral nervous systems (e.g.,
stroke, diabetic autonomic neuropathy; Dorsher & McIntosh, 2012; Kay et al.,
2013). Symptoms may include urinary incontinence, increased frequency and
urgency, and overflow or retention of urine. Other commonly reported conditions
that are related to NB include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s
disease, spinal cord injury, nerve damage caused by surgery, and traumatic brain
injury, with 15–90% individuals affected exhibiting NB symptoms (Araki,
Kitahara, Oida, & Kuno, 2000; Clayton, Brock, & Joseph, 2010; de Seze et al.,
2007; Dorsher & McIntosh, 2012; Duby, Campbell, Setter, & Rasmussen, 2004;
Gelber, Good, Laven, & Verhulst, 1993; Havenga, Maas, DeRuiter, Welvaart, &
Trimbos, 2000; Masel, 2004; Murphy, Boutin, & Ide, 2012). Many with NB report
experiencing negative impact on self-esteem, body image, mental health, inde
pendence, and participation in work, home, school, and leisure activities (Fischer,
Church, Lyons, & McPherson, 2015). In addition to these impairments and
limitations, NB may lead to secondary symptoms affecting the health of the indi-
vidual, such as renal damage, urinary tract infections, stones in the urinary tract,
and hydronephrosis (Dorsher & McIntosh, 2012; Murphy et al., 2012; Rabadi &
Aston, 2014; Stephany et al., 2014; Stover, Lloyd, Waites, & Jackson, 1991).
Disturbance of the nervous system also often leads to fecal incontinence and con-
stipation, also referred to as neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD; Faaborg et al.,
2009; Krogh, Christensen, Sabroe, & Laurberg, 2006). Many of the conditions that
are related to NB such as stroke, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, and
spinal cord injury, are also shown to be frequently accompanied by NBD
(Gor, Katorski, & Elliott, 2016; Hinds, Eidelman, & Wald, 1990; Krogh &
Christensen, 2009; Krogh, Ostergaard, Sabroe, & Laurberg, 2007; Lie et al., 2008).
Similar to NB, NBD also results in limitations of participation in everyday activities
and reduced quality of life (QOL) in many affected individuals (Faaborg et al., 2009;
Krogh et al., 2006).
While the above conditionals often require invasive interventions like surgical
procedures, noninvasive treatments have also been developed for those without such
medical disturbances. One example is retention control training (RTC), which was
proposed as a potential treatment for nocturnal enuresis through increasing bladder
capacity by urine retention training. This is based on the findings that some children
with nocturnal enuresis have relatively smaller bladder capacity, and the hypothesis
that through the training in retaining urine these children will be able to increase
their bladder capacity, thus enabling them to sleep through the night without the
need to urinate. While it has been shown to be effective in eliminating incontinence
in some individuals, its effects were very marginal in most cases despite the
increased bladder capacity (De Wachter, Vermandel, De Moerloose, & Wyndaele,
2002; Florin & Tunner, 1970; Hamano, Yamanishi, Igarashi, Ito, & Murakami,
2000). This is not to say, however, that RTC lacks clinical value. As pointed out by
de Wachter et al. (2002), RTC has the advantage of being noninvasive and risk-free,
and that it can be used as first-line treatment for children with smaller bladder
capacity; those who do not achieve satisfactory results from RTC can then move
onto other treatment methods like a urinary alarm.
Pharmacological methods have also been developed targeting the dysfunctions
of the bladder and sphincter muscles. Anticholinergic medications (e.g., oxybu-
tynin) block the binding of acetylcholine to its receptors inhibiting parasympathetic
activities, thus reducing bladder contractions and relaxing the smooth muscle lead-
ing to increased bladder capacity (Radvanska, Kovács, & Rittig, 2006; Thompson &
Lauvetz, 1976). Often referred to as Botox, OnabotulinumtoxinA, a nerve toxin,
also produces relaxation of the detrusor smooth muscle through blocking nerve
activities; additionally, it also leads to reduction of feeling of fullness or urgency
(Apostolidis, Dasgupta, & Fowler, 2006). Similarly, Mirabegron was also found to
cause relaxation of the smooth muscle and contributing to increased bladder storage
capacity (Radomski, 2014). Tofranil (imipramine) is one of the primary medica-
tions used for nocturnal enuresis, although its mechanism is still not clear, it is sug-
gested to ameliorate enuresis symptoms by producing an anticholinergic effect and
increasing one’s wakefulness (Butler, 2001). Another less studied medication is
duloxetine, a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; it was found
to be effective in increasing urethral sphincter activity thus improving continence
(Norton, Zinner, Yalcin, & Bump, 2002). While varying amount of evidence has
accumulated on different medications, these pharmacological approaches have all
been able to demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of enuresis (Andersson &
Schröder, 2004; Berkenwald, Pires, & Ellsworth, 2016; Bulchandani & Thomson,
2015; Chung, Cheng, & Tse, 2016; Hoebeke et al., 2009; Landman, Van capelle,
Kollen, & Steffens, 2009; Poussaint & Ditman, 1965; Radomski, 2014; Tomasi,
Siracusano, Monni, Mela, & Delitala, 2001).
Biochemical Perspective
Toileting involves both the production and voiding of urine and feces, disturbances
in either process can both lead to toileting difficulties. Our discussion so far has
mainly focused on the former, in this section we will focus on the system that is
centered around the production process, namely, the neuroendocrine system.
The endocrine system is composed of organs and tissues that function to main-
tain a stable internal environment by producing and excreting regulatory chemicals
called hormones. Under its control are several functions essential to life, including
growth, metabolism, the regulation of body temperature, stress response, immune
system, reproduction, digestion, and fluid intake and balance (Betts, DeSaix,
Johnson, & Johnson, 2013; Sloane, 1994). While the primary sources of water
intake come from drinking water, water in foods and beverages, and metabolic
water; water output occurs through respiration, perspiration, discharge of feces,
with the main passage being the passing of urine (Bossingham, Carnell, & Campbell,
2005). Together with the nervous system, the endocrine system monitors and
regulates the production of urine, and the hormones and organs involved in this
process include antidiuretic hormone (ADH; also known as vasopressin), pituitary,
hypothalamus, and kidney (Bossingham et al., 2005; Stanhewicz & Larry Kenney,
2015; Stout, Kenny, & Baylis, 1999).
Hypothalamus and pituitary The homeostatic mechanisms are monitored and
regulated by the autonomic nervous system. As the central automatic structure, the
hypothalamus-pituitary complex functions as the bridge connecting the nervous and
endocrine systems. Regulated by the input (e.g., osmotic pressure signals of dehydra-
tion) from the nervous system, the hypothalamus and the pituitary produce and release
hormones (e.g., ADH) that stimulate or inhibit the hormone release of other glands or
tissues (e.g., kidney) (Betts et al., 2013; Stanhewicz & Larry Kenney, 2015).
Kidney The kidneys are part of the urinary system and participate in several endo-
crine pathways. Some of its many functions include producing hormones, filtration
of blood, regulation of iron concentrations, elimination of metabolic byproducts and
wastes, and production of urine. Each kidney contains millions of urine-forming
units, nephrons; and each nephron is composed of a vascular component and a tubu-
lar component (Betts et al., 2013; Sloane, 1994).
ADH/vasopressin ADH is one of the hormones produced by the hypothalamus. It
is then stored in the pituitary for later release into the bloodstream. Upon detection
of dehydration, osmotic signals detected by the hypothalamus lead to the release of
ADH from the pituitary. ADH functions to increase the water absorption in the
c ollecting ducts of the kidney, leading to reduced urine production and normalized
osmotic pressure (Betts et al., 2013; Stanhewicz & Larry Kenney, 2015).
Dysfunctions of these mechanisms can lead to medical conditions including dia-
betes insipidus (DI), which is characterized by chronic excessive secretion of highly
dilute urine. There are four types of DI each with different pathological mecha-
nisms. The first type is pituitary/central DI, which is due to inadequate production
and secretion of ADH. A second form of DI is caused by an impaired ability of the
kidney to respond to ADH, and it is called nephrogenic DI. Gestational DI is another
type of DI, and it is a result of increased degradation of ADH. Lastly, excessive fluid
intake can also lead to a form of GI, nephrogenic DI, which can subsequently lead
to suppression of ADH secretion and increased urine production. Hormone therapy
using desmopressin, a synthetic replacement for ADH, is a common method used in
the treatment of DI, and it has been found to be effective with different degrees for
each subtype of DI (Robertson, 2016).
Some studies have suggested that a subgroup of individuals with enuresis exhibit
night-time ADH deficiency, which leads to overproduction of urine that exceeds
bladder capacity contributing to enuresis at night (Aceto et al., 2003; Mark & Frank,
1995; Pomeranz, Abu-Kheat, Korzets, & Wolach, 2000). Based on this finding hor-
mone replacement therapy using desmopressin has been widely adopted and was
found to be effective treating nocturnal enuresis in children and adolescents (Chua
et al., 2016; Lottmann & Alova, 2007; Önol, Guzel, Tahra, Kaya, & Boylu, 2015;
Stenberg & Lackgren, 1994; Wille, 1994; Yang, Guo, Chang, Yang, & Huang, 2015).
A review study conducted by Alloussi et al. (2011) selected and evaluated 99 studies
assessing the treatment’s outcomes of enuresis using desmopressin. Their findings
supported the use of desmopressin both by itself and in combination with other
treatment options, including urinary alarm and anticholinergic medications in the
treatment of enuresis.
Psychological Disturbances
The last category of etiological theories of toileting focuses on the relationship

between psychological factors and one’s developing of toileting skills. Psychological
issues ranging from subclinical symptoms (e.g., anxiety symptom) to comorbid,
clinically relevant psychiatric disorders (e.g., attention-deficit/hyperactivity disor-
der; ADHD) have been identified and studied by researchers in their relationships to
toileting issues including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and constipa-
tion. In general, prevalence studies support a positive correlation between psycho-
logical conditions with toileting difficulties (von Gontard, Baeyens, Van Hoecke,
Warzak, & Bachmann, 2011). Despite that, the presence and direction of a causal
relationship between the two have not been established due to the limitations of
existing studies, there is a consensus that researchers, parents, pediatricians, urolo-
gists and other professionals should have a basic understanding of psychological
principles in order to effectively assist those children who experience difficulties

learning toileting skills.
Heightened levels of anxiety and depression have been frequently reported in
individuals with elimination difficulties. In a population-based study, Equit and col-
leagues (Equit et al., 2013) collected information from 2079 preschool age children
in Germany and found that children with one or more elimination disorders, espe-
cially encopresis, acquired significantly higher ratings of anxious/depressed symp-
toms than those without. This is consistent with the results of other population-based
studies conducted by Joinson and colleagues on children around the age of 7 years;
they found that children with enuresis, urinary and fecal incontinence compared to
those who were continent had a higher rate of depressive symptoms (Joinson,
Heron, Butler, von Gontard, & Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children
Study Team, 2006; Joinson, Heron, von Gontard, & and the ALSPAC Study Team,
2006). Another study with a smaller sample size and older participants (9–12 years)
also found similar results indicating that children with enuresis experience more
internalizing symptoms (i.e., withdrawal, anxiety, depression) than those without
(E Van Hoecke, Hoebeke, Braet, & Walle, 2004). Similarly, a study on children
(6–15 years) with and without encopresis found that encopresis was correlated with
more anxiety/depression symptoms (Cox, 2002).
Prominent differences have also been found in externalizing symptoms between
children with and without urinary and fecal incontinence. In a series of population-
based studies conducted by Joinson and colleagues, it was found that parents of
those children who experienced wetting or soiling problems reported higher rates of
behavioral problems including attention and activity problems, obsessions and
compulsions, oppositional behavior, and conduct problems than those parents of
children who did not exhibit daytime wetting (Joinson, Heron, Emond, & Butler,
2007; Joinson, Heron, Butler, et al., 2006; Joinson, Heron, von Gontard, et al.,
2006). Similarly, other researchers have also found elevated prevalence of external-
izing problems in children with toileting difficulties (Byrd, Weitzman, Lanphear, &
Auinger, 1996; Cox, 2002; Redsell & Collier, 2001; von Gontard et al., 2011; von
Gontard, Mauer-Mucke, Plück, Berner, & Lehmkuhl, 1999).
Among the externalizing conditions, ADHD is the most common comorbid
condition identified (Baeyens, Roeyers, Vande Walle, & Hoebeke, 2005). Studies
assessing the prevalence of ADHD in children and adolescents found that individuals
with enuresis, urinary incontinence, encopresis, or fecal incontinence exhibited sig-
nificantly higher rates of ADHD symptoms than those without (Baeyens et al., 2004;
Joinson, Heron, von Gontard, et al., 2006; Robson, Jackson, Blackhurst, & Leung,
1997; von Gontard, Moritz, Thome-Granz, & Freitag, 2011). Children with ADHD
were also found to be more likely than their peers without ADHD to meet criteria for
enuresis and encopresis (Michael W. Mellon et al., 2013; Robson et al., 1997).
While sufficient data has been collected supporting the association between
eliminative dysfunctions and psychological disturbances, there is little direct evi-
dence to support the causal relationship between the two. The majority of existing
studies accessing the internalizing and externalizing symptoms in individuals with
toileting problems have been cross-sectional, thus it is not clear whether emotional
and behavioral problems are the cause or the result of toileting disturbances, or a
combination of both. Additionally, it has been proposed that there might be poten-
tial common risk factors that underline the association between toileting distur-
bances and psychopathology. One example is the study conducted by Van Hoecke
and colleagues (Eline Van Hoecke, Baeyens, Vande Walle, Hoebeke, & Roeyers,
2003) in which they examined 154 children with enuresis and 153 continent chil-
dren, and found that although those with enuresis exhibited more internalizing and
externalizing symptoms, when socioeconomic status (SES) was controlled for, this
difference was no longer present. Longitudinal studies are needed to further exam-
ine and determine whether there is a causal relationship.
Consistent with the fact that there is little evidence to support the psychological
etiology theories of toileting issues, few data exist indicating the treatment effect of
psychotherapy to be significantly different from no-treatment controls (De Leon &
Mandell, 1966; Werry & Cohrssen, 1965). A predominant treatment method target-
ing psychological disturbances is hypnosis, which often involves relaxation training
and use of suggestions to provide sense of self-control. While many studies have
reported significant treatment effects, they are often subjective to limitation due to
the use of uncontrolled or single case study designs (Kohen, Olness, Colwell, &
Heimel, 1984; Mellon, 2000; Olness, 1975). While no studies have been found that
evaluated the effect of treatments of psychological problems on enuresis or encop-
resis, improvement in toileting functions were found to be correlated with amelio
ration of emotional disturbances (Longstaffe, Moffatt, & Whalen, 2000; Moffatt,
Kato, & Pless, 1987).
Regardless of the nature and direction of the relationship between toileting dif-
ficulties and psychological disturbances, the implications of related studies remain
significant. Children with psychological disturbances tend to be less compliant and
thus, improvements of psychological symptoms may assist the attaining of conti-
nence. Due to the high comorbid rate and negative effects of the above-mentioned
psychological issues, these concomitant disturbances should be assessed and
treated, if needed, in children with toileting difficulties (Equit et al., 2013; von
Gontard et al., 2011).
Conclusion
Challenges are faced by many children and their parents in the process of gaining
independency in toileting. A significant portion of literature on self-help has been
focused on toileting, and researchers have made great efforts to gather scientific
evidence to develop effective treatment and intervention methods to facilitate toilet
training. While the spotlight was initially taken by theories of psychological distur-
bances, with the advance in research studies and the accumulation of empirical
evidence, behavioral and biological theories quickly took over and treatments based
on these theories have received growing attention.
Behavioral theories based on the principles of learning have long been studied in
relation to our acquisition of everyday life skills. In the application to toilet training,
behavioral theories regard toileting difficulties as a result of failure to learn, more
specifically, a lack of or false establishment of appropriate toileting behaviors.
Behavioral treatments based on classical conditioning and operant conditioning
(e.g., the use of urinary alarm apparatus, reinforcement of proper behaviors) have
been widely adopted and were found to be the most effective intervention methods
(Azrin et al., 1973; Brown et al., 2011; Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; Edgar et al., 1975;
Ikeda et al., 2006; Lancioni et al., 2011; Lovibond, 1964; Wassom & Christophersen,
2014). Despite this success, behavioral theories and treatments are not free of limi-
tations. In addition to high relapse and dropout rates (Azrin et al., 1973; Azrin &
Thienes, 1978; Brown et al., 2011; Stover et al., 2008; van Londen et al., 1995), the
behavioral approach’s reach becomes restricted when there are organic disturbances
(e.g., nervous system deficits, physical structure abnormalities) underlying toileting
difficulties. While only a small fraction of children with toileting difficulties exhibit
these disturbances, addressing organic impairments is necessary to allow advances
in learning toileting skills. While lower than behavioral treatments, interventions
targeting the biological components of the toileting process, primarily pharmaco-
logical treatments (e.g., imipramine, desmopressin) also have demonstrated signifi-
cant treatment effects (Alloussi et al., 2011; Apostolidis et al., 2006; Butler, 2001).
At this time, there is a lack of evidence supporting the etiological theories of
psychological disturbances. However, due to the high comorbid rates of psychologi-
cal issues (e.g., anxiety, behavioral problems) and toileting problems, and the nega-
tive effects these emotional disturbances have on the functioning and learning of
affected children, psychological disturbances are to be assessed and attended if
needed (Equit et al., 2013; von Gontard, et al., 2011).
Research on the effect of treatments of emotional and behavioral problems on
toileting functioning are needed to further examine the nature and direction of their
connections. Future studies should also aim to construct and utilize a more precise
taxonomy of elimination dysfunctions. This goal is necessitated by studies showing
that treatment effects may vary based on the type of underlying disturbances
(Alloussi et al., 2011). Inconsistent grouping of elimination disorders and standards
of toileting success should also be addressed to allow better between-study com-
parisons. While behavioral, biological, and psychological theories each revolve
around different aspects of toileting, they are not to be taken separately as, when
integrated, they might provide better account and treatment effects (Alloussi et al.,
2011; Brown et al., 2011; Mellon, 2000). With the ongoing accumulation of new
knowledge, researchers should further refine these theoretical structures to reflect
the growth in the field and to provide continued guidance for following scientific
endeavor. Individuals involved in the training process should also be educated
on this knowledge to better facilitate children in their acquisition of toileting
independence.
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Problems Associated with Toilet Training
David A. Wilder and Ansley C. Hodges
Incontinence can impose residential, educational, and vocational limits on individuals.

For example, children who are incontinent may be barred from day care settings,
camps, and some school settings. Adolescents and adults with intellectual and other
disabilities who are incontinent may have difficulty securing day placement pro-
grams, jobs, and some living arrangements. In addition, incontinence can create
social and health problems. Incontinent individuals are often socially ostracized,
and may be at increased risk of infection from contact with fecal matter. Appropriate
toileting enables a level of independence that is often not otherwise achieved and is
one of the most important skills an individual learns in his or her lifetime (Cicero &
Pfadt, 2002; Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009; Lott & Kroeger, 2004).
Typically developing children are trained to use the toilet between 20 and
36 months of age, although there may be a trend toward earlier toilet training in
recent decades (Luxem & Christophersen, 1994; Tarhan et al., 2015). Individuals
with intellectual disabilities are often trained to use the toilet later in life. In some
cases, toilet training may even occur well into adulthood (Averink, Melein, &
Duker, 2005; Wilder, Higbee, Williams, & Nachtwey, 1997). Not surprisingly,
research suggests that individuals with disabilities who have fewer skills are less
likely to master toilet training (Lohmann, Eyman, & Lask, 1967).
Surprisingly, there is a dearth of empirical literature on toilet training typically
developing children (Vermandel, Van Kampen, Van Gorp, & Wyndaele, 2008;
Warzak, Forcino, Sanberg, & Gross, 2016). The existing studies are largely based
off the pioneering toilet training procedures described by Foxx and Azrin (1973), in
D.A. Wilder (*)

Florida Institute of Technology, School of Behavior Analysis,
150 West University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA
A.C. Hodges
Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL, USA

90 D.A. Wilder and A.C. Hodges
which the authors successfully trained 34 children between the ages of 20 and
36 months to use the toilet. Training took less than 4 h on average, and a 4-month
follow-up showed that participants were nearly accident-free. The Foxx and Azrin
procedure consisted of a number of components, including fluid loading (i.e.,
increased liquid consumption), frequent practice trials in which participants sit on
the toilet, immediate delivery of high-preference items contingent upon urination in
the toilet, overcorrection contingent upon accidents, and fading of prompts and rein-
forcers. Since Foxx and Azrin, subsequent studies have used some of these compo-
nents in refined toilet training procedures. For example, Simon and Thompson
(2006) and Halligan and Luyben (2009) reported using fluid loading, reinforcement
for urinating in the toilet, and prompted practice trials, but not overcorrection, to
train typically developing children.
Toilet training individuals with disabilities was pioneered by Ellis (1963), who
used a fairly simple approach, highlighting the delivery of positive reinforcement
for appropriate urination. Some years later, Azrin and Foxx (1971) developed a
comprehensive toilet training protocol for individuals with disabilities, called the
“rapid toilet training” method. Many features of this method were subsequently
incorporated into the Foxx and Azrin (1973) procedure for training typically devel-
oping children described above. The rapid toilet training method consists of fluid
loading, scheduled practice trials, delivery of social and edible reinforcement for
urination in the toilet, a urine alarm (attaches to participant underwear) which pro-
duces sound when wet, graduated guidance (a prompting hierarchy for dressing and
undressing), and a 1-h time-out from reinforcement procedure contingent upon
accidents. Azrin and Foxx trained 9 individuals with intellectual disabilities to use
the toilet with very few accidents after training. The procedure took about 4 days per
participant.
Since Azrin and Foxx (1971), a number of related procedures have been devel-
oped to toilet train individuals with disabilities. Nearly all of these procedures are at
least partially based on the rapid toilet training method. For example, Cicero and
Pfadt (2002) made use of fluid loading, graduated guidance, positive reinforcement,
and a punishment procedure. Averink et al. (2005) used similar features, and added
a response restriction component, in which participants were prevented from engag-
ing in responses incompatible with appropriate toileting.
Regardless of the details of the procedure used, toilet training both typically
developing children and individuals with disabilities is not without complications.
In some cases, individuals have behavioral problems that may interfere with the
acquisition of toileting skills (Lohmann et al., 1967). These behavioral problems
include aggression, self-injury, and noncompliance with the toileting procedure. In
addition, because it is parents who often train their children to use the toilet appro-
priately, problems involving parents sometimes arise. These include resource barri-
ers and problems with parent implementation of specific techniques.
Problems with Toilet Training 91
Behavioral Problems and Toilet Training
Behavioral problems such as aggression, self-injury, and noncompliance can make

toilet training difficult. Although not common among young children, aggression
and self-injury are relatively common among individuals with intellectual disabili-
ties (Lundqvist, 2013). Noncompliance, the most common behavioral problem, is
often a concern among young children as well as individuals with disabilities
(McMahon & Forehand, 2003). In this section, we review these behavioral prob-
lems and provide some suggestions for managing them during the toilet training
process.
A few empirical studies have illustrated the assessment and treatment of behav-
ioral problems occurring in the context of toilet training. Hagopian, Fisher, Piazza,
and Wierzbicki (1993) used a water prompting procedure to toilet train a 9 year-old
boy with an intellectual disability who engaged in severe self-injurious behavior
(SIB): body slamming, head banging, and knee biting during toileting. Other proce-
dures, such as reinforcement for appropriate voids, reinforcement plus overcorrec-
tion, and reinforcement plus a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)
schedule for the absence of SIB, were ineffective. The water prompting procedure
consisted of the therapist pouring lukewarm water over the participant’s genitals
when he was sitting on the toilet and was implemented with a DRO schedule. This
procedure resulted in an increase in urinations on the toilet and a decrease in
SIB. The authors speculate that the DRO procedure, in which access to preferred
music was delivered contingent upon the absence of SIB, was essential to decreas-
ing the self-injury.
More recently, Brown and Peace (2011) used Azrin and Foxx’s (1971) rapid
toilet training method to train a 13 year-old boy with a disability who exhibited
aggression when prompted to urinate on the toilet at school. The authors posited that
aggression occurred to avoid or escape the instructions delivered during the toilet
training procedure. Through the use of escape extinction (continuing to deliver
instructions despite aggression), the authors reported that continence was achieved
within 2 weeks and maintained during a 24-month follow-up. After success at
school, the program was successfully implemented at home.
Luiselli (1977) described a 15 year-old boy with an intellectual disability who
exhibited a phobia of toileting, which resulted in avoidance of the toilet and vocal
protests when prompted to use the toilet. The child was noncompliant with most
toileting instructions. The author used social and token reinforcement for appropri-
ate urination and time-out from positive reinforcement contingent upon accidents.
This reduced accidents and resulted in an increase in appropriate urinations even
after discontinuation of the program.
As these studies illustrate, behavioral problems such as self-injury and aggres-
sion may occur during the context of toilet training. Clinicians should conduct a
functional assessment of these behavioral problems prior to initiating toilet training.
The purpose of a functional assessment is to identify the environmental variables
maintaining the behavioral problems. Possible functions of these behaviors include

social positive reinforcement (access to attention, access to preferred items or activ-
ities), social negative reinforcement (escape from demands), or automatic reinforce-
ment (access to non-socially mediated sources of reinforcement).
The results of the functional assessment can be thought of as a description of the
“purpose” of the behavioral problems. If the results of the functional assessment
suggest that the behavioral problems function to access attention or a preferred
item, a few intervention options exist. The first is to provide attention or access to
items independent of toileting instructions. The second is to refrain from providing
attention or access to items contingent upon behavioral problems. The third inter-
vention option is to provide attention or access to items contingent upon an appro-
priate request for attention or an item / activity.
In some cases, these behavioral problems may function to escape toilet training.
If this is the case, different intervention options exist. The first is to provide fre-
quent, short breaks independent of the problematic behavior (i.e., regardless of
when it occurs). The second is to continue to deliver toileting instructions and, if
necessary, physically guide compliance with these instructions. The third is to pro-
vide short breaks from toileting instructions contingent upon an appropriate request
for a break.
If results of the functional assessment suggest that the behavioral problems
function to produce access to automatic reinforcement, other intervention options
exist. The first is to provide free access to items or activities that provide stimulation
similar to the type of stimulation produced by the problematic behavior. For exam-
ple, if an individual hits himself in the eye to produce visual stimulation, providing
free access to visually stimulating items (e.g., toys, digital games, lighting condi-
tions) during toilet training may decrease self-injury. Another intervention option is
to block the occurrence of the behavioral problem and proceed with training. For a
more detailed description of intervention options for behavioral problems main-
tained by various environmental events, see Wacker, Berg, Harding, and Cooper-
Brown (2011). If these interventions are ineffective, medications may be available
to assist.
Although self-injury, aggression, and toileting phobias can be severe, the most
common type of behavioral problem associated with toilet training is noncompliance.
Many individuals may not comply with one or more toilet training procedures. When
confronted with noncompliance, parents, teachers, and therapists may postpone or
even abandon training.
Boelens, Van den Broek, and Beieshuizen (2003) described four typically devel-
oping children (ages 4–10) who were noncompliant with toilet training procedures.
A urine alarm was part of the toileting procedure, and three of the four children
were noncompliant with wearing the alarm or with wearing the alarm correctly.
Although the authors tried a number of techniques to manage participant noncom-
pliance, including a token system in which the children could earn special time with
a parent and a trip to an amusement park, these methods were ultimately ineffective
for 3 of the 4 children. Only 1 participant was successfully trained to urinate in the
toilet.
Luxem, Christophersen, Purvis, and Baer (1997) describe 11 participants who

were noncompliant with toilet training. They used 3 treatments, each consisting of
a combination of medical and behavioral procedures, to decrease toileting refusal.
The procedures included bowel cleansing, diet modifications, reinforcement of uri-
nation in the toilet, and time-out from positive reinforcement for accidents. The
procedures took between 16 and 87 days to produce an effect, but were eventually
effective for all participants. Measures of parent satisfaction showed that parents
were satisfied with the outcome.
As the study described above illustrates, noncompliance with toilet training
might be addressed in a variety of ways. Two broad classes of interventions have
been developed to increase compliance. Antecedent-based interventions involve
some manipulation of the stimulus or events that precede the opportunity to comply
(e.g., changing the way the instruction is delivered). Consequence-based interven-
tions involve manipulation of events that come after the opportunity to comply (e.g.,
changing how someone responds to the noncompliance).
Antecedent-based interventions to increase compliance include making eye con-
tact when delivering instructions (Hanley, Heal, Tiger, & Ingvarsson, 2007), and
phrasing instructions in “do” form as opposed to “don’t” form (Neef, Shafer, Egel,
Cataldo, and Parrish, 1983). Both of these interventions have been shown to be
effective to increase compliance with at least some individuals, and should be used
when delivering instructions related to toilet training. Although these techniques
have not been specifically applied to toilet training, there is no reason to believe
their effects would differ in this context.
Another antecedent-based intervention to increase compliance is the high-
probability (high-p) sequence (Mace et al., 1988). The high-p sequence consists of
a series of instructions with which an individual is likely to comply immediately
followed by a lower-probability, or target, instruction. Reinforcement is delivered
for compliance with each instruction. The high-p sequence is based on behavioral
momentum, which states that the “momentum” of compliance generated via the
high-p instructions might increase the likelihood of compliance to the low-
probability instruction. In the context of toileting, this might take the form of a par-
ent or therapist telling a child to “Touch your nose”, “Give me five”, “Give me a fist
bump” and then “Sit on the toilet”. Of course, as with all interventions to increase
compliance, the individual’s noncompliance must be due to a lack of appropriate
contingencies (i.e., a motivational problem) as opposed to a skill deficit. If noncom-
pliance is due to a skill deficit, such a procedure is unlikely to be effective.
The high-p sequence has received mixed support in the empirical literature.
Although some studies have found it to be effective (Mace et al., 1988), others have
not (Rortvedt & Miltenberger, 1994). It has not been specifically applied to increase
compliance with toilet training, but there is no reason to believe its effects would
be any different in this context.
Consequence-based interventions to increase compliance include guided com-
pliance, or three-step prompting (Horner & Keilitz, 1975). Guided compliance
incorporates three progressively intrusive prompts to increase compliance.
Noncompliance with any of the prompts results in the parent or therapist moving to
the next prompt. For example, a parent first provides the instruction (i.e., “sit on the
toilet”). If the individual complies, the parent delivers praise. Contingent upon the
absence of compliance, the parent reissues the vocal prompt while simultaneously
modeling the task. If the individual complies, the parent delivers praise. Contingent
upon the absence of compliance, the parent reissues the vocal prompt while simul-
taneously guiding the individual to comply.
Guided compliance procedures have been shown to be effective in many, but not
all, applications (Wilder & Atwell, 2006). As with the high-p sequence, guided
compliance procedures have not been specifically applied to increase compliance
with toileting. However, there is no reason to believe their effects would be any dif-
ferent in this context.
Another commonly-used consequence-based intervention to increase compli-
ance is differential reinforcement (i.e., delivering reinforcement for compliance and
withholding reinforcement for noncompliance) or providing contingent access to
preferred items or activities. This procedure has been used to increase compliance
in a variety of contexts (Russo, Cataldo & Cushing, 1981). It is also a component of
many toilet training protocols, including Azrin and Foxx (1971) and Foxx and Azrin
(1973). When using differential reinforcement, one of the most important compo-
nents is to deliver items or activities that are highly preferred by the individual. For
that reason, a stimulus preference assessment (Fisher et al., 1992) might be con-
ducted with the individual being trained to identify high preference items.
In summation, trainee behavioral problems such as aggression, self-injury, and
noncompliance may occur in the context of toilet training. These behaviors may
impede successful training and should be addressed as early as possible in the toilet
training process to increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. Table 1 provides
a description of behavioral problems commonly observed in the context of toilet
training and a summary of interventions to address these problems.
roblems Involving Parent Implementation of Toilet Training

P
Procedures
In addition to behavioral problems exhibited by individuals undergoing training, in

some cases the trainers themselves experience barriers or exhibit performance prob-
lems that may impede successful training of the individuals under their care. This
section describes research on training parents to implement toilet training proce-
dures, as well as some limitations and problems that have been reported. Some brief
suggestions to address these problems are also provided.
Research has identified several barriers that may impede a parent’s ability to
effectively and efficiently toilet train their child. According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics (2003), parents might push their child too early to be toilet
trained and ignore the developmental level of their child. Thus, teaching parents
about developmental milestones and readiness, rather than emphasizing readiness
based solely on chronological age, might help mitigate these issues.
Table 1 Suggestions to address behavioral problems during toilet training

Behavioral problem Suggestion Specific suggestions
Self-injury Conduct functional assessment If behavior is maintained by social
(see specific suggestions for positive reinforcement- use free
behavior maintained by social access to attention or items,
positive reinforcement, social withhold attention or items after
negative reinforcement, or behavioral problem
automatic reinforcement) If behavior is maintained by social
negative reinforcement- use breaks
independent of problematic
behavior or provide breaks for
appropriate behavior.
If maintained by automatic
reinforcement- provide free access
to similar stimulation or use
blocking
Aggression See self-injury suggestions See self-injury specific suggestions
Noncompliance Provide direct eye contact when
delivering instruction
Use “Do” instead of “Don’t”
phrasing
High-P sequence
Guided compliance
Differential reinforcement
A study by Van Nunen, Kaerts, Wyndaele, Vermandel, and Van Hal (2015)
h ighlights this concern. The authors used questionnaires to examine parental beliefs
and attitudes concerning toilet training. Specifically, 2000 questionnaires were dis-
tributed across 50 schools to parents of children between the ages of 30–36 months.
Approximately 58% of questionnaires were returned. Results showed 61% of the
parents reported that children should be toilet trained before 30 months. When train-
ing occurred later than 30 months, most parents reported that late training was due
to parental time constraints (39%), use of disposable diapers (36.4%), or that toilet
training was not as important as other demands (19.7%).
Another potential barrier associated with toileting is parental stress. Macias,
Roberts, Saylor and Fussell (2006) examined the correlation between parental
stress, toilet training concerns, and behavioral problems exhibited by children with
special needs. Multiple questionnaires were completed by 170 parents of children
with or without toileting concerns. One was the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL),
the results of which indicated significantly more personal distress for parents of
incontinent children versus parents of continent children. Moreover, parents of chil-
dren with an IQ of 70 or below reported more stress associated with incontinence
than did parents with children whose IQ was above 70. Overall, this study suggests
that parental stress is increased when a child is incontinent. The authors recom-
mended using a parental stress index prior to implementing toilet training p rocedures,
and then perhaps selecting the most appropriate procedures for parents given their
stress level.
Ritblatt, Obegi, Hammons, Ganger, and Ganger (2003) compared how parents
and childcare professionals implement toilet training, and what resources each
group consults during the process. In this study, 89 parents and 97 child care profes-
sionals served as participants; the latter were predominately teachers, but also
included teachers’ aides. Parent questionnaires consisted of 23 questions, and child-
care professional questionnaires comprised 16 questions; most questions required
only a “yes” or “no” response. This study examined four essential toilet training
topics: age of initiation, readiness, practices, and response to accidents. The authors
also examined toilet training resources in their questionnaires.
Over 84% of childcare professionals sought advice from books or magazines.
Conversely, parents who reported soliciting toilet training advice said they would be
more likely to ask friends and family members. The authors reported that less than
50% of parents solicited advice on toilet training; if they did ask for recommenda-
tions, they approached other family members (48%) or friends (24%). Only 15–21%
of parents reported that they consulted with medical professionals or childcare pro-
viders. Finally, although both parents and professionals agreed that children should
not be punished for accidents, the Ritblatt et al. (2003) study did suggest differences
in the approach to toilet training taken by parents and childcare professionals.
Parents were somewhat more likely to use a punishment-based procedure. Overall,
this study suggests that when parents, childcare providers, or teachers do not col-
laborate on toilet training procedures, the process may become more challenging for
the child, delay implementation, and create more stress for the family as a whole
(Kaerts et al., 2014).
Lack of time, stress, and potential disagreement with teachers and aides at school
regarding when and how to toilet train can impede parental implementation of toilet
training programs. However, other problems, such as the effort involved in training,
the number of individuals to train or simply parental noncompliance with proce-
dures, are also concerns. The studies described below illustrate these problems.
Mahoney, Van Wagenen, and Meyerson (1971) investigated five males diagnosed
with an intellectual disability and three children without a known disability. The
authors conducted sessions in a school setting. Baseline data were collected on
appropriate toileting skills. Then, the experimenters trained a sequence of toileting
skills including walking to the toilet, lowering pants, sitting on (or standing in front
of) the toilet, voiding, and pulling up pants. Results of this phase of the experiment
showed that seven of the eight participants acquired toileting skills at the school.
After initial training was completed, the experimenters conducted three sessions
that focused on maintenance of acquired skills, saying “potty” while going to the
toilet, and parent training. In the latter, parents were brought into the training loca-
tion and instructed in the procedures. After the three sessions, two parents, one of
whom had a child diagnosed with a disability and one of whom had a typically
developing child, were selected for follow-up in the home. Over a span of 6 months,
each parent provided information on their child’s toileting skills. For the parent of
the child without a disability, interviews suggested that toileting accidents decreased
from 4 per week to 1 per week over 6 months. For the parent of the participant diag-
nosed with a disability, approximately four toileting accidents per week occurred
for the entire 6-month follow-up period. The experimenter visited the home and
noted that the parent was prompting the child to use the toilet. As a result, toileting
accidents tended to occur when the parent was not present. The authors reported that
feedback had no effect on the parent’s behavior. Thus, this study illustrates that
problems with parent adherence might relate to the effort involved in cleaning up
after toileting accidents. For some parents, prompting a child to toilet might be
easier (even if it results in accidents when the parent is absent) than implementing
the many steps involved in correctly implementing a toilet training protocol.
Although parents were not involved, Smith, Britton, Johnson, and Thomas
(1975) reported some problems when toilet training a group of adults with intellec-
tual disabilities who resided in an institution. Some of the problems involved non-
compliance on the part of the residents being trained, but the authors reported more
difficulty with the nurses who were training the residents. They found that the most
effective approach was to assign one nurse to each individual resident, instead of
having one nurse responsible for training many residents. As this study illustrates,
time and number of other responsibilities (i.e., competing contingencies) can impact
the integrity of toilet training procedures.
More recently, Kroeger and Sorensen-Burnworth (2010) evaluated the effects of
a parent-training program to increase continence. Participants included a 4-year-old
boy without a history of toilet training and a 4-year-old boy with a failed history of
toilet training; both children were diagnosed with autism. Baseline data were col-
lected on the number of toileting accidents, as well as the number of self-initiations.
Parent training consisted of explanations, demonstrations, and feedback to the par-
ents as they implemented the procedures with their child. Written instructions were
also provided. After the training was completed, the trainer was available for
consultation.
The toileting intervention included five components. In the first component, both
participants had increased access to fluids for 3 days prior to the intervention
through the first day of treatment. In the second component, participants were
scheduled to sit on the toilet. Initially, participants sat on the toilet for 30 min with
a 5-min break for successful voids on the toilet. While on the toilet, participants had
access to preferred toys. In the next phase, participants sat on the toilet for 25 min
with a 10-min break for voids. The last phase consisted of 20 min periods of sitting
with a 15-min break for voids. If the required sitting time expired without a void,
participants were released from sitting on the toilet for 2 min, but were required to
remain in the bathroom until the next sitting period.
In the third component, preferred edibles and activities were delivered for void-
ing and self-initiation of toileting. In the fourth component, toileting accidents were
followed by a statement describing where toileting should occur; then, a toilet sit-
ting session was implemented. If the participant finished voiding in the toilet, pre-
ferred items and activities were presented as described above. In the final component,
self-initiation was trained. The participants sat in a chair next to the toilet for the
scheduled sessions. When a void began, if the participant did not move to the toilet,
physical guidance was provided. The chair was moved in increments of 2 ft until it
was 20 ft from the toilet. When self-initiation without toileting accidents was
achieved, generalization was programmed by requiring participants to toilet in other

bathrooms in the home, as well as other bathrooms outside the home.
Results of the intervention showed that the number of toileting accidents sub-
stantially decreased, while the number of self-initiations increased. During a return
to baseline condition, improvements were maintained. Finally, during a follow up
assessment after 2 weeks, 6 months, and 3 years, there were no toileting accidents
and participants self-initiated on 100% of occasions. This study showed that parents
can successfully implement toilet training in a relatively brief period of time, as the
training duration was only 4 days. Finally, a social validity assessment was con-
ducted after follow-up, and the parents reported a high degree of satisfaction with
the procedures and their effectiveness. The authors noted two advantages of training
the primary caregivers, rather than part-time caregivers, such as teachers’ assistants.
First, primary caregivers have a strong motivation to teach and maintain continence;
second, primary caregivers may be more sensitive to subtle cues and behaviors of
the trainee, so training may proceed more rapidly.
Interestingly, the authors reported that both participants’ parents contacted the
trainer on five occasions. Both parents had questions regarding prompt dependency,
how to fade out their prompts, and how to fade out the protocol. Similar prompting
issues were reported in Mahoney et al. (1971). Parents in these studies struggled
with how and when to stop prompting their child to use the toilet and may not
always understand that the goal is that the sensation of needing to urinate or defe-
cate comes to “control” going to and sitting on the toilet, not a parental prompt.
Thus, prompts should be initially paired with that sensation (or evidence or reports
of it) and then faded, both in frequency and topography or magnitude (e.g., begin
with vocal and physical prompt, fade to vocal only, and then fade to partial vocal
prompt, if necessary). Future research should examine this topic.
LeBlanc, Carr, Crossett, Bennett, and Detweiler (2005) also evaluated the effects
of a toilet training procedure. Their study included three children diagnosed with
autism ranging in age from 4 years 1 month to 4 years 11 months, all of whom had
been previously unsuccessful with toilet training. The participants’ parents included
two single mothers and a mother and father. This study was initially conducted in an
outpatient clinic (Day 1) and then transferred to the home environment on subse-
quent days (Day 2 and 3) with a follow-up training in the preschool classroom (Day
4). The toilet training protocol included six components: a sitting schedule, rewards
for successful voids on the toilet and self-initiations, increased fluid intake, com-
munication training, a urine alarm, and positive practice for accidents. However,
some elements of the Azrin and Foxx (1971) procedure were omitted. Accidents
were followed with positive practice, but not restitutional overcorrection as in the
Azrin and Foxx (1971) study. In the positive practice procedure, voids outside of the
toilet resulted in a brief reprimand and then a 1 min toilet sit. Then, participants
were required to practice the appropriate steps four consecutive times. Scheduled
sittings were programmed across 12 different levels. Participants progressed through
one level per hour on day 1, one level per half day on days 2 and 3, and then one
level every 2 days until the schedule was completely faded.
Much like the sitting schedule, fluid delivery was also programmed. On the first
day, participants were prompted to drink fluids every 5 min for the first hour, every
10 min during the second hour, every 15 min during the third hour, and every 30 min
throughout the remainder of day 1. The authors estimated that participants con-
sumed between 2 and 4 ounces of fluid per hour.
The initial training was conducted in an outpatient clinic from 9:00 AM to
4:00 PM. Additionally, parents observed the training during the first 2 h and then
began to conduct the training with feedback and support from the researchers. At the
end of Day 1, all participants achieved at least level six of scheduled sitting, allowing
the participants to be off the toilet for 45 min. When training commenced in the par-
ents’ home on days two and three, the researchers were available via phone consulta-
tion. On the fourth day, the participants returned to their preschool environments for
level eight of the scheduled sitting. At the preschool, the researchers trained the teach-
ers and remained in the classroom throughout the duration of the morning to ensure
proper carryover and accurate toileting protocol implementation.
All participants decreased the number of accidents from baseline. Self-initiation
data were less consistent and compelling. Self-initiations were at 80% for one par-
ticipant, but at lower levels for the other two. LeBlanc et al. (2005) suggested that
problems with self-initiations might have occurred because the parents often
prompted the children to use the restroom. Moreover, the authors suggested that the
parents fade out the prompts, but the parents did not follow this recommendation,
which was also reported by Mahoney et al. (1971), and Kroeger and Sorensen-
Burnworth (2010). Again, it is possible that parents were unsure as to how and when
to fade the prompts.
Taylor, Cipani, and Clardy (1994) investigated the effects of a toilet training
procedure based on modifications of Azrin and Foxx (1971). Procedures were
implemented by the father of a 10-year-old boy; this child was diagnosed with
autism and had a developmental age of 2 years and 1 month. Initial attempts with
the standard procedure (Azrin & Foxx, 1971) were unsuccessful. The authors
hypothesized that the sensation of wearing undergarments had acquired stimulus
control over urination; thus, urination occurred only when the undergarments were
on and frequently occurred just after putting on the undergarments. Therefore, the
procedural modification involved removal of the undergarments for periods of time
during training, and then gradually increasing the duration of undergarment use.
Results showed a substantial decrease in toileting accidents and an increase in
appropriate urination. At a 10-month follow up, toileting accidents were eliminated.
Parent evaluation of the procedure was positive.
This study is an example of hypothesis-driven intervention, as the authors identi-
fied a potential stimulus control problem that was addressed by their procedural
modification. One concern with the procedure was the time spent without wearing
any undergarments. Although the parent reported that the total time was not appre-
ciably different from the time without undergarments when frequently changing
diapers throughout the day, this procedure may not be feasible for parents whose
children are enrolled in a childcare or educational setting.
Coehlo (2011) examined encopresis, which is defined as defecation anywhere

other than the toilet, either involuntary or intentionally, at least once a month. The
prevalence of encopresis is over 4% among 5–6 year-old children (Van Der Wal,
Benninga, & Hirasing, 2005), but Coehlo suggested that it may be underreported.
Indeed, the failure to report encopresis could be attributed to parents’ feelings of
guilt, as some report that encopresis may be linked to sexual abuse, poor diet, or low
physical activity. Moreover, treatment for encopresis is demanding, as it involves
some or all of the following: dietary changes, bowel training (e.g., taking child to
the toilet 10 min after meals and remaining on the toilet for 20 min), use of behavior
management techniques (e.g., schedules, pictures, rewards), and possibly medica-
tions (e.g., oral stool softeners, bran). To illustrate their points, the authors presented
a case study of an 8-year-old boy, Joel, who exhibited encopresis and nightly bed-
wetting. Joel was a typically developing 8-year-old with some fine and gross motor
delays. Treatment required his parents to administer a quarter teaspoon of bran once
a day, and increase this by an additional quarter teaspoon every third day until bowel
movements were soft and occurring daily. Joel consumed 64 oz. of water daily, and
had a variety of dietary restrictions and exercise requirements. He was prompted to
attempt bowel movements 20 min after each meal. A reward system for having a dry
bed each night was also used. The authors reported success during the school year,
but parents could not adhere to the stringent and demanding schedule when they
traveled for summer vacation; as a result, a medication was ultimately required.
Thus, this study shows that adherence to toileting protocols can be a challenge,
especially over extended periods of time. Practitioners should consider informing
parents of the time and resources toilet training might require before beginning
training, and obtain a commitment to stick with the procedure at that time.
Rinald and Mirenda (2012) evaluated the effects of parent training workshops on
toileting skills. The experimenters presented a 4–5 h workshop that involved written
descriptions, video demonstrations, role playing with a doll, and quizzes. Feedback
was provided on quiz performance. The workshops focused on toileting procedures
similar to those reported by Azrin and Foxx (1971), and included periodic toilet sit-
ting, increased fluids to provide more toileting opportunities, and reinforcement for
appropriate toileting. Toileting accidents were followed by changing clothes with-
out specifically commenting on the accident. Scheduled delivery of reinforcement
was thinned to either one at the end of an accident-free day, or after every 10 suc-
cessful voids in the toilet.
After the workshop, a PowerPoint™ presentation and other materials were given
to the parents for reference at home. Then, the parents began the toilet training pro-
cess for approximately 8 h per day over 5–8 days. A researcher was available by
phone for consultation. Included in the toilet training procedure was data collection
on toileting accidents, child-initiated toileting, and adult-initiated toileting. After
the initial training, there was a follow-up conducted after 2 weeks, and again after
1 month. For all participants, toileting accidents decreased, and urination in the
toilet increased. However, the proportion of child-initiated versus adult-initiated
sittings varied across participants and time. Only one participant showed exclusive
child-initiated toileting.
Thus, the study showed positive results, as accidents decreased, but c hild-initiation
data were less compelling. Interestingly, the researchers reported between 2 and 11
parent requests for assistance over the 8 days. Moreover, a social validity rating
scale suggested that the parents were very pleased with the results, but several
reported the toilet training as quite difficult and time consuming. In fact, one parent
reported it was the most arduous task she had ever done. These reports are not sur-
prising, given the time required over the course of 5–8 days. A cost analysis sug-
gested their procedure was more economical than training implemented by a
behavior analyst or other professional. Nevertheless, although the cost of their pro-
cedure may be more economical than some alternatives, the procedure could still be
cost prohibitive for families with limited financial means; a 4–5 h workshop and
5–8 days of training at home can be expensive. Moreover, the time required to
implement this procedure could limit some parents’ ability to effectively and con-
sistently adhere to the demanding procedural requirements. In addition to obtaining
a parental commitment, practitioners might solicit assistance from outside of the
home to help parents train, particularly in cases in which the trainee exhibits behav-
ioral problems or has been unsuccessful in the past.
Ardiç and Cavkaytar (2014) evaluated a modified rapid toilet training method to
train three children with autism. The procedural modifications included: (a) a reduc-
tion in the training procedure from 8 to 6 h; (b) elimination of the urination detec-
tion device; and (c) elimination of overcorrection for toileting accidents. The latter
was included because Chung (2007) reported that overcorrection did not increase
the number of voids in the toilet. In addition, this study only required children to sit
on the toilet for 10 min and conduct dry pants checks every 30 min. The authors also
reported that the parents were satisfied with the modified protocol. Two of the three
participants successfully voided in the toilet, and parent training was effective for
two of the three participants. One of the parents did not implement the procedures
at home. The authors did not explicitly report why this occurred, although it is pos-
sible that the effort involved (i.e., 6 h per day over as many as 6 days) could have
been a factor.
In addition to obtaining a commitment and soliciting assistance for difficult
cases, practitioners might consider reducing the number of components of the toilet
training procedure so that only those that are essential are used. Indeed, researchers
have examined the effects of protocols with fewer, less time-consuming procedures
and have had some success (Ardiç & Cavkaytar 2014). These procedural modifica-
tions are particularly important given the fact that toileting children, particularly
those with special needs, is associated with a high degree of stress and a lot of time
(Macias et al. 2006). Thus, future research might continue to refine toilet training
protocols to decrease the time and effort involved in their implementation and ulti-
mately increase parental compliance.
In summation, the parent training research on toileting skills has focused on dif-
ferent training methods such as direct training of skills with a parent (e.g., Kroeger
& Sorensen-Burnworth, 2010; Leblanc et al., 2005), workshops (Rinald & Mirenda,
2012), consultations (e.g., Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2010; Rinald & Mirenda,
2012; LeBlanc et al., 2005), and written materials (Rinald & Mirenda, 2012).
One commonly reported problem is parental adherence to the toilet training p rotocols
Table 2 Suggestions to address parental barriers and performance problems during toilet training
Parental barrier/performance problem Suggestions
Time/stress Provide advanced notice of time and effort involved
Obtain a commitment to finish the protocol
Solicit assistance from others outside the home
Noncompliance with implementation Use only essential toilet training protocol components
(e.g., Leblanc et al., 2005). The time and effort involved is an important factor in the
success of the training. Table 2 provides a summary of common implementation
barriers and potential solutions.
Conclusion
Toileting is an important life skill to master for young children and individuals with
disabilities. A number of problems may occur in the context of training, including
trainee behavioral problems such as aggression, self-injury, and noncompliance. In
addition, trainer implementation barriers, such as the time and cost of training, may
also impede progress. Relatively few studies have focused on behavioral problems
occurring in the context of toileting; implementation barriers have also received
little empirical attention. Clinicians should evaluate and address these problems as
soon as they are detected to increase the likelihood of successful toilet training.
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Monitoring Progress in Toilet Training
William J. Warzak, Abigail E. Kennedy, and Kayzandra Bond
Toilet training research is far more recent than toilet training itself, yet the practical
challenges of training children to become continent have remained the same whether
they take place in a research setting or in the home. While toilet training is a univer-
sal experience, cultural, familial, and historical variables affect the final common
procedural pathway to toileting independence. Nevertheless, successful attainment
of continence is the rule and a developmental milestone eagerly anticipated by
parents.
Many training protocols have been developed to facilitate acquisition of conti-
nence skills. These range from structured, parent-directed protocols epitomized by
the work of Foxx and Azrin (1973a; hereafter referred to as the Foxx and Azrin
procedure) to unstructured, child-guided protocols such as those of Brazelton
(1962), Schmitt (2004), and Spock (1946; hereafter collectively referred to as the
child-oriented method). While both procedures have their adherents and history of
success, structured protocols are more frequently evaluated in research settings, in
part because they lend themselves to precise measurement (e.g., Klassen et al.,
2006) and precise progress monitoring. Regardless of the protocol, measuring prog-
ress is an important element of any behavior change program, and acquisition of
continence skills is no different.
W.J. Warzak, PhD (*)

Department of Psychology, 985450 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5450, USA
Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
A.E. Kennedy, MS • K. Bond, PhD
Department of Psychology, 985450 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5450, USA

106 W.J. Warzak et al.
Focus of this Chapter
This chapter provides a review of methods and measures commonly used to evalu-
ate the acquisition of continence skills in young children. In the larger view, measur-
ing toilet training progress entails more than simply counting voids in the toilet or
episodes of wet pants. Measurement also encompasses recording the integrity with
which a protocol is implemented (e.g., Gresham, Gansle, & Noell, 1993; Peterson,
Homer, & Wonderlich, 1982) as well as the reliability of the dependent measures
(e.g., Johnston & Pennypacker, 2009). In turn, this requires an appropriate candi-
date for toilet training as well as having the necessary materials to initiate the pro-
tocol successfully. Therefore, while methods of direct observation and measures of
toileting behavior will be a primary focus here, measures related to verifying the
fidelity of methods, materials, and procedures necessary for the successful imple-
mentation of toilet training with integrity also are presented.
Prerequisite Measures
Before a child is ready to be toilet trained, an assessment of developmental, behav-

ioral, and physical readiness should be obtained to determine if the child is an
appropriate candidate. Typically developing children are most commonly toilet
trained when they are between 2 and 3 years old (Bloom, Seeley, Ritchey, &
McGuire, 1993; Schum et al., 2002), but older children and those with developmen-
tal delays also are trainable, as exemplified by Foxx and Azrin (1973b) or, more
recently, Cicero (2012; Cicero & Pfadt, 2002). The ideal time to initiate toilet train-
ing is by no means agreed upon and there is great variability in training windows
depending upon the readiness signs selected by the trainer (Kaerts, Van Hal,
Vermandel & Wyndaele, 2012; Schum et al., 2002). Kaerts et al. (2012) provide an
example of 21 directly observed readiness signs (e.g., “children understand potty
words,” “pull clothes up and down,” “can sit still on the potty for 5–10 min”), but
their individual predictive power relative to successful toilet training has not been
evaluated.
Indirect measures of readiness take the form of structured retrospective parent
report. For example, the Denver II Developmental Screening test (Frauman &
Brandon, 1996) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (Squires & Bricker, 2009)
are popular screening devices, among many (e.g., Battelle Developmental Inventory
in Mota & Barros, 2008; Bayley Scales of Infant Development in Schum et al.,
2001) that have been used to assess toileting training readiness within the context of
broad assessment of early child development. Both screening measures are recom-
mended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (Bright Futures Steering Committee
& Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs Project Advisory
Committee, 2006). Nevertheless, there is no significant research that evaluates the
functional relationship between individual readiness skills and successful toilet
Monitoring Progress 107
Table 1 Child prerequisite abilities
Physiological readiness
Bowel peristalsis
Normal bladder capacity
Voluntarily tightens sphincter muscles
Perceives full bladder
Sits independently
One to two bowel movements per day
Periods of time between voids
Recognizes being wet or soiled
Mobility/ dexterity/ walking
Pull pants down and up
Imitates behavior
Follows directions
Unafraid of toilet or flush
Understands words for elimination
Understands the social expectations that bladder emptying takes place in toilet
Note. Adapted from Frauman, & Brandon (1996), Foxx & Azrin (1973b), and Harris (2004)
training (Blum, Taubman & Nemeth, 2003; Kaerts et al., 2012). A number of
c ommonly agreed upon prerequisite skills are noted in Table 1.
Progress toward achieving readiness criteria can be evaluated over time by using
the above components with the caveat that readiness criteria are loosely defined.
These measures should not be influenced by developmental or medical status,
although attaining these readiness milestones may vary as a function of develop-
mental and medical factors. Measures of prerequisite behaviors may be established
as binary events (e.g., recognizes being wet or soiled, pull pants down and up) or
occur on a continuum (e.g., child follows what percentage of parental requests, how
much time typically elapses between voids).
Of the many readiness skills, following directions is one of the most crucial to
toilet training success. Children who are not under effective instructional control are
poor candidates for toilet training (Polaha, Warzak, & Ditmer-McMahon, 2002).
For these children, successful toilet training may be enhanced by implementing
compliance training prior to toilet training. A child’s compliance can be evaluated
by simply asking parents about the likelihood of a child complying with a number
of age appropriate one-step commands, or by providing parents with a formal pro-
tocol for assessing compliance, as in Shriver & Allen (1997; see Table 2). Seventy
percent compliance to one-step commands in young children is often considered
satisfactory prior to teaching trials (Shriver & Allen, 1997). In addition, there are a
number of child behavior rating scales, such as the Child Behavior Checklist
(Achenbach & Rescorla, 2000) and the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory (Eyberg,
Boggs, & Reynolds, 1980) that assess disruptive and otherwise difficult behaviors
in young children that may suggest deferring toilet training until the child comes
under instructional control.
Table 2 Evaluating child compliance

Component Definition, measurement, and mean response
Compliance The child initiating and completing the parent instructed task
Measured as completed or not completed
Initiation latency The time from the end of the initial command to an initial change in the
child’s behavior directed toward task completion
Measured in seconds
Mean time for 2–4 year olds 6.5 s (SD =3.4)
Completion latency The time from initiation to the completion of the task
Measured in seconds
Mean time for 2–4 year olds 14.9 s (SD = 9.5)
Compliance rate The number of commands the child complied with divided by the total
number of parent provided commands
Measured as a percentage
Mean percentage for 2–4 year olds 79.4% (SD = 24.1)
Note. Taken from Shriver & Allen (1997)
Dependent Measures
In- vs. out-of-toilet voids The behaviors most central to progress in toilet training
are successful voids in the toilet versus voids occurring outside of the toilet (e.g.,
Beaudry Bellefeuille, Schaaf & Polo, 2013; Kroeger & Sorensen, 2010). In-toilet
voids have been variously referred to as in-toilet urination (Luiselli, 1997; Rinald &
Mirenda, 2012), successful urination (Chung, 2007), continent urination (Hagopian,
Fisher, Piazza, & Wierzbicki, 1993; Simon & Thompson, 2006), and correct urina-
tion (Cocchiola, Martino, Dwyer, & Demezzo, 2012). Out-of-toilet voids have been
described as accidents (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002), incontinence (Luiselli, 1997),
incontinent urinations (Simon & Thompson, 2006), and urinary incontinency

(Smith, 1979). Although accidents may be a misnomer, as the child may intend to
void outside of the toilet, the use of the terms successes and accidents to refer to
in- and out-of-toilet voids, respectively, has become commonplace (Hanney, Jostad,
LeBlanc, Carr, & Castile, 2012; LeBlanc, Carr, Crossett, Bennett & Detweiler, 2005).
Several toilet training procedures include a provision for interrupting out-
of-toilet voids, if possible, to provide children with the opportunity to finish the void
appropriately in the toilet (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; LeBlanc et al., 2005). In these
procedures, once voids are detected and interrupted, children are quickly taken to
the toilet. Hanney et al. (2012) described this behavior chain as accident/success
conversions. Other authors have included this condition within their accident defini-
tion (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002), or treated such occurrences as successes (LeBlanc
et al., 2005).
Researchers have reported toileting successes, accidents (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002;
LeBlanc et al., 2005), or both (Brown & Peace, 2011; Luiselli, 1997). Recording
and evaluating both accidents and successes has the advantage of allowing a com-
prehensive analysis of all voids. However, as voids are largely binary events (with
the exception of accident/success conversions), clinicians and authors may allocate

effort to recording just one or the other of these behaviors. In addition, researchers
may be interested in assessing the level of independent toileting, which authors have
measured by the percentage of voids that are self-initiated. Self-initiation occurs
when a child requests to use the toilet, or moves to the bathroom, and completes a
void in the toilet without the assistance of physical or verbal prompts (Kroeger &
Sorensen, 2010; LeBlanc et al., 2005). Self-initiation may be tailored to accommo-
date the communication abilities of the child. For example, self-initiation may occur
with a verbal request for one child, an ASL sign for another, and the exchange of a
communication card (e.g., PECS; Bondy & Frost, 1994) for yet another.
The definition of voiding episodes is important to consider before toilet training
begins. Few would argue that a large puddle of urine represents an accident.
However, small urine stains on underwear may less clearly meet criteria for voids
outside of the toilet, as it is possible that such a small amount of urine may contact
the underwear when a child pulls up their pants at the end of the toileting routine
(Foxx, 1986). Thus, it may be necessary to operationalize accidents. One may phys-
ically measure the size of the wet spot, as in Lancioni and Marcus (1999), who
scored large accidents when both the child’s pants and underwear were wet or the
child’s underwear had a wet spot larger than 6 cm in diameter, and small accidents
for wet spots less than 6 cm in diameter and dry pants. In the case of Foxx (1986),
parents measured accidents by placing the lid of an olive jar over the wet spot. If the
wet spot exceeded the diameter of the lid, the child was considered to have an
accident.
Finally, one must consider moisture alarms as a potential means of accurately
detecting voids that occur outside of the toilet. Moisture alarms have a long history
in the treatment of elimination disorders. Mowrer and Mowrer (1938) pioneered
their use as an enuresis intervention and Azrin and Foxx (1971) implemented
them in early toilet training efforts, but alarms subsequently fell into disuse. More
recently, however, moisture alarms once again have been included in toilet training
procedures (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; Vermandel, Van Kampen, De Wachter,
Weyler, & Wyndaele, 2008a; Vermandel, Weyler, De Wachter, & Wyndaele, 2008b).
Although the primary function of a urine alarm is to alert the child to the release of
urine, it also has the effect of alerting caregivers that a void is occurring. However,
alarms may introduce artifact by sounding when no accident has occurred, such as
when sweat triggers the alarm, or failing to detect accidents (e.g., due to misplace-
ment of the sensor). Therefore, direct observation of target behaviors and permanent
products may be a more reliable measure of continence skills.
Toilet training completion Toilet training is a procedure and a process. The pri-
mary procedure addresses mechanics of toilet training, the nuts and bolts of sit
schedules, fluid loading, schedules of reinforcement, etc. The process of toilet
training accrues over time and trials, as child development and environmental
contingencies shape and maintain successful toilet training trials, eventually culmi-
nating in control of bowel and bladder and independent use of the toilet for
elimination.
It is unclear which components of toileting a child must accomplish i ndependently,

such as undressing and dressing, flushing the toilet, or washing hands, to be consid-
ered toilet trained. Whether or not a child must be completely hygiene independent
or not is a function of cultural norms and the goals of caregivers. Typically, children
must initiate toileting to be considered toilet trained, but it is unlikely that a 3-year-
old who self-initiates toileting also is hygiene independent and unfailingly continent
throughout the day and night. It is not uncommon for children to be dry during the
day, but still wet the bed at night (Foxx, 1986; Schum et al., 2002; von Gontard,
Heron, & Joinson, 2011).
Furthermore, there is no agreed upon percentage of voiding episodes that must
occur in the toilet to have achieved mastery. One could argue that 100% of elimina-
tion events must occur in the toilet to be considered toilet trained, but there are
innumerable young children who intermittently wet their pants let alone the numer-
ous examples of adults who void under conditions where toilets are not available
(e.g., camping, swimming). So, the standard for “toilet trained” is clearly less than
100%, but how much less than 100% is a function of culture, community, and fam-
ily norms and may reflect the presence of behavioral or developmental handicaps.
A number of additional dimensions may affect the definition of “toilet trained.”
For example, Blum et al. (2003) defined toilet training completion as when the child
wore underwear during the day and had fewer than four urine accidents per week
and less than two fecal accidents per month. LeBlanc et al. (2005) completed train-
ing when participants achieved 80% success for two consecutive days after sched-
uled sits were discontinued. Kroeger and Sorensen (2010) completed training when
the sit schedule had been thinned to 30 min break/5 min sits, with self-initiations
occurring 50% of the time or more. Finally, one study included not only dryness
criteria but also a latency criterion wherein voids needed to occur within 10 min of
sitting on the toilet (Didden, Sikkema, Bosman, Duker, & Curfs, 2001).
Task analyses enable documentation of each discrete task over time as a function
of intervention (Donlau, Mattsson & Glad-Mattsson, 2013). Change in the number
of steps completed over time represents progress, and can be reported as a percent-
age of steps completed, with and without prompting. In addition, the level of assis-
tance, or prompt (i.e., physical, gestural, verbal) required at each step of the protocol
can be recorded to monitor progress toward successful toileting. For example, Azrin
and Foxx (1971) ranked levels of prompting from most invasive and detailed to least
starting with physical guidance, then direct verbal guidance, to a touch, a hand
motion, a head or finger motion, and finally no prompt. Donlau, Mattsson, and
Glad-Mattsson (2013) labeled independence in toileting skills into five categories:
does not perform, performs with physical and verbal support, performs with physi-
cal support, performs with verbal support, and performs independently.
Problem behaviors Resistance to toilet training was reported by several early
researchers of the Azrin and Foxx procedure (Butler, 1976; Foxx & Azrin, 1973a;
Matson & Ollendick, 1977). Butler (1976) noted severe emotional reactions to the
positive practice component of toilet training. Matson and Ollendick (1977) stated
that all mothers reported emotional side effects, specifically tantrums and avoidance
behavior, primarily during the positive practice and graduated guidance components.
Foxx and Azrin (1973a) reported that most children responded to toilet training as a
pleasurable experience, but a few children engaged in tantrums at the start of train-
ing. Problem behavior has not been as commonly reported during more recent eval-
uations of toileting training (Klassen et al., 2006), yet problem behaviors such as
tantrums, aggression, noncompliance, and negative vocalizations are likely in chil-
dren with a history of challenging behavior in response to instructions and physical
guidance (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002). Problem behavior during toilet training also may
be an indication of distress in response to specific toilet training components (e.g.,
positive practice; Matson & Ollendick, 1977). It would be beneficial to record ongo-
ing problem behaviors during toilet training given its occurrence, its potential effect
on the caregiver’s response effort, and as an indication of the child’s distress.
Measurement Procedures
Achieving continence is a developmental milestone that typically occurs outside of

clinical intervention and experimental arrangements (Choby & George, 2008). As
such, monitoring toilet training progress presents unique challenges. Measurement
allows determination if intervention is warranted and if so, if it is effective. Methods
of data collection have to be selected for their feasibility in children’s homes,
schools, and day care settings and for use by parents, teachers, and day care provid-
ers. It should be noted that the more effort required by data collectors to obtain
information the less likely it will be collected (Friman & Poling, 1995). The effec-
tiveness of toilet training can be directly measured and recorded in a number of
ways using time sampling, permanent product, and event recording measures.
Time sampling Toileting events occur intermittently throughout the day. They are
brief, discrete, unpredictable, yet certain. As such, time-sampling is relevant, espe-
cially during baseline, when no schedule (i.e., structured/scheduled sits) is applied
to a child’s voids, and continuous observation for toileting occurrences may not be
feasible. Time-sampling involves the division of an interval of time into smaller,
equal intervals and recording the presence or absence of a behavior during that
interval. There are several types of time-sampling methods, including whole-
interval, partial-interval, and momentary time sampling. Partial-interval recording,
which is used to assess whether a behavior occurred at any point in an interval, may
be the most relevant procedure for recording voiding events.
For example, Simon and Thompson (2006) conducted pants checks to assess
wetness every 15 min. Pants checks identify the occurrence of voids even if they are
otherwise not easily noticeable. As a urine stain only reveals the occurrence of an
accident, rather than its precise occurrence in time, pants checks during regular,
short intervals may be the most accurate means of detecting the number of voids and
their approximate distribution in time, in lieu of moisture alarms, which allow
timely detection but are subject to artifact.
Time sampling also is relevant to recording problem behavior during toilet

training. As noted above, problem behavior has the potential to interfere with toilet
training, yet is rarely reported in research. Problem behaviors, such as yelling and
hitting, occur with varying frequency and duration. As such, a partial-interval data
collection procedure may be most appropriate. However, time sampling is more
complex than other data collection procedures because it requires a response during
each interval, and therefore, may be most feasible in research settings. At the most
basic level, a data collection system could include recording the presence or absence
of problem behavior at any point in the chain of behavior involved in each toilet
training trial, although this would reflect the limits of any large interval recording
procedure and would underestimate occurrences of problem behavior (Cooper,
Heron & Heward, 2007).
Permanent product recording Permanent product measurement occurs after a
behavior takes place by detecting the effect of the target behavior on the environ-
ment, rather than by observing the behavior itself (Cooper et al., 2007). As urination
occurs quietly, detection often occurs after the fact. Permanent product of out of-
toilet voids are detected by feeling or seeing wetness on the child’s clothes or nearby
items after the behavior occurred (Simon & Thompson, 2006). For example, there
are diaper products that change colors as a function of urination and these can be
used in combination with time sampling procedures to record the presence or
absence of wetting during standard intervals of time.
Event recording Event recording captures the occurrence of a target behavior
(e.g., a child’s voids) reported as the frequency (i.e., absolute number) or rate (i.e.,
the frequency of voids over unit of time), such as per day (LeBlanc et al., 2005) or
school day (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002). Event recording is relevant to toilet training
because in- and out-of-toilet voids are discrete events with a clear beginning and
end, and are relatively brief. Event recording also is feasible from a resources point
of view as voids are relatively infrequent and successes and accidents, as well as
self-initiations, are easily detectable and easily recorded. Event recording holds
advantages over time sampling in that recording only needs to occur in response to
voids, and therefore, requires less response effort than time sampling methods.
However, event recording assumes a reliable observational procedure that captures
all relevant occurrences of the target behavior as they occur in real time, which is
not always possible.
Procedural Integrity
Procedural integrity is important to successful implementation of either the child-

oriented method or the Foxx and Azrin procedure. The latter procedure is the most
commonly researched (Warzak, Forcino, Sanberg, & Gross, 2016) and requires
the more structured protocol of the two. The Foxx and Azrin procedure is a
Table 3 Suggested materials used for toilet training

Cotton briefs with moisture detecting snaps inserted in the crotch area
Potty chair or toilet with foot stool and ring.
Urine alerts
Pants alarms
Small table
Variety of fluids
Available reinforcers (reinforcement menu of tangible rewards, special activities, friends who
care, etc.)
Individually marked drinking glasses
Kitchen timer or pocket timer
Cloths
Toilet training procedure protocol
Progress record forms or chart
Note. Adapted from Azrin and Foxx (1974), Foxx and Azrin (1973b), and Schaefer (1979)
multi-component procedure, but over time, many of the components have fallen into
disuse and are not commonly found in research with typically developing children
(Warzak et al., 2016). A small number of components comprise the majority of
commonly reported procedures used with typically developing children. A checklist
of these components–that is, fluid loading, differential response to dry/wet pants
upon pants checks, prompted practice trials, fading prompts, and thinning the sched-
ule of reinforcement for dry pants and voids in the toilet–would provide a measure
of procedural integrity. Combining this with measures of readiness skills (Table 1),
instructional control (Table 2) and basic materials (Table 3) provides monitoring of
procedural integrity that affects the success or failure of the training procedure.
Inter-Observer Agreement
Reliability refers to the consistency with which an event was measured (Cooper
et al., 2007) and is often assessed with inter-observer agreement (IOA) procedures.
These procedures require that at least two individuals independently observe and
record a portion of the events (e.g., 33% of sessions) under study. To determine the
level of observer agreement, data from two observers are compared, and the level of
agreement between them is expressed as a percentage. Although IOA does not pro-
vide information regarding how accurately the measures reflect the true value of the
event under study, it has the potential to increase the believability of the measures
by indicating how often two independent observers recorded the same outcome
when observing the same event.
Interobserver-agreement procedures are standard throughout much of behavioral
research, but occasionally absent from toilet training research. Cicero and Pfadt
(2002) stated that they did not conduct reliability checks because accidents and
s elf-initiations were clearly defined and easily observed. Another reason that IOA
may occasionally not be collected is because a second observer may not be avail-
able, given the unpredictable timing and relatively low frequency of toileting events.
This issue may be accommodated in schools, when a second staff member may
serve as a reliability observer, but appears as a particular obstacle relevant to toilet
training in home settings. For example, in-home training programs frequently use a
parent as the primary data collector, but it may be intrusive and unrealistic to have a
second experimental observer in the home to obtain sufficient amounts of IOA data.
This issue may be resolved by having a second parent record IOA data when
possible (e.g., nights and weekends). It is also possible that the frequency of toilet
training research in children’s natural environments may increase if it was accept-
able to conduct IOA on a lower proportion of the data that is commonly done in
behavioral research, or to include indirect measures of IOA (e.g., phone calls) as
supplements to direct measures.
Summary and Future Directions
Most toilet training procedures occur without benefit of measurement, data collec-
tion, or experimental design. Training is conducted by parents without professional
assistance and it is not uncommon for children to practically train themselves.
Nevertheless, there are children who require professional assistance, as well as
researchers who pursue the most effective and efficient training procedures. For
these individuals, measurement is essential. We have highlighted the most com-
monly implemented data collection procedures and dependent measures in pursuit
of these goals.
Comprehensive progress monitoring entails measures of child readiness and
procedural integrity as well as measures of toileting itself. Data collection and
dependent measures must conform to children’s natural environments and caregiv-
ers’ ability to observe and record. Confusing the situation is the lack of a consensus
definition of what comprises successful toilet training. Just how much of the routine
must be completed independently and what percentage of the time remain open
questions.
We would note that compliance issues are among the least referenced in the toilet
training literature, yet we believe these are among the most important prerequisite
skills in toilet training. Training a child who is not under instructional control
of parent or staff can become a major challenge emphasizing the importance of
compliance assessment and careful measurement of behavioral disturbance as a
function of different training procedures.
There are a number of unresolved questions pertaining to the importance of par-
ticular readiness skills and which toilet training procedures are most efficient and
effective. One practical obstacle to answering these questions is the fact that conti-
nence is the norm and the number of individuals who experience difficulty acquir-
ing continence skills is very small relative to the overall population, limiting research
funds to support related projects. Perhaps the larger issues raised here could be
enfolded within large longitudinal population based studies which investigate
demographics and public health outcomes. In this way, the relationship between
toileting readiness, for example, and toileting independence could be economically
evaluated over time. Regardless, inroads in toilet training, whether they be through
large population-based efforts or the result of small-n studies, as featured here,
require precise measurement and progress monitoring.
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Applications of Operant-Based Behavioral
Principles to Toilet Training
Hollie V. Wingate, Terry S. Falcomata, and Raechal Ferguson
Introduction
In this chapter, we describe the application of principles and mechanisms derived

from basic experimental analysis of behavior (EAB) and applied behavior analysis
(ABA) to toilet training methods and procedures. Going back to the seminal studies
published Azrin and Foxx (1971) and Foxx and Azrin (1973), ABA has an effective
and extensive record of success in terms of the application of operant-based behav-
ioral principles and mechanisms in the area of toilet training. Specifically, reinforce-
ment, punishment, and stimulus control-based procedures have served, historically,
as the operant-based foundations for effective toilet training procedures. Within this
chapter, we define operant-based behavioral principles and describe ABA-based
procedures and examples of the application of various behavioral principles to toilet
training. In this chapter we provide a brief review of the relationship between EAB
and ABA, a review of the application of behavioral principles (i.e., reinforcement,
punishment, stimulus control) within toilet training procedures, and we discuss
additional toilet training behavioral techniques (i.e., prompting strategies, sched-
uled sitting procedures, increased fluid intake, urinary alarm systems). Each of the
subsections pertaining to the application of operant-based behavioral principles
begins with a definition of the principle followed by the description of several
empirical-based studies illustrating their application within toilet training
procedures.
H.V. Wingate • R. Ferguson

University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
T.S. Falcomata (*)
Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin,
1 University Station/D5300, Austin, TX 78712, USA

120 H.V. Wingate et al.
ABA and the Application of Principles of Behavior
ABA is a field that has existed for more than 50 years. Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968)
asserted that “Applied Behavior Analysis is the process of systematically applying
interventions based upon the principles of learning theory to improve socially sig-
nificant behaviors to a meaningful degree, and to demonstrate that the interventions
employed are responsible for the improvement in behavior.” ABA is one of three
branches of the discipline of behavior analysis, with the other two being behavior-
ism (i.e., the philosophical focus behavior analysis; e.g., Radical Behaviorism) and
EAB. The primary focus of the field of ABA is the direct assessment of functional
relations between socially relevant behaviors and environment-based variables
(Roane & Betz, 2012). The field of ABA was a direct result of the research devel-
oped in the area of EAB. The experimental analysis of behavior began with
B.F. Skinner and his research that demonstrated that behavior could be overt,
recorded, and studied. Skinner manipulated environmental variables, including the
consequences that immediately followed behavior, and how those consequences
affected behavior. Through the early works of Skinner and the subsequent works of
other researchers conducting work in the area of EAB and ABA, principles and
mechanisms of behavior were identified and established and continue to be studied
today.
The principles and behavioral mechanisms discovered in EAB are the same prin-
ciples that underlie ABA and serve as the foundations from which effective prac-
tices have been derived, developed, and applied by ABA clinicians. The application
of these basic, underlying behavioral principles and mechanisms has enabled ABA
to stand as an evidence-based practice across settings including in-home, clinic, and
school settings, across populations including individuals with developmental and
intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and other disabilities and
across myriad target behaviors and child-based clinical issues including toileting
issues.
ABA-based procedures, based on behavioral principles, have been applied as
behavior change tools across many domains including academic interventions, self-
help skills, challenging behavior, functional communication training, and many
other socially significant behaviors. One domain with a large body of research in
terms of the application of ABA practices is toilet training. Felce and Perry (1995),
along with the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQL 1995), estab-
lished parameters in regard to incontinence that could be considered quality of life
impairments including poor hygiene, physical discomfort, restricted access to some
environments, stigmatism, and self-esteem issues. For individuals without this criti-
cal skill, quality of life may be significantly diminished (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002).
Individuals with developmental disabilities often are more difficult to train with
toileting skills due to various deficits and often require more support and more
intensive intervention (e.g., Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Ellis, 1963; Foxx & Azrin, 1973;
Lancioni, 1980; Luiselli, 1994). Ellis (1963) published the first toilet training study
that used a simple paradigm where cues were presented and positive reinforcement
Behavioral Principles and Toilet Training 121
was provided contingent on toileting successes. Following several replication stud-

ies that utilized procedures involving positive reinforcement (e.g., Hundziak,
Maurer, & Watson, 1965; Van Wagenen, Meyerson, Kerr, & Mahoney, 1969), Azrin
and Foxx (1971) published the most cited and comprehensive toilet training proto-
col (Kroeger & Sorenson-Burnworth, 2009). The Rapid Toilet Training (RTT; Azrin
& Foxx, 1971) method quickly became a preferred toilet training protocol. RTT
incorporated several procedures that involved the application of behavioral princi-
ples including reinforcement, punishment, and stimulus control-based procedures.
The RTT components will be discussed at various points in this chapter as we dis-
cuss the application of these various behavioral principles during toilet training
procedures.
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is a basic component of operant conditionings (Skinner, 1953) and

is often regarded as the most important principle of behavior specifically as it per-
tains to applied behavioral programming (Cooper et al. 2007; Roane & Betz, 2012).
Three components dictate the presence of reinforcement including (a) the presence
of immediate consequences following a behavior, (b) an increase in the likelihood
of the behavior occurring in the future, and (c) an increase in the behavior is func-
tionally related to the immediate consequences and not due to other variables.
Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement are the two types (or processes)
of reinforcement, and they are distinct in terms of their inherent processes.
If a stimulus is presented, or provided, following a behavior and this produces an
increase in the likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future, positive rein-
forcement has occurred (Skinner, 1953). In other words, positive reinforcement is
defined as a process in which the presentation of a stimulus, or reinforcer, following
the occurrence of a behavior, increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur
again in the future. The stimulus that is presented following the target behavior is
referred to as a positive reinforcer, or simply a reinforcer. For example, if a child
asks for a cookie and the child’s mother immediately gives the child a cookie fol-
lowing the request, the likelihood that the child will ask for a cookie in the future
will increase; thus positive reinforcement has occurred. In other words, the future
probability of any particular behavior is increased by the consequence in the form
of delivery of reinforcers. Positive reinforcers with children can include preferred
edibles, such as snacks, candy, or sips of preferred drink items; sensory reinforcers
such as tactile stimulation, vibration, or flashing lights; tangible reinforcers such as
preferred toys, stickers, or other preferred items; activity reinforcers, such as play-
ing a preferred game or going on a highly desired outing; or social reinforcers in the
form of physical contact (i.e., hugs, high fives) and social praise or recognition.
If a stimulus is removed following a behavior and this produces an increase in the
likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future, negative reinforcement has
occurred (Skinner, 1953). In other words, negative reinforcement is defined as a
process in which the removal of a stimulus following the occurrence of a behavior

increases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the future. The stimu-
lus that is removed following the target behavior may be referred to as an aversive
stimulus (Skinner, 1953), in which the removal or avoidance of that stimulus is
reinforcing. For example, if a child asks for a break from homework and the child’s
mother immediately responds by allowing the child to take a break, the likelihood
that the child will ask for a break from homework in the future will increase; thus
negative reinforcement has occurred. In other words, the future probability of any
particular behavior is increased by the consequence in the form of the termination
of aversive events. Negative reinforcers with children can include breaks from non-
preferred activities such as academic or vocational work; the avoidance of aversive
consequences such as error correction, positive practice, or other non-preferred con-
sequences; or the delay of aversive events.
Although the process of reinforcement is a naturally occurring phenomenon that
affects the behavior of all organisms on an ongoing basis (Skinner, 1953), applied
behavior analysts have utilized knowledge of the principle of reinforcement to bring
about socially important behavior changes. Specifically, the behavioral principles of
positive and negative reinforcement have been applied effectively across a wide
variety of target behaviors and skills, populations, and settings. Likewise, positive
and negative reinforcement have played an integral role in effective toilet training
programs and methods.
Positive Reinforcement and Toilet Training
Azrin and Foxx (1971) pioneered the seminal study with regard to the application
of behavioral principles to toilet training, and their procedures involved a particular
focus on the application of positive reinforcement. Azrin and Foxx asserted that
toilet training is a social process that relies on operant conditioning, including a
primary focus on positive reinforcement. In the study, the authors evaluated toilet
training methods with nine adults with severe intellectual disabilities in a residential
institutional setting. Specifically, the authors implemented a group design in which
the participants were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control condition.
Prior to the study, the participants had been exposed to a toileting schedule routine
intervention; however, incontinence had continued to be a primary concern. The
general procedure implemented by Azrin and Foxx involved, among other compo-
nents (to be discussed in other sections of this chapter), the provision of reinforcers
contingent on appropriate toileting behavior (e.g., demonstration by the participants
of correct toilet behaviors, dry pants) based on the behavioral principle of positive
reinforcement that suggested that future appropriate toileting behavior would
increase as a result of the process. The incorporation of positive reinforcement,
within a broader treatment package that included the application of other behavioral
principles, was demonstrated to be effective at increasing toileting skills in the par-
ticipants in the treatment condition.
A large number of subsequent studies following the conceptualization provided

by Azrin and Foxx (1971) pertaining to toilet training have demonstrated the posi-
tive effects of the application of positive reinforcement. For example, Halligan and
Luyben (2009) applied positive reinforcement within a toilet training program with
two typically developing individuals. Prior to the study, attempts by their parents to
toilet train had been unsuccessful with two sisters (aged 2.5 and 3.5), one of whom
was “perfectly content to wear a diaper” (p. 179; Halligan & Luyben, 2009) and the
other of whom occasionally requested use of the toilet but wore a diaper the major-
ity of the time. Pretreatment naturalistic and anecdotal observations suggested that
both girls preferred social attention and approval, highly preferred foods, and any or
all items that involved princesses. The authors utilized a multiple baseline single-
subject experimental design to evaluate the effects of positive reinforcement while
tracking occurrences of wet diaper as well as engagement in appropriate toilet use.
During baseline, salty snacks and juice were provided to the two girls to increase
their fluid intake, and no prompts were provided to use the toilet. During the subse-
quent treatment condition, the authors continued to provide salty foods and juice,
and in addition, they (a) conducted diaper checks on a 30-min schedule, (b) prompted
the girls to use the toilet (i.e., “do you need to use the potty?”; “would you like to be
a big girl and try to use the potty?”; Halligan & Luyben, 2009), and (c) and provided
praise and approval contingent on compliance in the form of use of the toilet. Over
time, the authors faded their use of vocal prompts in favor the use of the positive
reinforcers alone. The authors subsequently introduced an additional procedural
variation in which following the girls’ demonstration of 90% compliance and initia-
tions, they earned access to princess underwear. The overall results demonstrated
that the positive reinforcement procedure effectively decreased the rate of wet dia-
pers and significantly increased the girls’ appropriate use of the toilet and their
acquisition of toileting skills; and the introduction of princess underwear eliminated
accidents completely.
Post and Kirkpatrick (2004) provided another example of the application of posi-
tive reinforcement during toilet training. In the study, the authors implemented toilet
training with a 3.5-year-old boy diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder
(PDD). Prior to the study, several potential positive reinforcers were identified
based on their effectiveness during daily living skill programming and educational
activities; reinforcers included praise, attention, and preferred videos. The authors
implemented toilet training sessions in the home. Initially, during pre-study assess-
ment, the child wore only training pants during the course of the study, and routines
and fluid intake were not changed from what was considered a typical day. The
authors collected baseline data on natural occurrences of untrained urination to
determine the times in which urinations were most likely to occur. Following the
pre-study assessment, Phase I was implemented during which the authors reintro-
duced the diaper and the participant was taken to the toilet every 30 min for 5-min
sittings; he was checked for wet or dryness every 15 min. During Phase I, the 30-min
trip schedule was implemented for the entire 8–10 h per day of training. The authors
employed a strategy in which the participant spent 20 min on the toilet during each
30-min interval (see also Azrin and Foxx, 1971). The authors provided positive
reinforcement in the form of praise for compliant toilet sitting and access to a pre-
ferred video for on-toilet urination. When the participant was not on the toilet, the
authors conducted checks every 5 min. If the participant was wet, the authors stated
“you’re wet” in a neutral tone and changed the participant. The authors provided
positive reinforcement in the form of enthusiastic praise when the participant was
dry. The authors progressively decreased the sitting schedule as the participant dem-
onstrated increased occurrences of urination on the toilet and decreasing accidents
off the toilet (i.e., he met an 80% criteria for on-toilet urination across the day).
Overall, the results showed that the participant increased urination in the toilet
through the use of positive reinforcement in the form of access to social praise and
videos. Also, of particular note, Post and Kirkpatrick demonstrated the effectiveness
of praise and nonconsumable reinforcers in lieu of edibles.
Luiselli (1997) provided another demonstration of the effectiveness of the appli-
cation of positive reinforcement during toilet training with an 8-year-old boy with
PDD. The participant was recruited for the study because he did not engage in toi-
leting behaviors in the school setting. Although he occasionally engaged in indepen-
dent toileting in the home setting, while at school he did not urinate while on the
toilet even though he independently entered the bathroom and complied with
requests to sit on the toilet. As a result, the participant wore a diaper at home and in
his school setting. The authors focused on two target behaviors including in-toilet
urination and incontinence (i.e., urination in the diaper or underwear). Following a
baseline condition in which the author instituted two bathroom visits per day with
no other intervention components,
Phase I of intervention was implemented in which the author conducted one
scheduled bathroom visit per day. Phase I also included a positive reinforcement
component in which the author provided a reinforcer (i.e., drinking water from a
preferred bottle) contingent on successful urination in the toilet. In addition,
instances of accidents during Phase I resulted in changing into dry underwear or a
diaper. During Phase II, the author kept all conditions from Phase I constant with
the exception of the addition of a second scheduled daily bathroom visit. Further,
the participant was required to successfully urinate in the toilet during both visits to
earn access to the reinforcer (i.e., the water bottle). Thus, the author implemented an
increasing criterion for reinforcement representing an example of reinforcement
thinning. During Phase III, the author implemented further reinforcement thinning
with the water bottle by slowly increasing the requirements for reinforcement (i.e.,
reinforcement was provided every second, then third, then fourth successful urina-
tion in the toilet) until the reinforcer was successfully eliminated from the procedure
in favor of praise alone. The purpose of the reinforcement-thinning component was
to maintain toileting skills within naturalistic conditions and everyday occurrences.
The overall results showed that the use of positive reinforcement effectively pro-
duced independent toileting behavior.
Negative Reinforcement and Toilet Training
Rolider and Van Houten (1985) utilized a negative reinforcement strategy to address
encopresis during toilet training with a typically developing 12-year-old girl. The
authors reported that prior to the study, the participant’s parents had attempted sev-
eral unsuccessful strategies over the 5-year period in which she had been exhibiting
the toileting issues; these included Rogerian family therapy, reprimands, punish-
ment in the form of keeping her at home contingent on accidents, and planned
ignoring. The authors employed a reversal single-subject experimental design to
evaluate the effectiveness of negative reinforcement procedures relative to baseline,
a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure, and a DRO with
overcorrection procedure. It should be noted that the authors attempted positive
reinforcement-based procedures (unsuccessfully) prior to their employment of neg-
ative reinforcement procedures. The DRO procedure consisted of the provision of
chocolate candy and a coupon contingent on clean underwear during hourly checks;
the coupons were exchangeable for additional reinforcers. The DRO procedure was
unsuccessful, and thus, the authors integrated an overcorrection procedure with
DRO that consisted of requiring the participant to hand-wash her dirty underwear;
the combination of DRO and overcorrection was not effective. The negative rein-
forcement procedure the authors implemented subsequently consisted of requiring
the participant to sit on the toilet each morning after waking up for a 20-min period
or until she defecated. She was not required to sit on the toilet again that day if she
defecated during the initial 20-min period in the morning. If she did not defecate
during the allotted 20-min period in the morning, she was required to sit on the toilet
for a longer period of time (i.e., 40 min) during another scheduled bathroom trip. If
she defecated during this time, she was not required again to sit on the toilet during
that day; however, if she did not have a bowel movement during this time, the time
was automatically increased to 90 min on the toilet during a third scheduled bath-
room trip. The results of Rolider and Van Houten demonstrated that the negative
reinforcement procedure effectively decreased soiling and increased successful
bowel movements in the toilet. Of particular note was the fact that the negative
reinforcement procedure was effective in a situation in which positive reinforce-
ment had been tried and shown to be ineffective.
Luiselli (2007) provided an additional example of the use of negative reinforce-
ment during toilet training. Luiselli’s procedures were similar to those described by
Rolidar and Van Houten (1985) in that the participant was not responsive to positive
reinforcement procedures prior to the implementation of negative reinforcement
procedures. The participant was a 6-year-old boy with multiple disabilities includ-
ing deafness, mild vision impairment, and developmental disabilities. He also had
deficits in language, and his communication skills included signs and gestures. Prior
to the study, the participant had never successfully urinated in the toilet. The authors
employed a sequential condition (ABCDC) clinical case study design to evaluate
the effects of the negative reinforcement procedure. During the initial baseline con-
dition (and during all subsequent conditions), the participant wore disposable
d iapers and engaged in nine scheduled bathroom visits throughout the day; each
visit entailed 3-min sits on the toilet. During baseline, the staff prompted the partici-
pant to urinate in the toilet and provided praise contingent on successful urinations
in the toilet. During the first treatment condition (Intervention I), positive reinforce-
ment was provided in the form of a preferred candy contingent on successful urina-
tionss in the toilet; the initial treatment approach was unsuccessful, and thus, the
authors implemented a subsequent modified treatment condition. The second treat-
ment condition (Intervention II) was identical to the initial treatment condition
except that the participant also received access to play for 10–15 min following
successful urinations in the toilet; this treatment approach was also unsuccessful
which resulted in additional modifications to the treatment during a subsequent
treatment condition. During the third treatment condition (Intervention III), similar
to Rolidar and Van Houten, a negative reinforcement component was incorporated
in which the participant was required to remain seated on the toilet until he urinated.
In addition, the author implemented a component of the Azrin and Foxx (1971) RTT
protocol in which the participant was instructed to sit for 20 min each half-hour and
on nearby chair during the other 10 min of the 30-min sitting interval. Contingent
on successful urination in the toilet, the participant was provided with praise, an
edible, and he was allowed to leave the bathroom to play with toys. The results of
the study indicated that the use of negative reinforcement was an effective toilet
training.
Punishment
Like reinforcement, punishment is a basic component of operant conditioning

(Cooper et al., 2007; Skinner, 1953). Punishment can be inferred to have occurred
when the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future is decreased due to a
change in the environment immediately following the behavior. Similar to the
mechanism of reinforcement described above, two types (or processes) of punish-
ment are positive and negative punishment, and they are distinct in terms of their
inherent processes.
If a stimulus is presented, or provided, following a behavior and it produces a
decrease in the likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future, positive punish-
ment has occurred (Cooper et al., 2007; Skinner, 1953). In other words, positive
punishment is defined as a process in which the presentation of a stimulus, or aver-
sive consequence, following the occurrence of a behavior, decreases the likelihood
that the behavior will occur again in the future. For example, if a child is scolded for
stealing candy from the candy jar, and the stealing behavior decreases, positive
punishment has occurred. In the above example, scolding was the addition of an
aversive stimulus that resulted in a decrease in the candy-stealing behavior.
If a stimulus is removed following a behavior and this produces a decrease in the
likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future, negative reinforcement has
occurred (Cooper et al., 2007; Skinner, 1953). In other words, negative punishment
is defined as a process in which the removal of a stimulus following the occurrence

of a behavior decreases the likelihood that the behavior will occur again in the
future. The stimulus that is removed following the target behavior is typically a type
of reinforcer, the removal of which is an aversive event for the individual. It should
also be noted that a stimulus could be removed from the environment, or access to
positive reinforcement could be blocked. An example of a negative punishment is a
time-out procedure. During time-out, which is implemented as a result of an indi-
vidual’s engagement in a target problem behavior, the individual’s access to rein-
forcement (e.g., a reinforcing activity) is removed or denied resulting in a decrease
in the likelihood that the individual will engage in the problem behavior in the
future. Another example is a response cost system in which a child may gain tokens
for engaging in appropriate behavior, such as remaining quiet during circle time
(i.e., positive reinforcement). However, if the child engages in disruptive behavior,
a token is removed (i.e., negative punishment). If the loss of the token decreases the
future occurrences of disruptive behavior, negative punishment will have occurred.
Similar to reinforcement, punishment is a naturally occurring phenomenon that
affects the behavior of all organisms on an ongoing basis (Skinner, 1953). Also
similar to reinforcement, applied behavior analysts have utilized the principle of
punishment to decrease undesirable behaviors. Likewise, positive and negative pun-
ishment procedures have been utilized frequently as integral roles in effective toilet
training programs and methods.
Punishment and Toilet Training
The seminal studies by Azrin and Foxx (1971) and Foxx and Azrin (1973) included
positive and negative punishment procedures. Specifically, several procedural com-
ponents of the treatments implemented by Azrin and Foxx and Foxx and Azrin,
among others (i.e., positive reinforcement), entailed either the provision (i.e., posi-
tive punishment; e.g., overcorrection, positive practice) or removal (i.e., negative
punishment, time-out from reinforcement) of stimuli contingent on accidents and
other problematic toileting behaviors. These components were based on the behav-
ioral principle of punishment that suggested that future undesirable toileting behav-
ior would decrease as a result of the application of the negative consequences. The
incorporation of punishment procedures, within a broader treatment package that
included the application of other behavioral principles (i.e., positive reinforcement)
and behavioral-based tactics (i.e., scheduled sits, increased fluid intake, urinary
alarm system), was demonstrated to be effective at decreasing problematic toileting
behaviors in both Azrin and Foxx and Foxx and Azrin.
As discussed by Kroeger and Sorensen-Burnworth (2009), there appears to be
less of an emphasis on punishment-based procedures in recent research pertaining
to toilet training. This is likely a result of a general focus and emphasis on
reinforcement- based procedures in lieu of, or prior to, the implementation of
punishment- based procedures. In ABA, for example, the Behavior Analyst
Certification Board (BACB) code of ethics includes considerations pertaining to the

application of punishment procedures including (a) that applied behavior analysts
should utilize and recommend reinforcement instead of punishment whenever pos-
sible; (b) when punishment procedures are necessary, reinforcement-based proce-
dures should always also be included within the treatment; and (c) prior to the use
of punishment-based procedures, reinforcement-based approaches should be evalu-
ated (BACB, 2014). Although recent focus has shifted the emphasis to reinforcement-
based approaches with an emphasis on punishment-based procedures, such
procedures have a “defined place in toileting history” (Kroeger & Soren-Burnworth,
2009). Further, many recent studies on toilet training procedures include punish-
ment components (e.g., positive practice, vocal reprimands) although they may not
be referred to as punishment-based procedures when described within the articles
(Kroeger & Soren-Burnworth, 2009). Given the historical use of punishment-based
procedures, the success rates of toilet training procedures that include punishment-
based procedures, and the fact that many previous and recent studies (e.g., Ardic &
Cavkaytar, 2014; Averink, Melein, & Duker, 2005; Didden, Sikkema, Bosman,
Duker, & Curfs, 2001; Duker, Averink, & Melein, 2001; Lancioni, 1980; LeBlanc,
Carr, Crossett, Bennett, & Detweiler; 2005) have included punishment-based com-
ponents, any discussion of operant-based behavioral principles and their application
to toilet training must include a discussion of punishment-based procedures.
Positive Punishment and Toilet Training
Subsequent studies following the seminal papers by Azrin and Foxx (1971) and
Foxx and Azrin (1973) have demonstrated the positive effects of positive punish-
ment during toilet training. For example, Didden et al. (2001) applied positive pun-
ishment in the treatment of toileting issues. Specifically, Didden et al. implemented
a treatment package similar to the one described by Azrin and Foxx (1971) with six
individuals with Angelman syndrome. The authors evaluated the effects of the treat-
ment package using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants of single-
subject experimental design. Following a baseline condition in which dry checks
were implemented hourly with no consequences for appropriate or problematic toi-
leting behavior, the authors implemented training procedures consisting of both
positive reinforcement (i.e., edibles and praise every 5 min contingent on dry pants
and correct toileting responses) and positive punishment. The positive punishment
procedures consisted of (a) requiring the participant to feel his/her wet pants, (b) a
verbal reprimand, (c) requiring the participant to walk to the laundry area to retrieve
dry clothes, and (d) requiring the participant to clean the area where the accident
occurred. A negative punishment component was also included in the form of the
removal of toys from the bathroom area and a 1-h time-out interval from positive
reinforcement. When success was achieved with the above procedures (i.e., no acci-
dents for 3 consecutive days), the authors implemented a subsequent treatment con-
dition in which the time-out procedures were discontinued. Over time, the schedule
of pants checks was also thinned. The results showed that the treatment package
was effective at increasing independent toileting skills and successful urinations and
decreasing urination accidents in children with Angelman syndrome.
Averink et al. (2005) provided another example of the effects of positive punish-
ment. Averink et al. conducted toilet training with 40 individuals with a variety of
disabilities including Down’s syndrome, autism, rhesus antagonism, Noonan syn-
drome, Williams-Beuren syndrome, and Angelman syndrome. The authors utilized
a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants of single-subject experimen-
tal design to evaluate the effects of the toilet training treatment package on urinary
accidents. During baseline, the authors removed the participant’s diaper and imple-
mented scheduled toileting visits every 1–2 h. The authors provided praise during
baseline contingent on successful urinations in the toilet. During the training phase,
a trainer conducted treatment in a bathroom with the participant. The trainer
prompted the participant to stand near the toilet and blocked all attempts to sit on
the floor, walk away from the toilet, and engage in stereotypy and other behaviors
not including lowering their pants and sitting on the toilet. Contingent on successful
urinations in the toilet, the trainer delivered positive reinforcement in the form of
praise and immediate access to preferred activities. Slowly, over time, the trainer
increased the distance the participant was allowed to move away from the toilet.
Contingent on all toileting accidents, the trainer immediately implemented a posi-
tive punishment procedure in the form of positive practice. The positive practice
procedures consisted of requiring the participant to (a) go to the bathroom (the
vicinity of distance from the toilet specified by the current trainings step) and (b)
approach the toilet, lower his/her pants, and sit on the toilet for 3 s, (c) requiring the
participant to raise her/her pants and move to a different part of the bathroom; and
(d) the trainer repeated this sequence of steps four times following each accident.
The results of the study showed that the treatment package, including the positive
practice positive punishment procedure, decreased accidents across the clear major-
ity of the 40 participants.
LeBlanc et al. (2005) provided an additional example of the application of posi-
tive punishment within an intensive outpatient behavioral treatment with three chil-
dren with autism and urinary incontinence. The authors utilized a nonconcurrent
multiple baseline across participants of single-subject experimental design to evalu-
ate the effects of their treatment package on accidents and self-initiations. First,
LeBlanc et al. conducted a preference assessment (i.e., Reinforcer Assessment for
Individuals with Severe Disabilities, Fisher, Piazza, Bowman, & Amari 1996) to
identify potential positive reinforcers to be incorporated within the treatment proce-
dures. Following a baseline condition in the absence of treatment, the authors
implemented a set of intensive training procedures that consisted of, among other
components (e.g., sitting schedule, increased fluids), communication training, posi-
tive and negative reinforcement contingent on successful urinations and self-
initiations (e.g., access to high-preferred toys, foods, and beverages; escape from
the toilet), and positive punishment procedures in the form of positive practice. The
positive practice procedures consisted of the authors (a) rapidly transitioning the
participant to the toilets after providing a vocal verbal prompt (“no wet pants”); (b)
requiring the participant to remove his/her pants, sit briefly on the toilet, stand, and
replace the wet clothes; and (c) repeating this sequence of steps four times follow-
ing each accident. The results clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of the training
package including the positive punishment procedures.
Negative Punishment and Toilet Training
Azrin and Foxx (1971), in their seminal study, incorporated a negative punishment
component within their broader treatment package approach. Specifically, contin-
gent on the occurrence of accidents, the authors implemented 1-h time-out proce-
dures in which they removed the participant’s access to edibles and praise that were
being provided every 5 min, they removed the participant’s access to fluids (every
30 min), and they removed the participant’s access to a chair. Thus, the authors
removed stimuli contingent on accidents to decrease the likelihood that accidents
would occur in the future. Azrin and Foxx combined these negative punishment
procedures with positive punishment, reinforcement, and stimulus control proce-
dures. Although it is difficult to determine the relative effects of the different ele-
ments of Azrin and Foxx’s procedures, that application of negative punishment was
a clear component of the treatment package.
Ardic and Cavkaytar (2014) incorporated a negative punishment procedure
within a treatment package to decrease occurrences of urination in the pants with
three children with autism diagnoses. The authors employed a multiple probe
single-subject experimental design to evaluate the effects of their intervention.
Following a baseline condition, the authors implemented a treatment consisting of
a package of procedures including prompts, scheduled toilet visits, differential rein-
forcement of sitting (with access to toys provided as long as the participant sat on
the toilet), positive reinforcement contingent on urination in the toilet, and negative
punishment. With regard to the negative punishment element, specifically, the
authors implemented two components that functioned as negative punishment
including (a) removal of access to a toy in the case that he urinated in his pants and
(b) a time-out from reinforcement for 10 min following urinations in the pants. It
should also be noted that if the participant remained dry for the full 10-min time-out
period, the authors immediately provided access to reinforcers. The result showed
that the treatment package was effective at decreasing urination in the pants and
increasing appropriate toileting skills.
Stimulus Control
When a behavior occurs at a higher frequency in the presence of a particular stimu-

lus (i.e., a discriminative stimulus) relative to the absence of the stimulus, the behav-
ior can be considered a discriminated operant that is under stimulus control (Cooper
et al., 2007). The process of stimulus control directly involves the behavioral prin-
ciple of reinforcement in that for a discriminative stimulus to come to reliably occa-
sion a particular behavior, the behavior must be sufficiently reinforced in the
presence of the stimulus. Also referred to as the “three-term contingency” (A, ante-
cedent; B, behavior; C, consequence; Cooper et al., 2007), this process entails the
reinforcement (C) of a behavior (B) in the presence of a particular antecedent (A).
For example, a child’s requesting behavior may be considered under stimulus con-
trol when a green card signals to the child that a break from work is available con-
tingent on requests for a break if needed; and the child reliably emits requests in the
presence of the green card. Further, other stimuli other than the green card (e.g., a
red card) reliably signal that requests for breaks will not be reinforced and, thus,
requests do not occur in the presence of stimuli other than the green card.
Similar to the behavioral principles of reinforcement and punishment, stimulus
control is a naturally occurring phenomenon that affects the behavior of all organ-
isms. In addition, applied behavior analysts often incorporate stimulus control pro-
cedures and considerations into their clinical practice with individuals with
disabilities in terms of both skill acquisition programming and treatments of chal-
lenging behavior. Additionally, stimulus control processes play crucial roles in indi-
viduals’ demonstration of problematic toileting behaviors, their acquisition of
appropriate toileting skills, and their engagement in appropriate toileting skills and
behavior over time and across different settings.
Stimulus Control and Toilet Training
Azrin and Foxx (1971) provided an initial example of the application of the behav-
ioral principle of stimulus control in their seminal study. Specifically, Azrin and
Foxx sought to establish stimulus control with urination in the toilet. The authors
implemented stimulus control procedures by maximizing, to the extent possible, the
pairing of urinations with sitting on the toilet. They did this by requiring the partici-
pants to sit on the toilet every 30 min for durations of 20 min (or until successful
urination occurred) and then immediately providing several reinforcers (e.g., candy
bars, drinks, hugs, praise) contingent on the successful urination. In this way, this
aspect of the broader RTT method applied the behavioral principle of stimulus con-
trol to establish the toilet as a discriminative stimulus for urination (i.e., the dis-
criminated operant). Azrin and Foxx also focused on immediacy of reinforcement,
an important component in the establishment of stimulus control, via an apparatus
that alerted the authors immediately when urination occurred, either in the toilet or
pants. Although the stimulus control aspect of the set of procedures described by
Azrin and Foxx was only one component of the treatment package, it is a vital com-
ponent and has been a facet of successful ABA-based toilet training procedures.
Although stimulus control is considered to be integral to the success of ABA-
based toilet training approaches and is often an inherent component of ABA-based
treatment packages (i.e., the immediate application of reinforcement in the presence
of successful urination in the toilet is intended to establish stimulus control in terms

of successful urination and the toilet; e.g., Azrin & Foxx, 1971), several studies have
isolated and manipulated treatment components to directly address stimulus control
outcomes (e.g., Luiselli, 1996; Post & Kirkpatrick, 2004; Smith, Smith, Lee, &
Kwok, 2000; Taylor, Cipani, & Clardy, 1994). For example, Taylor et al. (1994)
transferred stimulus control from clothing and undergarments to the toilet to
decrease unsuccessful voids and increase successful voids in the toilet exhibited by
a 10-year-old male diagnosed with autism and severe intellectual disability. The
participant had never been successfully toilet trained through any other method dur-
ing four previous attempts and was resistant to attempts at toilet training. In addi-
tion, prior to the study, the participant had been taken to the toilet four to six times
daily (for 8 years previous), but he only voided following his removal from the toilet
when he was back in his clothing. Thus, the toilet was not serving as an effective
discriminative stimulus for appropriate urination; rather his clothing was serving as
the discriminative stimulus (i.e., stimulus control was likely occurring with his
clothing; no stimulus control was occurring in terms of the toilet and his voiding
behavior). Therefore, the authors sought to transfer stimulus control from his cloth-
ing to the toilet. The authors evaluated the effects of the stimulus control transfer
procedures using an ABAC single-subject clinical case study design. Baseline con-
sisted of 4-h assessment periods in which the only consequence for voiding outside
of the toilet was a change of clothes. During Phase I of treatment, the authors imple-
mented Azrin and Foxx’s (1971) RTT procedures for 12 h. The Azrin and Foxx
procedures were demonstrated to be ineffective at bringing about correct elimina-
tions and decreasing incorrect eliminations. Thus, the authors implemented a subse-
quent treatment phase in which they modified the procedures described by Azrin
and Foxx by incorporating a stimulus control transfer component. Specifically, they
removed the participant’s pants 5 min after receiving liquids, and they remained off
until the next appropriate void in the toilet. Additionally, the authors increased the
time in which the participant wore his clothes by 1-min increments after liquids
were given. The participant was prompted to sit on the toilet until voiding or until a
10-min interval had passed. If voiding occurred during the 10-min toileting oppor-
tunity, the clothing was replaced, and an additional min of clothing-on time was
added; after 15 correct voids, the participant’s clothing remained on. The results
showed that the procedures successfully transferred stimulus control from the par-
ticipant’s clothing to the toilet, as by the end of the study, he was successfully void-
ing in the toilet and incorrect urinations ceased completely (even during 4- and
10-month follow-ups). The results of Taylor et al. are particularly noteworthy in that
they showed that individuals who are not successful with previous toilet training
programs may require additional stimulus control procedural manipulations to sup-
plement basic toilet training approaches. In other words, although the applications
of reinforcement and response inhibitory procedures often produce adaptive stimu-
lus control during basic toilet training procedures, there may be occasions in which
additional stimulus control-based procedures may be necessary to bring about suc-
cessful toilet training.
A second example of the effective use of a stimulus control procedure was

provided by Luiselli (1996). Luiselli implemented toilet training procedures with a
7-year-old girl with PDD. Prior to the study, standard toilet training procedures
(i.e., scheduled toileting trips, positive reinforcement) had been attempted but were
not successful; instead, the participant frequently urinated in her diaper. Given the
previously unsuccessful toilet training attempts and the participant’s tendency to
urinate in her diaper, the author implemented procedures aimed at transferring
stimulus control, in terms of urination, from the diaper (and wearing the diaper) to
the toilet. Luiselli used an AB clinical case study design to assess the effects of the
stimulus control transfer procedures. First, during baseline, the staff implemented
daily bathroom visits in which the participant was required to sit on the toilet while
the staff provided vocal prompts. Following baseline, the staff implemented Phase
I of the treatment, which involved the participant arriving at school and being
changed from her diaper into training briefs. During each scheduled visit to the
bathroom, her briefs were removed and replaced with a diaper, and she was required
to sit on the toilet for 3 min. The diaper was only worn while sitting on the toilet and
was removed after the 3 min. If the participant voided, staff provided enthusiastic
praise, a sticker for her sticker chart, and the training briefs were put back on.
Additionally, additional positive reinforcement was delivered in the form of free
time or looking at a preferred book. If the participant did not void during the 3-min
period, she was neutrally changed into the training briefs and exited the bathroom.
The purpose of this phase was to function as the first step in the stimulus control
transfer process (i.e., to establish the diaper while also sitting on the toilet as the
discriminative stimulus for urination rather than the diaper alone). During the sec-
ond phase of treatment, the author systematically faded out the diaper when urina-
tion in the diaper was consistent and reliably occurring while sitting on the toilet.
Specifically, Luiselli intended to alter the physical dimensions of the diaper by
cutting out progressively larger holes in the diaper; however, before the fading pro-
cess involving the hole could be implemented, the participant sat on the toilet and
independently voided in the absence of the diaper. Thus, the transfer of stimulus
control occurred successfully as a result of Phase I pairing, and further fading from
the diaper to the toilet was unnecessary. Therefore, the participant transitioned to
wearing training briefs during the day and was expected to sit independently on the
toilet without a diaper. Staff continued to provide positive reinforcement for suc-
cessful voids in the toilet. During Phase III, the training briefs were faded during
the day, and the participant was able to wear typical clothing and underwear, and
in-toilet voiding remained at 100%, while in-pants urinations occurred at 0%. Data
collected at a 1-month follow-up indicated 100% in-toilet urinations. Although as
systematic fading of the diaper was not necessary, the implications in terms of
transfer of stimulus control are important as the participant was conditioned to
urinate while wearing a diaper on the toilet which, in turn, transferred to indepen-
dent urinations on the toilet (i.e., stimulus control was transferred from the diaper
to the toilet).
Post and Kirkpatrick (2004) manipulated the parameters of a standard toilet

training procedure to address problematic stimulus control with a 3.5-year-old with
a PDD diagnosis. The authors implemented a clinical case study design to assess the
toilet training procedures. First, the authors implemented a baseline condition in
which they documented occurrences of on- and off-toilet urinations while also
implementing 5-min toilet sits every 30 min. The authors intended to implement a
subsequent treatment condition in which scheduled toilet sits would occur based on
the baseline data pertaining to off-toilet urinations (no on-toilet urinations occurred
during baseline). However, the authors observed that the participant’s training pants
appeared to be functioning as a discriminative stimulus for urination (i.e., stimulus
control was occurring with the training pants). Thus, the authors modified the toilet-
sitting schedule as a tactic for facilitating transfer of stimulus control from the train-
ing pants to the toilet. Specifically, by increasing the density of the schedule for
visits and the duration of time on the toilet, it was more likely that urination would
occur in the toilet allowing for maximization of reinforcement of urination in the
presence of the toilet (i.e., the intended discriminative stimulus). Through this pro-
cess and tactic (in combination with prompting strategies and the application of
reinforcement), the authors eventually demonstrated large increases in on-toilet uri-
nations. The authors subsequently increased time off-toilet and decreased the sched-
uled visits, and on-toilet urinations continued to occur at high levels (with
low-to-zero levels of off-toilet urinations). Thus, the authors’ manipulation of vari-
ables that would increase the likelihood that in-toilet urinationss would contact rein-
forcement appeared to transfer stimulus control from the participant’s training pants
to the toilet.
Other Behavior-Based Tactics for Toilet Training
Although not directly derived from basic behavioral principles such as reinforce-
ment, punishment, and stimulus control, there are several tactics that are often used
within toilet training procedures that supplement or are applied in conjunction with
procedures that entail the direct application of behavioral principles. Such tactics or
procedures include prompting, scheduled toilet sits or visits to the bathroom,
increased fluid intake procedures, and urinary alarm systems. These tactics are
intended to increase the effects of reinforcement and stimulus control procedures by
facilitating the occurrence of appropriate toileting behaviors and skills, allowing for
the reinforcement (via positive and/or negative reinforcement) and stimulus control-
based procedures to exert their effects based on their underlying behavioral princi-
ples. Many or most studies on toilet training procedures include these tactics (see
Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009).
Prompting Strategies
Prompting strategies are antecedent-based methods used to facilitate correct

responses, skills, or behaviors when they are not currently in a person’s repertoire,
thus requiring assistance to achieve the correct response (Cooper et al., 2007).
While prompting is not an explicit behavioral principle, it does facilitate learning of
new behavior and supplements the effects of tactics that apply behavioral principles
(i.e., reinforcement, stimulus control). Prompting is typically implemented in the
presence of a particular target discriminative stimulus and facilitates the occurrence
of the behavior so that the behavior contacts positive or negative reinforcement, thus
resulting in an increase in the likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future
and learning occurs. Prompting is used specifically during the acquisition stage of
teaching a new behavior or skill. The overall intent is to facilitate the occurrence of
the behavior via prompting, followed by reinforcement of the behavior, and the
subsequent transfer of stimulus control from the prompting method to naturally
occurring stimuli in the learner’s environment. It is this transfer of stimulus control
from the prompt to the natural stimuli that indicates the behavior has been learned
and added to the individual’s repertoire. Prompts take the form of vocal prompts,
model prompts, and physical guidance.
Prompting procedures typically play a prominent role within toilet training
methods to facilitate engagement in the various behaviors and skills that are neces-
sary for independent toileting (e.g., Adkins & Matthews, 1997; Azrin & Foxx, 1971;
Foxx & Azrin, 1973; Halligan & Luyben, 2009; Luiselli, 1997; McLay, Carnett, Van
Der Meer, & Lang, 2015; Post & Kirkpatrick, 2004; Taylor et al., 1994). Engagement
in those necessary toileting behaviors and skills, through prompting procedures,
allows for the direct reinforcement (positive and negative) of the behaviors and
skills; this, in turn, increases the likelihood the individual will engage in in those
behaviors and skills in the future and learn independent toileting. For example,
Adkins and Matthews (1997) were successful in using vocal prompting to increase
appropriate voiding for two adults with cognitive impairments. The authors trained
care providers to use a verbal prompt to direct the adult participants to use the toilet.
The two participants were checked for dryness every hour and praised when they
were dry at the time of the check. When dryness was observed, the trainer provided
a simple vocal prompt to use the toilet. The prompting procedure resulted in a 22%
reduction of urine collected in wet diapers per day across the two participants when
the dry checks were increased to 2 h and an additional significant reduction when
the dry checks were scheduled 1 h apart and the adults were prompted to use the
toilet.
Video modeling has also been used successfully in several studies to toilet train
individuals with developmental disabilities. For example, McLay et al. (2015) suc-
cessfully trained two participants with ASD through the use of video modeling com-
bined with other prompting procedures. The participants were two boys, aged 7 and
8 years old; neither participant was able to urinate or defecate on the toilet, and one
participant also engaged in fecal smearing. Both participants had no vocal language
skills, and each used a speech-generating device (SGD) to communicate simple

one-word requests. Both boys wore diapers throughout the day and night, and previ-
ous attempts at toilet training with both participants had been unsuccessful. Both
participants were able to engage in motor imitation (a prerequisite skill when
employing video modeling) as well as one-step gross motor actions (e.g., knocking
on a table), one-step actions with objects (e.g., rolling a ball), facial expressions
(e.g., a sad face), and single-word utterances from a video model. Based on the pre-
assessment information, the authors chose to break the video model into smaller
segments and train each step of the toileting routine individually rather than show-
ing the entire routine in one sitting. Last, a task analysis was developed to identify
the key steps in the toileting sequence (e.g., initiation of the toileting procedure,
walking to the toilet, removal of clothing, sitting on the toilet, voiding on the toilet,
dressing, flushing, and completion with handwashing). During baseline, the authors
implemented least-to-most prompting (i.e., vocal, gestural, physical guidance), and
reinforcement was withheld. During intervention, the authors first showed the par-
ticipant a video model demonstrating the first step in the toileting sequence. The
video model was shown immediately before the scheduled sit time based on data
collected prior to intervention on how often the participants voided (i.e., 5–7 sched-
uled sits per day across participants). If the child did not respond to the video cue,
the authors implemented the least-to-most prompting sequence (i.e., vocal, gestural,
physical guidance). Positive reinforcement was delivered in the form of praise after
each step of toileting was successfully completed; tangible positive reinforcement
was delivered upon successful voids. Results from the study showed that the video-
modeling intervention was successful as it increased the number of steps in toileting
procedure completed independently when compared with baseline. Overall, the
intervention was successful for both participants and their toileting for urination and
was successful with one of the children for defecation. In addition, the intervention
generalized to the school setting from the home for both participants, and outcomes
were maintained at the 4-month follow-up period. McLay et al.’s procedures illus-
trated how modeling and prompting procedures, antecedent-based behavioral tech-
niques, can facilitate the effects of reinforcement-based procedures that apply the
behavioral principle of positive reinforcement. Specifically, the modeling and
prompting procedures promoted the occurrence of the individual toileting-related
behaviors and skills to facilitate and maximize the contact of those behaviors and
skills with positive reinforcement, which, in turn, increased the likelihood that those
behaviors would occur in the future in the presence of the toilet and the feeling of
needing to use the bathroom. Thus, in addition to facilitating the effects of positive
reinforcement, the modeling and prompting procedures facilitated the transfer of
stimulus control to the feeling of needing to use the bathroom, as well as the visual
cue of seeing a toilet, enabled prompting to be faded and independent toilet use and
initiation to increase.
Physical and graduated guidance is another common behavioral tactic used in
toilet training procedures for individuals with intellectual disabilities (Kroeger &
Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009). Foxx and Azrin (1973) utilized graduated guidance
and physical promptings within RTT. Specifically, the authors used graduated
guidance to facilitate sitting on the toilet and then progressively lessened the inten-
sity of guidance applied to the participants as they engaged in successful and inde-
pendent sitting. In addition to several considerations within the procedures (e.g.,
variety, quality, immediacy, and frequency of reinforcement; detection of correct
and incorrect responses accurately), physical guidance was included along with
other prompting procedures (i.e., vocal). Specifically, each participant was placed in
a non-distracting environment (i.e., restriction to highly preferred activities that
could interfere with toileting performance), the authors increased fluid intake to
increase the number of potential trials, reinforcement was provided contingent on
correct responding, and graduated guidance and vocal prompting procedures were
utilized. Graduated guidance was used following any vocal instruction during the
toileting routine in which the participant did not respond to the vocal instruction and
required manual guidance to complete the step. Graduated guidance involved pro-
viding assistance for walking to the bathroom, undressing and dressing, and hand
washing. All physical prompts were eventually faded and transfer of stimulus con-
trol and independent toileting was achieved.
Scheduled Siting Procedures
Many toileting treatment packages include a scheduled sitting component (e.g.,

Averink et al., 2005; Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Keen, Brannigan, & Cuskelly, 2007;
LeBlanc et al., 2005; Luiselli, 1996, 1997, 2007; Post & Kirkpatrick, 2004;
Richmond, 1983). Scheduled sitting procedures entail the establishment of a sched-
ule by which the individual is prompted or moved to the bathroom to sit on or stand
in front of the toilet. When combined with increased fluid intake procedures (see
below), scheduled sitting procedures are intended to increase the likelihood that
successful voiding will occur in the toilet allowing for the application of
reinforcement- based procedures. Thus, scheduled sittings can be essential in
increasing the effects of reinforcement-based procedures by maximizing the ability
of the trainer to apply reinforcement to successful voiding by increasing the chance
that the behavior will occur. Schedules that are used for schedule sitting procedures
can be predetermined and entail regular intervals (e.g., every 90 min; Luiselli,
2007), or they can be based on pre-training assessment procedures aimed at deter-
mining the likeliest times for urination (e.g., LeBlanc et al., 2005; Post & Kirkpatrick,
2004).
As described above in the positive reinforcement section, Post and Kirkpatrick
(2004) applied positive reinforcement toilet training procedures with a 3.5-year-old
boy with PDD; additionally, the authors incorporated scheduled sitting procedures
within a treatment package. Specifically, Post and Kirkpatrick implemented sched-
uled sittings throughout the day (i.e., every 30 min) in conjunction with the positive
reinforcement-based procedures. Initially during treatment, the authors had the
child sit on the toilet for 20 min per 30-min intervals, which were implemented
every 30 min. The authors based this schedule on data they collected prior treatment
on urination times. The authors implemented positive reinforcement-based proce-
dures including praise for compliance with toilet sitting and access to high-preferred
items contingent on successful appropriate urinations. By applying the scheduled
sitting procedure, the authors maximized the chances for successful urinations in
the toilet; thus, they maximized their opportunities to apply positive reinforcement,
which, in turn, maximized the effects of the application of the behavioral principle.
Further, this also allowed for the establishment of stimulus control in terms of the
feeling of the need to go the bathroom occasioning appropriate urinations.
Keen et al. (2007) implemented scheduled sitting procedures in conjunction with
a toilet training video prompting procedure with five children with autism diagno-
ses. The authors employed a multiple baseline across participants of single-subject
experimental design to evaluate the treatment package which also included the
application of positive reinforcement in addition to scheduled sittings and video-
modeling procedures. Specifically, the authors implemented scheduled sittings dur-
ing which, prior to sitting down on the toilet, they showed 6-min animated videos of
successful toileting behaviors. The authors then required the participants to sit on
the toilet for 3-min intervals. The authors delivered positive reinforcement contin-
gent on appropriate toileting behaviors. The results showed that the treatment pack-
age was successful at increasing in-toilet urinations. The procedures provided an
example of the positive effects of scheduled sittings and prompting procedures in
facilitating the effects of positive reinforcement. Similar to Post and Kirkpatrick
(2004), the combination of procedures also allowed for the establishment of appro-
priate stimulus control.
Increased Fluid Intake
A standard component of most toileting training treatments involves the increase of

fluid intake by the participants (e.g., Ardic & Cavkaytar, 2014; Averink et al., 2005;
Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Foxx & Azrin, 1973; Halligan & Luyben, 2009; Keen et al.,
2007; LeBlanc et al., 2005; Luiselli, 1997; Taylor et al., 1994). Similar to scheduled
sittings and prompting procedures, increasing fluid intake is intended to increase the
likelihood that individuals will successfully void in the toilet and thereby allow for
the application of positive reinforcement and stimulus control-based procedures.
Although increasing fluid during toilet training has been demonstrated to be an
effective component of training packages, the potential medical risks of increasing
fluid intake should be noted and considered when designing a toilet training proto-
col (see Kroeger & Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009).
In their seminal study, Azrin and Foxx (1971) utilized fluid intake procedures by
providing drinks every 30 min. The increase in fluid intake was intended to supple-
ment and work in conjunction with the reinforcement-based components of the
treatment package (i.e., contingent delivery of edible and social reinforcement). The
results of the study showed that the treatment package was effective, and it is impor-
tant to note that the reinforcement-based components’ ability to exert their effects
on the target behaviors was enhanced by the increase in voiding that resulted from
the increase in fluid intake.
Averink et al. (2005) described an additional example of the incorporation of
increases in fluid intake within a broader treatment package approach that also
included positive reinforcement and positive punishment procedures. Specifically,
the authors provided extra liquids at the beginning of each training day. The results
showed that the procedures were effective at bringing about decreases in toileting
accidents.
Urinary Alarm Systems
Devices that detect moisture in the diaper or underwear and subsequently sound an
alarm or provide an indicator sound have been utilized regularly within toilet train-
ing procedures (e.g., Azrin & Foxx, 1971; Foxx & Azrin, 1973; Lancioni, 1980;
LeBlanc et al., 2005). The inclusion of such devices allow for the instant detection
of urinary accidents, which, in turn, allows for the relatively immediate implemen-
tation of subsequent procedures (e.g., punishment-based procedures, negative
reinforcement-based procedures). For example, Azrin and Foxx utilized an appara-
tus that sounded an audio signal when the participant urinated or defecated in his/
her pants. As discussed above, Azrin and Foxx incorporated positive punishment-
based procedures in the form of positive practice and overcorrection and a negative
reinforcement-based procedure in the form of time-out from reinforcers. The alarm
system facilitated the effects of the punishment- and negative reinforcement-based
components by allowing for their relatively immediate implementation by the
authors, thereby maximizing their effects in terms of reducing the future occur-
rence of accidents. Similarly, LeBlanc et al. utilized a urine sensor and alarm
within their treatment package that also included a sitting schedule, positive
reinforcement-based procedures, increased fluid intake, and positive punishment-
based procedures (i.e., positive practice). When the alarm sounded, the authors
immediately provided a vocal reprimand (i.e., “no wet pants”) and “quickly
escorted” the participant to the bathroom and prompted them to sit on the toilet. If
successful urination occurred, the positive reinforcement-based procedures were
implemented; if the participant did not urinate in the toilet, the authors imple-
mented the positive punishment-based procedures (i.e., positive practice). Thus the
urine alarm functioned to increase the impact of both the positive reinforcement-
based components and the positive punishment-based components by allowing for
the relatively immediate implementation of those procedures following accidents,
thereby maximizing their effects.
Summary
In this chapter we described the application of operant-based behavioral principles

and mechanisms derived from EAB and ABA within toilet training and procedures.
A primary goal of this chapter was to provide the reader with an overview of the
strong applicability of behavioral principles and mechanisms across numerous
examples of toilet training methods across a wide variety of populations (e.g., ASD,
visual and hearing impairments, Angelman syndrome, Down’s syndrome, severe
intellectual disabilities, PDD, cognitive impairments, typically developing individu-
als) and age groups (e.g., children, adolescents, adults). The variety of procedures
derived from basic behavioral principles and mechanisms that have been utilized
within toilet training treatment packages is also diverse, including positive and neg-
ative reinforcement-based procedures, positive and negative punishment-based pro-
cedures, and stimulus control-based procedures. A wide variety of additional
procedures and tactics that function to supplement and increase the effects of proce-
dures based on behavioral principles have also been shown to be successful compo-
nents including prompting strategies, scheduled toilet sits, increased fluid intake
procedures, and urinary alarm systems.
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Toilet Training: Strategies Involving Modeling
and Modifications of the Physical
Environmental
Laurie McLay and Neville Blampied
Toilet training is a social learning process requiring interactions between young

children and their parents and caregivers over extended periods of time, typically in
the first 2 to 4 years of life. It is a complex process involving both developmental
maturation and learning, and not all children respond sufficiently to the con
ventional techniques encountered in their specific family and cultural context to
achieve excretory continence and culturally appropriate toileting practices (Kaerts,
Vermandel, Lierman, van Gestel, & Wyndalele, 2012). Thus, for some, additional
strategies are needed in order for continence and toileting to be learned (Kaerts
et al., 2012). Such strategies may include motivating and prompting the behavior,
manipulation of antecedent stimulus control, and/or facilitative environmental mod
ifications, as well as providing salient consequences for correct performance. In this
chapter, selected strategies will be described, guidelines for implementing them
provided, and the research base supporting their use evaluated. First, to put these
intervention options in context, the chapter begins with a brief biobehavioral analy
sis of the development of bladder and bowel continence and of the key skills that
must be acquired for toileting to be done reliably and independently.
L. McLay (*)
University of Canterbury, College of Education, Health, and Human Development,
N. Blampied
University of Canterbury, College of Science, Psychology Department,

144 L. McLay and N. Blampied
Toilet Training: A Biobehavioral Analysis
Any behavior analysis of a learned response must begin by considering the nature
of the behaviors involved, specifically asking if they are respondent (i.e., reflex
based) or operant (i.e., a discriminated operant response determined by a three-term
contingency of antecedents, behavior, and consequences) or involving operant-
respondent interactions (Cooper, Heron & Heward, 2007). In the case of operant
behavior, the role of motivation plus other antecedents (i.e., controlling stimuli), the
response and how it might be shaped and facilitated, and the nature of the conse
quences (i.e., if reinforcing or punishing) need careful attention (Kazdin, 2013).
The achievement of reliable independent toileting by a child requires the coming
together in their behavior repertoire of three different domains of skill. First, they
must achieve continence, i.e., the ability to withhold the release of urine and feces
(voiding) until it is appropriate to do so. This is further broken down into nocturnal
fecal continence (NFC), nocturnal urinary continence (NUC), day urinary conti
nence (DUC), and day fecal continence (DFC; Schum, Kolb, McAuliffe, Simms,
Underhill, & Lewis, 2002). The natural history of this process is not well d ocumented
(Kaerts et al., 2012; Schum et al., 2002), but research suggests that the typical
sequence is NFC, then DFC, followed by DUC, and, finally, NUC, with girls typi
cally achieving these milestones before boys (Stein & Susser, 1967). Note that the
ages at which these milestones are typically met are not the same across cultures
(deVires & deVires, 1977) and have also changed to later ages over recent decades
within Western culture (Bakker & Wyndale, 2000).
The second set of skills that must be acquired involve recognizing that the bowel
or bladder needs emptying, approaching the potty/toilet and using it appropriately,
with correct posture and ultimately with situationally correct behaviors of genital
and anal cleaning and flushing the toilet. Finally, some more general skills, such as
undressing and dressing and handwashing that are performed in other c ontexts,
must also be used in the toileting context. Fully functional independent toileting
requires that all of these skills be chained together in a single fluent performance.
This typically requires extensive training and practice over a relatively long period
of time (Luxem & Christopherson, 1994).
The Respondent Behavior Substrate
All living organisms must be able to excrete the waste products of metabolism.
Humans, in common with other vertebrates, produce urine in the kidneys and feces
in the bowel. These wastes are produced all the time but are not discharged continu
ously because they are stored in specialist organs – the bladder for urine and the
rectum for feces – which are kept closed by muscular sphincters. Only when their
sphincters are relaxed does tension in the smooth muscles of the bladder and rectal
wall expel the contents out of the body. This process can be viewed (at a simplified
Toilet Training: Strategies Involving Modeling and Modifications of the Physical… 145
level) as a reflex initiated by an unconditioned stimulus (US) of bladder or rectal

distension at a critical level (which changes with age and experience) and an uncon
ditioned response (UR) of sphincter relaxation. This respondent behavior is present
throughout life, from birth to death, and may emerge again even after independent
toileting is well established due to emotional distress, illness, intoxication, demen
tia, and the loss of capacities in old age.
The Operant Behavior Overlay
Continence requires that the child develop the capacity to prevent the reflex release
of bowel and bladder contents until they are in a culturally appropriate situation (a
toilet of some kind). This is often referred to as learning to “hold on” and involves
the voluntary tensing of abdominal and perineal muscles such that the reflex
relaxation of the sphincter is inhibited. This is a learned behavior, except perhaps
for NFC, which, since it occurs at the earliest age, is first in the sequence and
emerges while the child is asleep (Schum et al., 2002), may represent a maturational
process.
The other forms of continence require the acquisition of antecedent stimulus
control, one component of which is interoceptive (awareness of the sensation of
bowel and bladder distension and excretory urgency) and the other exteroceptive
(including recognizing the potty/toilet as the correct place for voiding to occur).
Both of these are facilitated by the prior learning of excretory and toilet-related
words (Schum et al., 2002) and by parents/caregivers discriminating when overt
signs of imminent voiding occur and helping the child with the correct toileting
behavior (Kaerts et al., 2012; Smeets, Lancioni, Ball, & Oliva, 1985). Parents/
caregivers then scaffold the process through which the child makes transitions such
as from potty (portable and available in many places) to the toilet (in fixed places)
and acquires the skills of undressing, dressing, cleaning, and flushing that constitute
the full toileting repertoire (Schum et al., 2002).
Intervention Strategies
As the analysis above shows, many things must be learned for a child to become
continent and toilet trained. This chapter focuses on a subset of these involving
antecedent control and facilitative environmental modifications that may be
deployed to help children who have not become toilet trained by typical family/
caregiver training (Halligan & Luyben, 2009). Elementary teaching and learning
strategies commonly used in teaching children skills, including toilet training, are
noted below. Following Kazdin (2013) these strategies may be differentiated into
(1) setting events and establishing operations, (2) prompts and high-probability
requests, (3) discriminative stimulus control, and (4) other strategies. In the context
of toilet training, setting events and establishing operations involve aspects of the
context in which toileting behavior occurs and its motivation, including the emo
tional tone of parent-child interactions. Prompts are stimuli, such as verbal instruc
tions (e.g., “go sit on the potty”), visual or auditory cues (e.g., a picture of a child
sitting on a toilet posted on the toilet door), and gestures (e.g., pointing to the potty);
manual guidance (e.g., helping a child undress); and demonstrations (e.g., soaping
hands). A special kind of prompt involves the use of high-probability request
sequences (e.g., three requests in quick succession that a child is likely to perform)
followed immediately by a request that the child has shown little likelihood of com
plying with (e.g., “go sit on the potty”).
The critical feature of prompts is that as skills are acquired the prompts can be
faded until they are no longer needed for correct performance. Discriminative stim
ulus control involves learning that specific features of the environment, which may
be interoceptive (internal to the person) or exteroceptive (in the physical or social
environment), are associated with correct performances of behavior, for instance,
learning that it is the potty or toilet where defecation should occur, not in diapers or
clothing. Unlike prompts, discriminative stimuli (SD) cannot be faded – for instance,
if we went into a room labeled Toilet but could not see a toilet fixture, we would not
be able to perform correct toilet behaviors – however, control may be transferred
from one SD to another, e.g., a male child who has learned to urinate in a toilet can
also learn to use a urinal.
These elementary strategies are often combined in more complex packages that
involve modeling procedures (observational learning) and/or some form of envi
ronmental or stimulus manipulation. Modeling includes in vivo modeling, video
modeling (VM), video self-modeling (VSM), and video point-of-view (POV)
modeling. Modeling may function as a prompt – a demonstration of a specific com
ponent skill – or provide a demonstration of the full behavior sequence and its con
sequences. Behavior-facilitating environmental modifications involve provision of
prompts, modified discriminative stimuli, and structural supports for achieving
competent toileting. The task to be learned also is often broken down into simpler
steps, and these are then combined by response chaining. For the purpose of this
chapter, reinforcement strategies will be described only to the extent that they are
used in combination with key toilet training strategies that are the chapter focus.
A combination of Internet webpage and database searching was used to locate
research into toilet training strategies that focused on these approaches. First, how
ever, the basic forms of modeling are described.
Varieties of Modeling
The science of social learning reveals that learning may occur when a person who
lacks a particular skill observes a model performing an example of that skill. This is
commonly referred to as observational learning or modeling (Bandura, 1977a, 1978).
Four key conditions are required for observational learning to occur: (1) attention to
the behavior being modeled, (2) retention of the observed behavior and the
conditions in which the behavior occurred, (3) reproduction of the behavior that was
modeled (i.e., imitation), and (4) a sufficient level of motivation to warrant imitation
of the observed behavior (Bandura, 1977a). Important additional factors increasing
the likelihood that the learner will learn by observation relate to the observation of
consequences being experienced by the model and the experience of consequences
by the learner in the event that they attempt to imitate the model. These conse
quences may be rewarding or punishing. Observation and experience of rewarding
consequences increases the likelihood of imitation; observation and experience of
punishment inhibits imitation (Bandura, 1977a). Other factors that modulate
observational learning include the salience of the behavior modeled and the conse
quences experienced by the observer; the emotional responsiveness of the model
during the performance; the perceived social equivalence, attractiveness, and/or sta
tus of the model relative to the learner; and the motivational state of the learner
(Bandura 1977a; Kazdin, 2013). While observational learning is primarily regarded
as providing the learner with information about the topography of the behavior to
be learned, it also provides information about salient SDs and about contingent
consequences.
The first modeling procedure investigated was in vivo modeling (Bandura,
Ross, & Ross, 1961), which involves the use of a live model who demonstrates the
target behavior or skills. There is a large body of research demonstrating that in vivo
modeling is effective in supporting the learning of typically developing children and
children with disabilities (Bandura et al., 1961; Gena, Couloura, & Kymissis, 2005;
Hosford, 1980; Meltzoff, 1995; Ollendick & King, 1998).
There are obvious benefits to recording the model’s behavior on film or video.
The learner can then watch the demonstration repeatedly at any convenient time.
Types of VM include adult modeling, in which an adult models the target skills or
behavior, and peer modeling, in which an equivalent-aged peer models the target
behavior. In VSM the model and the observer are the same individual, while in
point-of-view (POV) modeling, the observer experiences the display as if viewed
through the eyes of the model. VSM and POV modeling generally require technical
means to supply the modeled display. There is considerable evidence supporting the
use of each of these types of modeling for the acquisition of many skills (Dowrick,
1999; McCoy & Hermansen, 2007).
When used in clinical practice, VSM can take the form of feedforward or feed
back (also known as positive self-review, PSR; Dowrick, 1999, 2012a, 2012b) mod
eling. In video feedforward, a skill is selected that the individual is unable to
perform. The video then provides a successful and errorless demonstration of the
target skill or behavior being performed by that individual. To date, video feed
forward has been used to teach a variety of skills, including academic skills,
language, play, prosocial behavior, and social skills (e.g., Baker, O’Reilly, & Lang,
2009; Dowrick, 2012a; Lang, Shogren, Machalicek, Rispoli, O’Reilly, Regester, &
Baker, 2009; Tereshko, MacDonald, & Ahearn 2010).
The process of using video feedback/PSR differs from video feedforward in that
it typically involves video recording an individual performing a particular target
skill or behavior at some appropriate level of competence and then having the
individual review the video in order to review and, perhaps, restore competent
performance (Dowrick, 1999, 2012a, 2012b). Much research demonstrates the
positive effects of video feedback on educator and practitioner practices (Mead,
Dozier, & Bernard, 2014; Pinter, East, and Thrush, 2015; van Vonderen, Duker, &
Didden, 2010; van Vonderen, Didden, & Beeking, 2012), parenting practices
(Cassibba, Castoro, Costantino, Sette, & Ijzendoorn, 2015; Lam-Cassettari,
Wadnerkar- Kamble, & James, 2015; Moss, Tarabylsby, St-Georgesc, Dubois-
Comtoisd, Cyr, Bernier, St-Laurentd, Pascuzzo, & Lecompte, 2014), and children’s
skill acquisition and behavior change (Deitchman, Reeve, Reeve, & Progar, 2010;
O’Reilly, O’Halloran, Sigafoos, Lancioni, Green, Edrisinhaa, Cannella, & Olive,
2005; Sibley, Pelham, Mazur, Gnagy, Ross, & Kuriyan, 2012).
Observational Learning, Modeling, and Toilet Training
Several types of modeling can be used in toilet training, including in vivo modeling,
VM, VSM, and POV modeling. Each of these processes and the evidence base
underpinning these processes are described below.
In Vivo Modeling
When used in toilet training, in vivo modeling would typically involve a parent or
sibling demonstrating the toileting sequence, including in-toilet voiding. While this
is a commonly reported procedure anecdotally, the authors were unable to identify
any research documenting whether this procedure, when used in isolation, is in fact
effective in teaching children the steps in the toileting sequence, including in-toilet
voiding. Based on the conventions of in vivo modeling, the child should be exposed
to the model immediately prior to a toileting opportunity, and the model would
demonstrate errorless performance of the toileting sequence (i.e., correct perfor
mance of the target behavior performed independently).
In vivo modeling is advantageous as it offers a simple, technology-free option,
provided at a teachable moment when the learner’s opportunity to imitate is avail
able. It may also be beneficial in that the model is known to the child, that the model
and the learner are emotionally attached to each other, and that the emotions dem
onstrated are authentic. These are all setting events that are likely to promote learn
ing, and there are some suggestions in the literature that using a familiar model
(e.g., a peer or family member) may enhance the success of modeling procedures
(Dowrick, 1999).
There are also obvious limitations to the use of in vivo modeling, particularly in
regard to cultural concerns and ethical issues. While people known to the individual
would be able to model some of the steps in the toileting sequence (e.g., flushing the
toilet), in many cultures there may be restrictions on who is considered appropriate,
other than the child’s parent or family caregiver, to model in-toilet voiding. In such
cases training is restricted to times when the parent(s) or other family member(s) are
present. Further, this means that it is not always possible to provide an in vivo model
in settings other than the home environment. While this is not problematic for typi
cally developing children, it may pose problems in situations where clinicians or
teachers are supporting the toilet training process (Kaerts et al., 2012; Luxem &
Christopherson, 1994), particularly in that there is limited opportunity to promote
generalization of the toileting skills to contexts not involving parental supervision
and/or the home environment.
Video Modeling and Toilet Training
There are a variety of sources of VM available to support the toilet training process.
One is via the purchase of commercially available products; the other is to create
individualized video models. Commercially available toileting videos often use
generic animated characters (Keen, Brannigan, & Cuskelly, 2007) or people acting
as generic models (who are necessarily unfamiliar to the learner) to depict the toilet
ing sequence. Such videos typically demonstrate a person going through the toilet
ing sequence, but do not depict urination or defecation. For example, in the 20-min
video “It’s Potty Time” (Howard, 1991), various children are demonstrated going
through the toileting sequence and shown to be physically and emotionally sup
ported by their parents, though voiding is not demonstrated. Examples of toilet use
are occasionally followed by depictions of parental praise. This video includes
songs about toilet use and also short interludes of unrelated narrated stories (e.g.,
Raggedy Ann), a feature common in commercially available toileting videos that is
included to motivate watching the video.
Commercial videos have the advantages of being readily available, convenient,
and often inexpensive. A caution, however, in purchasing commercially available
toilet training videos is that they are not able to be edited or tailored according to
each child’s unique needs. It is also possible that some children do not relate to the
characters demonstrating the procedure or may not be motivated to attend to these
characters. If this is the case, individualized videos using familiar models may offer
an effective alternative.
vidence for Video Modeling Including Commercial Toilet Training

E
Products and Toilet Training Research
Only two studies were identified that have examined the effects of commercial VM
on the acquisition of toileting skills (Bainbridge & Smith-Myles, 1999; Keen et al.,
2007), both using generic models of children or characters. Bainbridge and
Smith-Myles (1999) used commercial VM to teach toilet use to a 3-year-old boy

with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using “It’s Potty Time” (Howard, 1991). The
child was shown the video three times per day, and immediately afterward, he was
told “It’s time to go potty” (a prompt). The results were an increase in independently
initiated toilet use and a decrease in urination accidents.
Keen et al. (2007) used an animated VM video (6 min in duration) to teach in-
toilet urination to five children with ASD between the ages of 4 and 6 years, com
paring treatment with a control group in which prompting and reinforcement alone
were used. Treatment group children were required to watch the VM immediately
prior to the scheduled use of the toilet. The VM depicted the sequence of toileting
steps for boys and girls paired with animated characters that provided verbal instruc
tions on the toileting sequence and praise for successful voiding on the toilet. VM
was supplemented by a set of pictorial cues that accompanied the video. These cue
cards were reportedly used as prompts to redirect children so that they did not uri
nate in inappropriate areas in the home. Children were also prompted to initiate
toilet use using pictures, signs, or language. In this study frequency of in-toilet uri
nation was greater (to an unspecified degree as no effect size was reported) for the
three children who watched the animated video, compared to the two children in the
control group. Sufficient detail regarding the content and process for using the VM
and picture cue card was lacking in this report making it difficult to fully understand
all aspects of the procedure.
In summary, while the research examining the use of VM shows promise, the
small number of studies and lack of evidence of direct or systematic replication
means it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of this
approach across all children and young people. Surprisingly, no research was identi
fied that investigated the use of personally created VM using models who were
familiar to the child. Given the growing popularity of VM and the importance of
independent toileting as a life skill (Kaerts et al., 2012), further research examining
the effectiveness of VM is required.
Video Self-Modeling and Toilet Training
Feedforward VSM is an alternative to VM and necessarily has to be individually

tailored because the model and the learner are the same person. To create the dem
onstration of the learner performing skills not yet in their repertoire, videos are
edited to remove evidence of assistance and errors, and sometimes coaching (not
visible on the edited video) is required to achieve a simulation of the required
performance. Where culturally/ethically appropriate, the self-model should demon
strate several key steps, beginning with independent approach to the toilet, undress
ing, flushing of the toilet, redressing, and handwashing. Animations of the child’s
genital and/or anal area can also be used to depict in-toilet voiding (including urina
tion and defecation, separately or both, depending on what the child needs to learn)
and self-cleaning. Animation is used to protect the children’s privacy and avoid
cultural offense, but also in cases in which in-toilet voiding is unable to be captured
on video due to the child being unable to perform this. POV modeling can also be
integrated into these videos in order to depict actions as viewed from the perspective
of the child. This is used to specifically target fine motor actions that are best dem
onstrated using a close-up view.
There are many advantages to using VM or VSM over in vivo modeling. The
steps in the toileting sequence are modeled consistently each time, can be viewed
repeatedly, and be tailored to specifically target the specific needs of each child
(e.g., there may only be a few steps in the toileting sequence that the child is yet to
learn). VM/VSM typically incorporates examples of the child being rewarded (e.g.,
by descriptive praise or by some other form of rewarding consequence). This may
increase the efficiency of toilet training as children who are going through the toilet
training process may not otherwise be aware of the reinforcement contingency
between in-toilet voiding and the reward, and this can motivate children to engage
in these behaviors during repeated practice. VSM has further advantages over VM
in that it is possible that children are better able to relate to the video demonstration
of the skill, when the model and the learner are one (Dowrick, 1999, 2012b). Finally,
VM/VSM can represent the situation as a fun, positive experience, thus assisting
with creating a setting event context that is positively valenced.
Evidence for Video Self-Modeling and Toilet Training
Recent research on VSM in toilet training has focused on children with ASD
(Drysdale, Lee, Anderson, & Moore, 2015; Lee, Anderson, & Moore, 2014; McLay,
Carnett, van der Meer, & Lang, 2015). No studies were identified that included
children who were typically developing or who had developmental disabilities other
than ASD. Segments of the child’s favorite television show were also sometimes
inserted sporadically throughout the video sequence in order to maintain the child’s
attention (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2014) to the video. Other common
features of the research on VSM and the procedures used to implement these tech
niques in toilet training are noted below.
Errorless Feedforward VSM In each of the studies the child was shown to complete
each step in the toileting sequence without prompting or errors, as though they were
completing the sequence independently (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2014;
McLay et al., 2015), with prompts and coaching edited out. The child also viewed
the video immediately prior to each practice opportunity.
Reinforcement Modeled VSM always concluded with a depiction of the child being
rewarded with verbal, social, or tangible rewards for successfully voiding in the
toilet. Reinforcement for completion of other steps in the sequence was not depicted
in the video models; however, two studies also interspersed video of preferred items
or television shows (e.g., about railway trains; Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al.,
2014) in order to maintain children’s attention to the video itself and to promote a
positively valenced learning context.
Initiation of Toileting VSM always begins with depicting the child making a
request to use the toilet using their normal means of communication, such as the
child handing a picture cue card to their mother or using a speech-generating device.
Initiation is a very important part of establishing independent toilet use, but is an
often overlooked component of toilet training intervention. Note that for children
who are ultimately able to toilet independently, initiating toileting by requests to a
parent/caregiver would eventually be replaced by independently approaching the
toilet and executing the toileting sequence. Achievement of this degree of indepen
dence may require further training in which prompts are faded and independent
performance explicitly rewarded.
Combination of Video Modeling/Video Self-Modeling and POV Modeling Each
study also integrated POV modeling within the VSM sequence (Drysdale et al.,
2015; Lee et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015), specifically to depict fine motor actions
(e.g., flushing the toilet). This was because it was useful to demonstrate an action
from the perspective of the learner where a close-up shot was needed to adequately
depict the specific action.
Target Skills It is noteworthy that while all this research used videos demonstrating
the steps in the toileting sequence, not all of the research depicted urination (Lee
et al., 2014) and only one study depicted defecation (McLay et al., 2015). When
included, the voiding process was demonstrated using an animation of the child’s
genitals and the motion of voiding. This was typically paired with appropriate sound
effects (e.g., the sound of urine hitting the water).
Conclusion While further evidence is required, this research suggests that the vari
ous components of training noted above may be important inclusions in VSM for
toilet training. Note also that in the majority of research to date, VM and VSM have
been implemented in the home setting with parents managing the intervention. This
seems logical given that this is the natural context for toilet training. Nevertheless,
given the growth of out-of-home infant and child care (Bakker & Wyndaele, 2000),
the development and evaluation of VM/VSM materials and procedures for use by
non-parental caregivers would also be desirable.
Additional Behavioral Strategies Paired with Modeling
None of the research studies reviewed above used VM or VSM in isolation. The
procedures were always supplemented with components additional to the video that
included physical, gestural, and/or verbal prompting and reinforcement. Some of
these supplementary components have been noted above, but they are considered
more fully below.
Prompting In many cases, each child was given the opportunity to respond to each
step in the sequence. If the child did not respond, responded incorrectly, or was off-
task, then they were prompted in order to complete that step (Drysdale et al., 2015;
Keen et al., 2007; Lee et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015). This usually involved a
least-to-most prompting procedure (Drysdale et al., 2015; Keen et al., 2007; Lee
et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015) often in the order of verbal, gestural, and then
physical prompting. In the case of voiding, if the child did not void while seated on
the toilet, a verbal prompt was often provided (e.g., “pee-pee”; Lee et al., 2014;
McLay et al., 2015).
Reinforcement In some cases reinforcement was provided for completing each step
in the toileting sequence, as well as in-toilet voiding (Drysdale et al.,. 2015; Keen
et al., 2007; McLay et al., 2015). Reinforcement was usually provided differentially,
so that in-toilet voiding resulted in the highest level of reinforcement, while com
pleting other steps in the sequence, or just remaining seated on the toilet, resulted in
verbal praise (McLay et al., 2015) or a moderately preferred tangible reinforcer.
Video Prompting and Response Chaining When a video model demonstrates only
a component skill and the learner is shown this only following an error, this can be
referred to as video prompting (Le Grice & Blampied, 1995, 1997), and in some of
the research reviewed, a behavioral chaining procedure was used in which the video
was edited into segments that demonstrated a limited number of steps in the toilet
ing sequence (Drysdale et al., 2015; McLay et al., 2015) making video prompting
possible. For example, in the Drysdale et al., (2015) study, the child was shown the
video that represented the targeted steps in the sequence. Upon mastery, new steps
were introduced, in a sequential order, until all steps were able to be completed;
however, the full video prompting procedure does not appear ever to have been
implemented in toilet training.
Regularly Scheduled Practice Opportunities In the majority of studies, the children
were provided with multiple practice opportunities each day. In order to determine
each child’s toileting schedule, parents conducted regular diaper checks (e.g., every
30 min), and recorded whether or not the child had urinated or defecated. These
checks took place prior to intervention and allowed the parents and researchers to
determine the time at which practice opportunities were most likely to result in suc
cessful in-toilet voiding (Drysdale et al.,. 2015; Keen et al., 2007; Lee et al., 2014;
McLay et al., 2015). Typically, between five and eight practice opportunities were
provided each day, during waking hours.
Maintenance of Treatment Effects
It is essential to ensure that any toileting skills that are acquired are maintained long
term following the fading of prompting, modeling, and behavior-facilitating environ
mental modifications. Most research into the effects of VM/VSM gathered follow-up
data in order to assess the maintenance (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2014; McLay
et al., 2015), at between 5 days (Lee et al., 2014) and 2 months (McLay et al., 2015).
Toileting skills were maintained following VSM. In one VM study that reported fol
low-up data, gains were maintained for three children, but not for those whom practice
opportunities ceased post-treatment (Keen et al., 2007). This highlights the impor
tance of providing regular and sustained opportunities for toilet use.
Generalization of Treatment Effects
Stokes and Baer (1977) define generalization as “the occurrence of relevant

behavior under different, non-training conditions (i.e., across subjects, settings,
people, behaviors, and/or time) without the scheduling of the same events in those
conditions as had been scheduled in the training conditions” (p. 350). Generalization
(or transfer of training) is said to have occurred when the child responds correctly
across a variety of settings, times of day, people, and materials (Cooper et al., 2007).
Many individuals, including children with disabilities, may have difficulty general
izing newly acquired skills (Egel, Shafer, & Neef, 1984; Young, Krantz, McLannahan,
& Poulson, 1994), meaning that it is very important to program for generalization
and transfer. Equally, it is essential that researchers assess whether outcomes have
generalized so that the conditions where additional training maybe required are
identified (i.e., whether training is acquired across a variety of settings or whether
generalization across multiple settings is likely to occur).
When toilet training children using VM/VSM, there are multiple aspects of gen
eralization that need to be considered. For example, if the video model displays the
child using a single toilet, will they require additional teaching in order to learn to
use toilets in other settings? Or if one family member is responsible for teaching the
child to use the toilet, will they maintain toilet use when that parent is not present
and another family member is present? These respective processes are referred to as
generalization across settings and people.
A number of studies have assessed generalization (Keen et al., 2007; McLay
et al., 2015) without actively programing for it (Drysdale et al., 2015; Keen et al.,
2007; McLay et al., 2015), i.e., they did not actively teach children to use a variety
of toilets or expose children to a variety of teachers. The exception to this was Lee
et al. (2014) where the child was prompted using a picture cue and verbal prompt to
use the toilet in his school on four occasions (Lee et al., 2014). In most cases t raining
occurred in the home setting, and generalization was assessed at school or similar
places (Drysdale et al., 2015; McLay et al., 2015), though in some cases generaliza
tion to a community bathroom was assessed (Keen et al., 2007). Generalization was
reported to occur when children were taught using VSM (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee
et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015) though generalization did not occur for all children
when VM was used (Keen et al., 2007). Based on these results, it is possible
that VSM facilitates generalization, though further research into this possibility is
required.
Social Validity of the Treatments
When developing parent-implemented interventions, it is important to measure the

social validity of the treatment approach. Social validity refers to clients’ (in this
case parents’) subjective ratings of the acceptability of and satisfaction with the
treatment (Wolf, 1978). According to Wolf (1978), there are three key areas to
consider: (1) Are the goals socially significant? (2) Are the treatment procedures
socially appropriate and acceptable? And (3) are the outcomes satisfactory to the
consumer? Given that parents of children with disabilities are most affected by uri
nary and bowel incontinence and that parents are most often responsible for toilet
training their children, it seems pertinent to gauge their perspective on treatment
approaches. Where the age and communicative capacity of the children involved in
training make it possible, their views on treatment acceptability should also be
sought.
Three of the studies described in this chapter assessed the social validity of the
treatments provided (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015) via
parents’ ratings of the acceptability of the treatment as well as their understanding of
the treatment rationale. This was done using the Treatment Acceptability Rating
Form-Revised (TARF-R; Reimers, Wacker, & Cooper, 1991). In some cases treat
ments using VSM were perceived to be more time consuming (McLay et al., 2015)
and disruptive (Drysdale et al., 2015; Lee et al., 2014; McLay et al., 2015) than
the parents had anticipated (McLay et al., 2015). Some parents’ ratings of the
acceptability and effectiveness of the treatment also decreased from pre- to post-
intervention (Lee et al., 2014). In the majority of cases, however, VSM was generally
perceived to be effective, reasonable, and acceptable (Drysdale et al., 2015; McLay
et al., 2015), a finding that should encourage the use of VSM in toilet training.
The most recent example of research to have included VSM is McLay et al.
(2015). These researchers used a combination of VSM and POV modeling, plus
animation, to teach steps in the toileting sequence, including both in-toilet urina
tion and defecation, to two boys (aged 7 and 8 years) with ASD. Animation was
used to represent the processes of urination and defecation to both children by
superimposing an animation of genitals and a urination stream to represent urina
tion and by depicting feces being excreted into the toilet. Voiding was paired with
sound effects. The video ended with the model being given verbal praise and also
a preferred tangible reward for voiding. The boys were shown the video immedi
ately prior to a scheduled practice opportunity and then proceeded to practice the
toileting sequence.
In summary, relative to all forms of modeling, VSM appears to be an effective
tool to support toilet training in children. Not all children may benefit equally from
its use, but it is generally reported to have positive effects on acquisition of toileting
sequence steps as well as achievement of in-toilet urination and defecation when
paired with additional behavioral strategies (e.g., prompting and reinforcement) and
regular practice opportunities. VSM is also likely to result in generalization and
maintenance of acquired skills and, importantly, is a strategy that is viewed favor
ably overall by parents who have used it. VSM also depicts the child in both the role
of model and learner and may thereby increase the child’s self-efficacy (Bandura,
1977b), and the emotional tone of the learning situation can be depicted as positive,
thus providing a setting event context which facilitates learning.
Behavior-Facilitating Modifications of the Environment
The techniques involving modeling reviewed above depict performance via the
actions of a model along with salient environmental cues; however, VM and VSM,
in particular, expose the learner to a virtual rather than the actual physical environ
ment within which the toileting behavior has to occur in reality. Another set of
strategies for promoting learning, therefore, involve modifying the actual environ
ment in ways that guide correct responding and make key behaviors easier to per
form, thereby facilitating acquisition of correct performance. These strategies are
reviewed next. They can be used independently but, like modeling, are almost
always used in treatment combinations.
Many of these strategies involve prompts (e.g., pictorial schedules which outline
the toileting sequence), while others are designed to support the correct response
topography (e.g., having a stepping stool to enable the child access to the toilet).
Kroeger and Sorenson-Burnworth (2009) reviewed research into toilet training for
individuals with developmental disabilities, including ASD, which highlighted a
number of common procedures involving modification of the toilet environment
and/or stimulus conditions to facilitate in-toilet voiding. These approaches are
described next.
Manipulation of Environmental Stimuli
Manipulation of stimuli refers to the process of manipulating antecedent variables

which function as prompts or SDs in order to facilitate learning and to change the
probability of various discriminated operants. Recall that, as outlined above, stimu
lus prompts are added to the learning context as supplementary stimuli (e.g., verbal
instructions or picture cues; Kazdin, 2013) that support acquisition but can be faded
as the response becomes established in the behavior repertoire. SDs, however, are
essential components of the discriminated operant constituted by the three-term
contingency; unlike prompts they cannot be faded from the environment without
disrupting performance. Training may, however, fade control from one SD to
another, a process typically done by reducing the salience of the initial SD while
increasing the salience of the new SD (Cooper et al., 2007). Further, a particular
behavior may be established in a new context by moving SDs from one context to
another – for instance, if urination is occurring reliably on a potty, placing the potty
in the toilet bowl may help transfer stimulus control to the toilet once the potty is
removed.
Establishing and manipulating stimulus control (i.e., establishing correct SDs) is
usually incorporated with other traditional toilet training techniques, such as
reinforcement-based procedures and scheduled toileting visits. Scheduled toileting
visits (especially in combination with hydration; see below) provide opportunities
for children to practice using the toilet and, if carefully timed, permit whatever
n atural contingencies may be operating to strengthen the correct behavior. When

planning to modify stimulus control, it is essential to first identify the conditions
under which the child is likely to urinate or defecate and the signals for these events,
i.e., to perform a functional analysis or assessment (Kaerts et al., 2012; Kamiyama
& Noro, 2011; Smeets et al., 1985). Where these stimuli can be manipulated, they
can be replicated as closely as possible during toilet training, particularly in order to
help establish in-toilet voiding.
In the research reviewed below, clear distinctions between stimulus prompting
and manipulation of SDs have not consistently been drawn by researchers, and
many procedures are a mixture of both processes. In the next sections, we review the
use of stimulus prompts, modification of diapers and undergarments, and provision
of structural environmental behavioral supports as aids to toilet training.
Visual Prompts
Visual prompts provide children with a pictorial representation of the task or the
steps required to complete that task. These visual aids can be presented in the form
of photos or generic images. Parents who may be investigating the use of visual aids
using online sources will be assailed with a variety of possibilities, including visual
picture schedules which depict the toileting sequence; single picture cue cards
which the parent uses to indicate to the child that it is time to go to the toilet, or
which the child uses to initiate toilet use; and “first-then boards” which depict the
contingency of voiding followed by reward. It is thought that visual depiction of this
sequence helps children to understand and follow the steps involved in the toileting
sequence and any contingencies that have been established relating to toilet train
ing. Visual prompts such as picture schedules can be useful as they can be used
independent of third-party involvement (i.e., as a replacement for verbal or physical
prompting) and children are not required to retain large amounts of information
when learning lengthy and complex behavior chains. As toileting becomes estab
lished, they can be withdrawn, but note that even as adults we continue to depend on
cues such as signs and gender symbols to select gender-appropriate toilets.
There is some evidence to support the use of visually cued schedules to support
children’s skill acquisition (Bryan & Gast, 2000; Dettmer, Simpson, Smith-Myles,
& Ganz, 2000; MacDuff, Krantz, & McClannahan, 1993). There are also some stud
ies that have used picture cue cards to support toilet training (Drysdale et al., 2015;
Keen et al., 2007; Lee et al., 2014), though no studies were identified that used
pictorial schedules for this purpose. In instances in which visual prompts have been
used, they are always used as part of a multicomponent treatment package, and it is,
therefore, difficult to draw any conclusions about their effectiveness as a stand-
alone intervention. Nevertheless, visual prompts may be a simple addition to a toilet
training package.
Another prompting procedure is the use of high-probability response sequences
(Kazdin, 2013; Mace, Hock, Lalli, West, Belifore, Pinter, & Brown, 1988).
This procedure has the trainer/parent who first identifies several requests which a
child is highly likely to comply with (e.g., “give me a high five”). In training, a
sequence of these requests is made in close succession, with the request to which the
child is unlikely to comply (the low-probability request) attached at the end, and this
sequence is repeated in appropriate circumstances several times a day during train
ing. This procedure has been shown to increase the likelihood of compliance with
previously noncompliant requests (Banda, Neisworth, & Lee, 2003). Humm,
Blampied, and Liberty (2005) report a case in which a 6.5-year-old girl with a
developmental age of 2.5 years and a diagnosis of cerebral palsy increased her
compliance with two parental requests (“Go to the toilet” and “Stay on the toilet”)
following the high-probability request procedure. Parents were moderately satisfied
with this treatment (Humm et al., 2005).
Structural Toileting Aids
In addition to visual aids that may support toilet training, there are a variety of struc
tural supports that may facilitate the toilet training process and may prompt success
ful toilet use. Structural toileting aids are designed to support children’s independent
access to the toilet as well as to provide comfort and security for the child while they
are seated on the toilet. For example, small step stools have been used for children
who have physical limitations or disabilities that may prevent them from accessing
the toilet. Small toilet training seats have been developed that are able to be placed
on the toilet rim, in order to create a smaller surface area for the child to sit on and
to support them to feel comfortable while seated. This feeling of security is particu
larly important in cases in which children have developed a fear of the toilet. The
use of such aids has not been documented in the literature, though, anecdotally, it is
something that is viewed very favorably by parents.
The Modification of Diapers and Undergarments
Environmental manipulations also include modification or removal of diapers and

removal of undergarments and other clothing. A limited number of research studies
have investigated these procedures (Luiselli, 1996a; Taylor, Cipani, & Clardy,
1994). The stated rationale for the modification of diapers or undergarments is that
wearing a diaper is one of the SDs that maintains urination. From birth children
have a history of urination and defecation while wearing diapers, and the presence
of the diaper may come to control voiding so that it is only likely to occur when the
diaper SD is being experienced (Taylor et al., 1994). An alternative (but unstated)
rationale is that the association of diapers with urination (and defecation) may rep
resent the effect of respondent conditioning via a conditioned stimulus (CS); the CS
(diaper) elicits the conditioned response (CR) of urination/defecation. For older
children, undergarments may come to serve the same function as CS or SD. The

scientific study of the natural history of toileting is insufficiently developed (Schum
et al., 2002) for these alternative accounts to be distinguished among. It is clear,
however, that whatever the initial role of diapers or undergarments, successful toi
leting requires key steps in the toileting behavior sequence to come under the con
trol of new stimuli, such as the potty or later the toilet room and the toilet fixture.
An alternative explanation for continued voiding only when undergarments are
being worn is that the component skills required to undress have not been estab
lished with sufficient fluency to make it easy for the child to undress before voiding,
a point addressed by POV modeling described above. Under conditions of urgency,
the very act of beginning to undress may control immediate sphincter relaxation
(again, possibly an instance of respondent conditioning) leading to an accident. It
can take some time for children to learn the correct timing of the components of the
toileting sequence as well as learning the skills themselves.
Assuming that diapers function as inappropriate SDs for voiding, this problem
has been addressed in several ways. The first one is direct modification of diapers by
cutting gradually larger holes in the diaper, placing the child in the diaper (SD for
voiding), and then asking them to sit on the toilet. Wearing (modified) diapers while
the child is seated on the toilet maintains the SD for urination, and, if the child
successfully urinates while on the toilet (via the hole in the diaper), then the oppor
tunity is provided for successful in-toilet urination and its reinforcement. If desired,
more and more of the diaper can be cut away so as to facilitate transfer of full
stimulus control to the potty or toilet.
In other procedures stimulus control is transferred from the child’s undergar
ments or diapers to the potty or toilet by ensuring that undergarments are com
pletely removed in between scheduled toileting visits and then gradually and
systematically reintroduced (Taylor et al., 1994), a procedure used for older chil
dren who have not previously been successfully toilet trained (Luiselli, 1996a,
1996b). Each of these approaches is thought to be useful as they can help to estab
lish the transfer of stimulus control for voiding (e.g., from diaper to sitting on the
toilet), and if they work, they provide opportunities for the child to be rewarded for
successful in-toilet voiding.
vidence for the Effectiveness of Diaper Modification and the Removal

E
of Clothing
Luiselli (1996b) describes a procedure for toilet training children with developmen
tal disabilities in which stimulus control is systematically transferred from the dia
per to the toilet. In summary, a toileting schedule was established so that regular
practice opportunities were provided throughout the day. The diapers were removed,
and the child was placed in training briefs (similar to underwear but with additional
padding to provide some absorbancy). At the scheduled time, the child was placed
in a diaper (the assumed voiding SD) and placed on the toilet and was rewarded for
successfully urinating in the diaper. If the child failed to urinate, they were told to
“try again next time,” and the training briefs were replaced until the next scheduled
practice opportunity.
Luiselli (1996a, 1996b) intended to use this procedure to toilet train a 7-year-old
girl with a diagnosis of atypical pervasive developmental disorder; however, the
child initiated sitting on the toilet without the diaper and successfully urinated (an
example of spontaneous transfer of stimulus control), and therefore this step was
eliminated. Follow-up data 1 month posttreatment indicated that gains were
maintained.
Taylor et al. (1994) have conducted the sole investigation into the systematic
removal of clothing to manipulate stimulus control. The case was a 10-year-old boy
with ASD who had a history of failed toilet training attempts and for whom it was
thought that underpants were the SD for urination (i.e., the child would not urinate
while seated on the toilet without undergarments, but did so immediately when his
undergarments were pulled up). The intervention began with the Azrin and Foxx
(1971) procedure for 2 consecutive days. Then a second phase consisted of remov
ing the child’s undergarments 5 min after the consumption of liquids and until the
child successfully urinated; meanwhile he was prompted to sit on the toilet at 30 min
intervals until urination occurred or 10 min had passed. Successful urination let
1 min be added to the period of time that the child could have his clothes on. This
continued progressively until 15 successes were achieved, at which point the child’s
clothes were no longer removed. Improvement in toileting occurred in phase 2, and
gains were maintained at a 4-month and 10-month follow-up.
Setting Events/Motivational Strategies
Setting events include features of the learning context that facilitate (or impair)
learning (Kazdin, 2013). They include changes in motivation to perform the target
responses, the emotional valence of the learning context, and emotions experienced
and expressed by the learner in the training situation.
Motivating Voiding: Hydration and Diet Manipulation
Urination and defecation naturally occur only when the bladder or rectum reaches
capacity. Natural opportunities to learn continence and toileting skills are, therefore,
limited to those occasions when the bladder or rectum is full or nearly so. To increase
practice opportunities and promote in-toilet urination during toilet training, hydra
tion procedures are regularly employed, usually by providing the child free access
to preferred liquids and encouraging frequent consumption. The equivalent mani
pulation for defecation is to increase dietary fiber intake and prescribe laxatives
(Wassom & Christophersen, 2014). Hydration and dietary fiber manipulations are
also ways to make interoceptive discriminative stimuli associated with bladder
and bowel functioning more salient and provide opportunities for those stimuli to
function as SDs for seeking out and using the toilet. Hydration and dietary fiber/
laxative strategies are typically used in conjunction with other strategies, such as
scheduled toilet use, prompting, and reinforcement procedures (Wassom &
Christophersen, 2014).
Evidence for Hydration Procedures
Since the initial study of toilet training by Azrin and Foxx (1971), increased hydra
tion is commonly reported as a component of toilet training, primarily for encourag
ing urination, but it is also used when fecal incontinence is the target because it
makes defecation more frequent and physically easier, especially for individuals
who are constipated (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; Freeman, Riley, Duke, & Rongwei,
2014; Hagopian, Fisher, Piazza, & Wierzbicki, 1993; Kroeger & Sorensen, 2010;
Wassom & Christophersen, 2014; Wilder, Higbee, Williams, & Nachtwey, 1997;
Wilson, 1995). Kroeger and Sorenson (2010) used an intensive toileting training
procedure (plus rewards) to toilet train two boys with ASD. In preparation for toilet
training, the parents were asked to increase their child’s access to fluids for 3 days
preceding toilet training. Wilder et al. (1997) paired increased daily fluid intake with
scheduled toileting visits and the use of an in-toilet alarm that was activated by
urination. This successfully taught a 21-year-old intellectually disabled man to uri
nate in the toilet. The wider use of technologies to support toilet training is described
in Chap. 10.
Given that increasing fluid intake is a common component of many toilet training
procedures, it is not possible to conclude that increasing fluid intake alone makes a
unique contribution to toilet training. However, it is a very simple and nonintrusive
procedure with a good rationale, and its use may well be justified. Before it is used,
it is important to consult with a health professional in order to avoid overhydration
or hyponatremia. In the treatment of fecal incontinence, two recent meta-analytic
reviews of the use of dietary manipulations/laxatives combined with behavioral
interventions have concluded that the quality of the evidence for the effectiveness of
this combined treatment is poor (Brazzelli, Griffiths, Cody, & Tappin, 2011) but that
the combined treatment may have some efficacy (Freeman et al., 2014).
Negative Emotions and Toilet Training
It has long been recognized that fear of voiding and the toileting situation may
interfere with the achievement of continence and toileting competence by young
children (Luiselli, 1977). This is a setting event which represents the interaction of
the respondent (fear) and operant (escape/avoidance and resistance) behavior
repertoires. The fear may inhibit sphincter release through reflex mechanisms, while
fear also motivates escape from, avoidance of, and resistance to toilet training.
Gradual exposure to the toilet setting and to the sensations of voiding while on the
toilet, potentiated by the positive affect generated by reinforcement, may be needed
to bring about fear extinction/adaptation (Gimpel & Holland, 2003).
Recommendations for Research
To date, little research has been conducted into the effectiveness of modeling and
environmental modification strategies as methods to support toilet training. In light
of these limitations, there are a number of considerations for future research.
Typically, it is necessary to combine treatments in packages, but to further enhance
research, it would be helpful to use research designs where components were intro
duced sequentially, to see if a particular component adds incremental benefits.
Alternatively, sequences of dismantling strategy studies need to be done to determine
the necessary and sufficient training components; otherwise, randomized controlled
trials are necessary.
It is also noteworthy that there are many aspects of VM/VSM that are yet to be
established. For example, we still do not have an understanding of optimal viewing
schedules for VM/VSM. Furthermore, there are many theoretically related, yet
unexplored intervention strategies that may facilitate the toilet training process, e.g.,
the use of video prompting or social stories. Social stories use a combination of
pictures and text to depict a person correctly performing the desired skill or task.
While there is evidence that they can have positive effects on children’s learning and
behavior (Delano & Snell, 2006; Chan & O’Reilly, 2008), there does not appear to
be any research into its use in toilet training. Equally, it seems pertinent that the
effects of video prompting procedures are investigated for use in toilet training,
given the utility of this approach when teaching children a small subset of skills
within a task.
To date, the majority of research into toileting difficulties has focused on urinary
incontinence rather that fecal incontinence. It is possible that this is a reflection of
the epidemiology of the two problems. However, it seems essential that we better
understand the strategies that support children to acquire both urinary and fecal
continence if they are to achieve independent toileting.
As parents/caregivers are primarily responsible for toilet training their children,
it is essential that consumer satisfaction and acceptability ratings are assessed and
evaluated. Where possible, this should also include the perspectives of children.
Treatments that are socially valid are more likely to be implemented in practice and
may be more feasible for parents to implement resulting in greater adherence to
treatment procedures and enhanced treatment effectiveness (Finn & Sladeczek,
2001; Kazdin, 1977).
Finally, the synthesis of evidence for supporting evidence-based practice would
be greatly enhanced by researchers reporting some kind of effect size (including
single-case effect sizes; Parker, Vannest, & Davis, 2011). This would allow us to
determine the extent to which particular toilet training tools or strategies were, in
fact, effective and provide information to feed into research syntheses such as
meta-analyses. Further research in this area would significantly enhance our under
standing of the effectiveness of these promising strategies and the conditions under
which they are effective.
Overall Conclusions
This chapter has described a variety of modeling, environmental, and stimulus

modification strategies currently used to toilet train children and young people. This
includes in vivo modeling, VM, VSM, a wide range of prompting strategies, facili
tative environmental modification, and modification of setting events/motivation.
Accounts of the use of these strategies, mostly in various combinations, are common,
but there has been little research investigating their effectiveness. The majority of
existing research also focuses on the use of these strategies in people with disabili
ties who frequently have a history of failed attempts at toilet training. The fact that
the identified strategies are always used as a part of a multicomponent treatment
package means it is difficult to draw strong conclusions regarding the effectiveness
of these approaches if used alone.
Interventions should always be based on a clear rationale, one that is drawn from
a comprehensive biobehavioral and functional analysis of toileting and its difficul
ties. For parents/caregivers, therapists, or teachers planning to modify aspects of the
environment or using modeling strategies to support toilet training, it is important to
conduct a thorough functional assessment and to then consider additional processes
that may enhance the success of any intervention, such as scheduled toileting visits
and reinforcement strategies explained in other chapters. It is also important to pro
vide sufficient training to ensure the generalization and maintenance of acquired
toileting skills.
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Technology Used in Toilet Training
Johnny L. Matson
Technology in the field of toilet training has been an integral part of modern
treatment programs since their inception. These methods have been employed for
nocturnal and diurnal enuresis as well as encopresis. Obviously, the methods which
have been developed have become more complex and varied over time. This chapter
reviews research and methods that have used various forms of technology, defined
here as the use of any type of equipment or devise. Of course, with the advent of
video equipment and computers, these methods have become more sophisticated.
Having said that, little research to date has capitalized on these newer devices. In
this chapter, a review of studies on these and other technology will be made. An
attempt will be made to group procedures based on a chronological format, and the
chapter will end with speculation on where new developments will likely occur.
Daytime Treatment
Generally, the initial focus with toilet training involves methods for insuring conti-
nence during the daytime. First, there are more problems in general child develop-
ment that accompanies this problem. For example, many school and preschool
programs will only allow children to attend who have obtained daytime continence.
Second, because children are eating and drinking during the day, more incidence of
voiding occur during waking hours. Third, this problem is compounded by the fact
that children are awake for a greater percentage of time than when they sleep. This
disparity increases with age. Fourth, intervals between learning attempts (voiding
J.L. Matson (*)


170 J.L. Matson
episodes) are shorter, assisting in attaining continence. Fifth, since caregivers are
awake, obviously they can more immediately be involved in treatment. Thus, the
procedures and technology differ from nighttime treatment.
Nocturnal Treatment
Nighttime bedwetting is somewhat distinct from daytime toileting and involves

methods that differ considerably from both a technology and psychological meth-
ods perspective. Also, in most instances bedwetting occurs well beyond the time
when daytime training has been successfully accomplished. For example, Stein,
Mendelsohn, Obermeyer, Amromin, and Benca (2001) report bedwetting at least
once a week by school age children in 5.1% of the population. Thus, often the con-
ceptual and motor skills are considerably more advanced.
Bell and Pad
One of the earliest technological advances in toileting involved nocturnal enuresis.

Mowrer and Mowrer (1938) developed an alarm system that is activated when the
child wets the bed. The bell is the unconditioned stimulus while a full bladder is
viewed as the conditioned stimulus. Over time and conditioning trials, the child learns
to wake at a period that is closer and closer to the time when voiding begins. Often the
child may still wet the bed nightly for a time, but the diameter of the wet spot becomes
smaller and smaller until accidents disappear. Thus, over time the child learns to
awake when bladder extension reaches a point where voiding will soon occur.
When used consistently, and very soon after the buzzer sounds, the bell and pad
is very effective. In fact, it is considered, even today, to be the most effective of the
nocturnal enuresis treatment methods (Kaplan, Breit, Gauthier & Busner, 1989).
However, even with this method, relapse can occur in a substantial number of cases
(Doleys, 1977). As a result, investigators have attempted to add components to the
bell and pad. Azrin, Sneed, and Foxx (1973) added reinforcement and punishment,
while Lassen and Fluet (1979) added a token economy and additional practice.
Fava, Cracco, and Facco (1981) also included reinforcement procedures with the
bell and pad. What all these studies have in common is that the add-on procedures
involved operant conditioning. Thus, a more complex intervention, in some cases,
may also prove to be more robust.
Some researchers and clinicians have argued that operant methods alone are
superior to the bell and pad, even when additional operant procedures are added to
the Mowrer and Mowrer method. Kaplan, Breit, Gauthier, and Busner (1989) made
such an assertion. In a direct comparison to tangible rewards and fading, they state
that the two methods produced similar rates of continence for nocturnal enuresis.
They also conclude that the operant conditioning methods resulted in lower rates of
Technology Used in Toilet Training 171
relapse compared to the bell and pad plus additional learning-based add-ons. Despite
this finding, alarm systems have continued to be commonly studied and more fre-
quently recommended relative to any other treatment method or any other type of
technology. Also, this method seems to produce physiological changes. Oredsson
and Jorgensen (1998) reported increased nocturnal bladder capacity as a function of
bell and pad training. This methodology has been established as the treatment of
choice for nighttime bedwetting for normally developing children (Rajigah, 1996).
Similarly, this technology has proven useful in the treatment of special needs chil-
dren’s bedwetting problems.
One study of the bell and pad, which compared it to desmopressin alone and a
combination of desmopressin and the bell and pad, was reported for a group of
children in Saudi Arabia. They randomly assigned 136 kids to the 3 groups (n = 45,
45 and 46). They reported the most rapid decrease in accidents for the two groups
that employed medication. However, where the drug alone was used relapse was
frequent. The bell and pad required more time to achieve effects. The effects were
more consistent and long lasting compared to medication. Of note, a no-treatment
control group was not included, compromising the confidence in the results.
Other Alarm Methods
Alarm systems have also been reported for a number of daytime toileting problems.
Van Wagenen and Murdock (1966) had a sensing electrode grid placed in the under-
wear of nine children with intellectual disabilities. The auditory signal alerted staff
who then used prompts and other training methods to increase continence. Henriksen
and Peterson (2013) have also used a urine alarm system for nighttime toileting. In
their case study, a 12-year-old child with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome was
successfully trained. While the population studied by Azrin and Foxx (1971)
involved adults with intellectual disabilities, their methods would also be applicable
to children. They devised a wet pants alarm. This principle of training mirrored the
bell and pad with added operant methods. When the alarm was activated by urina-
tion, a series of consequences were introduced. Components of treatment included
time out for soiling, peer modeling, and social reinforcement. Other consequences
for accidents included tepid showers, verbal reprimands, and cleaning soiled sur-
faces. Similar technology and positive reinforcement have also been used to toilet
train a 9-year-old boy with intellectual disabilities. The authors of this study, Chang,
Lee, Chou, Chen, and Chen (2011), stressed the mobility of this technology and the
ability to use it in a school setting.
Azrin, Bugle, and O’Brien (1971) went the pants alarm technology one better by
also adding a toilet signal apparatus to the program. (Note: Many commercially
available children’s portable potties now use an alarm system. In this newer version,
the “alarm” consists of a brief recording of cheering or other soundtracks designed
to encourage the child.) In the 1971 study, the authors used a commercially avail-
able potty chair to teach four children (ages 3, 5, 6, and 6 years) who had profound
172 J.L. Matson
intellectual disability. Two “male” shapes were affixed to the center of the chair’s
plastic container. Urination into the potty connected a low-voltage circuit, produc-
ing a clicking sound projected from a speaker. The sound from this device differed
from the sound produced by the pants alarm sound box. Manual guidance (physical
assistance from an adult) and verbal instructions from an adult were used to help
then undress prior to setting on the potty and for dressing once they got up. For this
study, the primary function of the apparatus was to insure accurate recording of
accidents and as a result gauge successful toileting. Also, the authors note the buzz-
ers allowed trainers to attend to other tasks.
Van Wagenen, Meyerson, Kerr, and Mahoney (1969) also describe an alarm sys-
tem for daytime voiding. They trained nine children with intellectual disability. All
the children were seriously impaired and were categorized as profoundly handi-
capped. One child had echolalic speech, while the remainder of the children had
little or no speech. The urine alarm was in a small plastic box affixed to a belt and
accompanied by a plastic or rubber urinal. This container allowed for urine to flow
through to the stool. An audible sound occurred with continued urine flow. This
procedure was accompanied by additional training provided by an adult. When the
alarm was activated, the trainer immediately approached the child. The trainer said
stop, and then the trainer grasped the child by their arm and escorted them to the
stool. When voiding in the stool, the alarm again was activated. The trainer at this
point provided lavish verbal praise. This training method resulted in marked
improvement in daytime toilet training and generalized to other settings outside the
original training environment.
Passman (1975) also used an alarm affixed to the toilet. Edible reinforcers
(candy) were provided based on the onset of a tone triggered by voiding into the
toilet and contacting moisture-detecting plates which were inside the toilet. The
reward was provided very soon after voiding stopped. Once the three adults with
profound intellectual handicaps were continent for a little over a month, the alarm
and reinforcers were withdrawn. This method was very effective.
Mahoney, Van Wagenen, and Meyerson (1971) also used an alarm system. In
their study, the alarm was connected to the participant’s pants. A moisture-detect-
ing sensor was connected to the pants and could set off the alarm. However, in a
different twist on this training method, the trainer also had the option of activating
the alarm with a handheld radio transmitter. The purpose of this latter procedure
was to provide a prompt to void. As such, this method was an innovative develop-
ment. Unfortunately, to date this method has not been developed to the extent its
potential deserves. Wright (1975) also used a pants alarm and shaping with chil-
dren. A second training group used prompts, fading, and graduated guidance, but
no alarm. The group which employed the pants alarm in more self-initiations of
voiding was the most successful. Others have also set off pants alarm systems
manually and have found them to be effective in toilet training (Bettison, 1982;
Levanto et al. 2016).
Ease of Application
Another variation of the alarm system is described by Meadow (1977). This study
was an uncontrolled case study. The focus was on developing a bedwetting alarm
that was very small and easy to service. The author also underscored that the device
was less costly than many other methods. Specifically, this system was designed to
be a more efficient alternative to the bell and pad. The device was described as a
matchbox in size that could be worn on the participant. Thus, this method is similar
to the pants alarms described above, although it is designed for nighttime use. The
alarm was connected to a moisture sensor which had been put inside a disposable
towel. As with the other devices described above, a buzzer is activated by moisture.
Also, while the author states that the devices are for nighttime use, it is also sug-
gested that it may prove effective for daytime toileting.
Another study of this type is described by Henriksen and Peterson (2013).
They used a nighttime alarm system to eliminate bedwetting in a 12-year-old girl
diagnosed with autism and fetal alcohol syndrome. This child’s treatment was
implemented in her home. The researchers used a urine alarm that was affixed to her
pajama top. Also, clipped to her disposable diaper was a moisture sensor. The
authors defined bedwetting as visual or tactile indications of wetness in the diaper.
When the child’s pants wet dry in the morning, she earned preferred edibles and
tangible items such as games.
In instances where the alarm went off during the night, a parent would wake their
daughter. She was then encouraged to void in the toilet. The child was then asked to
put on dry clothes and help change the sheets. Bedwetting was eliminated in 2
weeks, and two bedwetting instances were reported over a 9-month follow-up.
Thus, the treatment was both rapid and durable.
Using similar theoretical constructs but more advanced technology, Smith (2014)
described where the alarm system technology is headed. An alarm placed in the
child’s undergarment was connected with wires to a small instrument. Accompanying
this device was a wireless iPod which resembled a cell phone. This technology
allowed for the incorporation of a considerably greater amount of information. In
addition to being able to hear the buzzer go off when soiling occurred, other func-
tions were available such as graphing data. This device also provided reinforcement
reminders to staff about whether the participant was able to get to the toilet before
voiding stopped. Finally, staff were provided a means to record successful voiding
and other relevant clinical data. As such, this device is a far cry from the rudimen-
tary alarm system used in bygone studies. What has not changed, however, are the
basic conditioning principles employed along with all of these devices. Basic psy-
chological strategies such as tangible and social reinforcers, graduated guidance,
shaping, and efforts to increase the child’s psychological awareness as applied to
toileting are evident with these programs. Thus, in the future, even more sophisti-
cated alarm systems will likely emerge. However, the basic theories behind the
training will remain. The new technology will be smaller, more mobile, and easier
to use and will provide more information. As a result, the major advances will be in
174 J.L. Matson
ease of use, more accurate recording, and staff prompts that can produce more
consistent applications of these teaching strategies. In recent years, toileting tech-
nology has received minimal research however.
Video Modeling
Lee, Anderson, and Moore (2013) describe toilet training of a 4½-year-old boy in a
home-based intervention program. He was diagnosed with autism, and “Andrew”
attended a mixture of school programs both special education school and a main-
stream program along with an early childhood intervention center. Also, he had 4 h
of a home-based intervention per week. Materials for the training program included
a flip video camera, pictures of cue cards, a Macintosh computer, a TV with DVDs,
and edible rewards. The child watched videos of himself performing the target
behaviors which would lead to successful daytime toileting. Segments of favored
TV programs were interspersed with toilet training footage. Over time, this proce-
dure along with prompts and in vivo practice of toileting skills resulted in an effec-
tive toileting program. This program required less direct intervention in in vivo
situations making it easier to implement for parents.
A second study used to teach toileting skills using video modeling is described
by Drysdale, Lee, Anderson, and Moore (2014). They taught two children with
autism spectrum disorders using real and animated models. Operant methods such
as chaining and prompts were also included. The boys improved in their ability to
walk to the toilet, undress, sit on the stool and void, and, finally, to pull their pants
back up and flush the toilet. This modeling technology was an update from previous
studies since an iPad was employed. Using such an approach, of course, adds to the
ease and mobility of treatment implementation. Similar strategies were reported by
McLay, Carnett, Van der Meer, and Lang (2015). They also taught two boys with
autism spectrum disorders. Additionally, they obtained a 3–4-month follow-up
where gains were maintained. What is consistent with all these studies is that gains
are generally maintained once achieved.
A final study reviewed using video modeling was reported by Lee, Anderson,
and Moore (2013). In their study the child with autism who was treated was a
4-year-old boy. The authors used video modeling with picture prompts, a task
analysis, and reinforcement methods. The authors used a six-step task analysis
which included: (1) going to the toilet, (2) undressing, (3) sitting on the stool, (4)
voiding in the stool, (5) dressing, and (6) flushing the toilet. The child learned to
go to the toilet and learned many preparatory skills. However, consistent voiding
in the stool did not occur. Thus, this study demonstrates that no method is
foolproof.
Undergarment Type
This study evaluated the effects of type of undergarment to toilet train normal devel-
oping children (Simon & Thompson, 2006). All five participants were normal
developing. There were four females and one male aged 21–30 months. Children
wore disposable diapers or “pull-ups.” The study occurred in a preschool classroom
with a spare bathroom with a full-sized toilet. Undergarment checks occurred every
15 min during the 5 h of class. Three treatment conditions were tested. These
changes in garments included: (1) a diaper condition using an absorbent material
lighter than a diaper affixed by tape or Velcro, (2) a pull-on training pants condition
with a pant made of similar material to condition one (however, the pants were pull-
ups with a waistband), and (3) the typical 100% cotton underwear without addi-
tional padding or waterproof materials. For some children, underwear improved
incontinence. However, with this latter condition, cleanup after accidents was part
of the procedure. What this study does show nonetheless is that all factors regarding
toileting should be evaluated.
Greer, Neibert, and Dozier (2016) provide another example of types of pants
worn and the effect on toilet training. Twenty typically developing children with a
mean age of 26 months participated. These kids attended a university-based pre-
school. The children had not responded to low-intensity toilet training prompting to
use the toilet by the teacher. This result occurred despite children having adequate
readiness skills. (These skills usually consist of recognizing when they are wet,
being able to follow instructions, being able to assist with pants being pulled up and
down, and being able to sit on the potty.) For training, in addition to frequent
prompts to sit on the stool and differential reinforcement, pull-up underwear was
used to replace diapers. This procedure proved to be effective for many of the chil-
dren. With any toileting procedure, there will be some variability in skills, even
when readiness skills have been attained. Also, 2–4 months at this age can be a very
large gap, and all children do not develop at the same rate. Finally, true indepen-
dence in toileting is quite different than performing the skill with constant adult
physical and verbal prompts. Having said all that, simply using pull-up underwear
can be a very useful strategy.
Another study involving diaper wearing and toilet training was conducted by
Tarbox, Williams, and Friman (2004). They studied one adult (29-year-old man)
with intellectual disabilities. The client had been placed in diapers both at home and
in the workplace for an extended period of time. The study was conducted at the
participant’s workshop. Two experimental conditions were employed. For the dia-
per condition, he wore this garment for the length of the workshop day. When acci-
dents occurred, the diaper was replaced with a clean one. For the no-diaper condition,
the client wore normal underwear during the workshop day. The diaper was replaced
just before he went home. Wearing a diaper proved to be a setting event for urinating
accidents. Obviously, the person needs to be physiologically ready to be toilet
trained. But, when these conditions are in place, normal underwear versus a diaper
may facilitate toilet training.
176 J.L. Matson
Mobile Phone Application
Another interesting application of technology was described by Kwon et al. (2015).

They treated 18 adult males (46–70 years of age) with lower urinary tract symp-
toms. They used a smartphone to play sound of water and “relaxing melodies” while
the participants attempted to void in the toilet. They noted a marked increase in flow
rate as a result of their treatment. The failure to use a controlled experimental design
does compromise the validity of the author’s data. Further study of the topic does
seem to be warranted nonetheless.
Toilet Seats
Glass et al. (2013) remind us that when considering issues with technology in the
bathroom, it can also involve injuries. They studied injury patterns presented at our
emergency room. This data has been compiled in the USA via a National Electronic
Injury Surveillance System. The system records injuries that are related to various
consumer products. Their data covered the years of 2002–2010. Injuries that
occurred at home, school, and other public locations were included in the analysis.
During the reporting period, 13,175 participants with toilet-related injuries were
identified. The vast majority (over 9000) of the injuries were caused by falling toilet
seats. Most injuries were for 2–3-year-olds (7362) followed by 4–7-year-old
children (1369). Over 99% of the reported injuries occurred at home and more of
the cases were life-threatening. The authors note that the second leading cause of
injuries involved slipping on floors. What these data seem to suggest is that young
children should be accompanied to the toilet to prevent falls and that the toilet seat,
if not lowered already, should be placed down before attempts to void are initiated.
The young child should then sit on the toilet seat.
Biofeedback
Satish and Rao (2011) describe a particularly unique approach to technology use for
toileting. They describe the goal of their procedure to condition patterns of defeca-
tion. These tasks include complete voiding while on the stool and enhancing correct
rectal sensation regarding toileting. Various physical tasks were also added to the
biofeedback including spreading one’s legs, leaning forward, and breathing deeply.
Sensors are placed in or near the rectal area and are used to provide visual and audi-
tory feedback regarding muscle movement required for voiding.
Using these biofeedback methods, Chiarioni, Salandini, and Whitehead (2005)
describe one such study with 109 participants. These persons were randomly
assigned to a five-session EMG biofeedback condition or 14.6 grams/day of
p olyethylene glycol. The biofeedback conditions were superior, resulting in greater

reductions in blocked or incomplete bowel movements. Also, the biofeedback
groups had less pain and were able to decrease the use of stool softeners.
In a second study, Rao et al. (2007) compared biofeedback to a placebo bio
feedback and to a condition consisting of diet and lifestyle changes. Seventy-seven
participants were assigned across these three groups. Biofeedback resulted in better
voiding results and produced higher scores on a global bowel satisfaction
questionnaire.
The data from these papers were replicated in two additional studies. Heymen
et al. (2007) tested 84 participants in one of three conditions: placebo, diazepam, or
biofeedback. Biofeedback proved to be superior to both of the other two conditions.
Another of these biofeedback studies for constipation was reported by Battaglia
et al. (2004). They tested 24 participants, 14 with pelvic floor dyssynergia and 10
with slow transit. This study extended the literature by treating people with slow-
transit constipation and long-term follow-up data. Marked positive effects were
noted for people suffering from both conditions with biofeedback. At a 1-year fol-
low-up, 50% of people with pelvic floor dyssynergia and 20% with slow-transit
constipation maintained their gains. These studies demonstrate effectiveness for
constipation. Hopefully, future studies will also expand to other toilet training prob-
lems using this technology.
Trends
Most of the efforts involving technology to toilet train children have focused on
special populations. Initially these studies highlighted persons in institutions who
had intellectual disabilities. Often these people evinced intellectual disabilities. This
fact was not surprising at the time. Persons with these disorders had multiple prob-
lems in learning (Matson, LeBlanc & Weinheimer, 1999; Matson & Boisjoli, 2007;
Matson, Mayville, Kuhn, Land & Cooper, 2005; Matson & Wilkins, 2008). However,
as the field has evolved, institutions for the developmentally disabled have been
dramatically downsized. The focus has shifted toward a community model. This
newer approach implies more training in group homes, family homes, and school
settings. In addition to this point, health professionals are focusing more on younger
individuals with respect to toilet training. Also, there is an increasing emphasis on
including parents in ongoing training (Matson, Mahan & LoVullo, 2009).
Another major trend has been the increased diagnosis of autism. Diagnostic
instrument development and more professional focus have gravitated to very young
children (Matson, Boisjoli, Hess & Wilkins, 2010). The focus on intensive early
intervention has in practice also included daytime toileting programs where appli-
cable. These treatments are not typically discussed in the literature.
Universal preschool programs are now being championed in many countries.
This trend will have an effect on daytime toilet training in particular. For example,
there will be emphasis on developing toileting and accompanied dressing skills at
178 J.L. Matson
young ages. Also, there will be multiple situations where teaching staff will need to
be versed on toileting skills and the technology that is included in training.
The 1970s and 1980s appear to have been the “golden age” of technology devel-
opment in the toileting literature. Given the huge technology advances in mobile
devices since that time, it is unfortunate that more has not been done to incorporate
these devices into toileting methods. As is always the case, more research is needed.
This point is particularly important with respect to technology and toilet training.
The general lack of research on the many possible devices that could be used to
enhance toileting is potentially a field with great possible advancements.
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Nighttime Toilet Training
Rachel L. Goldin and Delilah Mendes de Gouveia
History of Nocturnal Enuresis
Nocturnal enuresis (NE), commonly known as “bedwetting,” is defined as repeated

voiding of urine, voluntary or involuntary, into clothing or the bed during sleep, at
least twice a week, for 3 consecutive months, in children 5 years of age or older in the
absence of a general medical condition (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Along with NE, daytime wetting is also considered a significant problem but is typi-
cally considered separately as it has been suggested that it has an entirely separate
etiology. Most cases of daytime wetting are caused by medical conditions (e.g., uri-
nary tract infection; Jarvelin, Huttunen, Seppanen, Seppanen, & Moilanen, 1990).
NE is a common and pathologically benign condition in the pediatric
population.
Though benign, the condition has the potential of causing considerable amounts
of stress and worry for both the child and parent (Fitzwater & Macknin, 1992).
Warzak (1993) found that children who met criteria for NE experienced increased
amount of parental disapproval, sibling teasing, and repeated treatment failure, thus
increasing the importance of proper treatment. Psychosocial consequences of NE
can be problematic when finding the direct cause, possibility of comorbidity, and
the best course of treatment (Neveus, 2011). Yeung, Sihoe, Sit, Bower, Sreedhard,
and Lau (2004) found that children diagnosed with enuresis experienced an
increased level of depressive problems and problems at school and work.
R.L. Goldin, PhD (*)

Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
D.M. de Gouveia, BCBA
The Emerge Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

182 R.L. Goldin and D.M. de Gouveia
Foxman, Valdez, and Brook (1986) found that only one third of individuals
f ollowing through age 11 saw a physician about NE. This low percentage could be
due to the annual spontaneous cure rate of 14% for 5–9-year-old children (Forsythe
& Redmond, 1974). Worried parents of the individual with NE were more likely to
seek treatment from a pediatrician (Foxman et al., 1986). Treatments for NE include
behavioral, psychological, and pharmacological interventions. Behavioral approaches
include scheduled wakenings, reinforcement-based methods, dietary restrictions,
overcorrection, retention control, overlearning, and alarm interventions. Psycho
logical approaches include hypnosis and cognitive behavior therapy. Pediatricians
frequently prescribe medications for patients with NE (Henriksen & Peterson,
2013). Common medications prescribed to treat NE include desmopressin acetate
and tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., imipramine; Glazener, 2008).
Prevalence of NE
Prevalence rates of NE vary because of difficulties reliably defining the condition

and the methods of diagnosis (de Jonge, 1973). Fifteen to 20% of 5-year-olds are
estimated to meet diagnostic criteria for NE (Axelrod, Tornehl, & Fontanini-
Axelrod, 2014). NE in some cases has been found to continue in adolescence with
25% of 6-year-old boys and 15% of 6-year-old girls still wetting the bed (Friman,
2008). In addition, between 1% and 3% continue to meet diagnostic criteria as
adolescents (Meltzer, Johnson, Crosette, Ramos, & Mindell, 2010).
Williams, Sears, and Allard (2004) reported that NE occurs at much higher
prevalence rates with individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention-
deficit hyperactivity/disorder (ADHD), and other developmental disabilities (Williams
et al., 2004). Boys are more likely to be affected by NE than girls (Neveus, 2011).
Oppel, Harper, and Rider (1968) conducted a study in which they compared initial
dryness in boys versus girls. They found that girls attained initial dryness at a higher
prevalence than did boys.
Etiology
Before considering empirically based behavioral interventions to treat NE, it is

important that clinicians and caretakers rule out any medical underlying conditions.
Nocturnal polyuria syndrome (NPS), decreased bladder capacity, detrusor overac-
tivity, and sleep arousal disturbances are identified as the most common underlying
medical mechanisms that can contribute to NE (DiBianco, Morley, and Al-Omar,
2014; Neveus, 2011).
Nocturnal Polyuria Syndrome (NPS). This syndrome is characterized by an
increase in urine output during the night. The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is
Nighttime Toilet Training 183
responsible for decreasing urine output during sleep. Children diagnosed with
NPS commonly lack ADH production resulting in an increase of urine output
(Aikawa, Kasahara, & Uchiyama, 1998).
Decreased Bladder Capacity. Yeung, Sit, To, Chiu, Sihoe, Lee, and Wong (2002)
reported that children who met diagnostic criteria for NE had significantly
decreased bladder capacities compared to healthy children of the same age.
Anatomically the bladder is the same size but it tends to contract before it is
entirely full (Page & Valentino, 1994).
Detrusor Overactivity. Children with NE may have a lower pressure threshold for
detrusor activity as a result of having a significantly decreased bladder capacity
during the night (Yeung et al., 2002). A lower pressure threshold can cause chil-
dren with NE to void in smaller volumes as the overacting detrusor muscle fails
to wake them up (Fonseca, Bordallo, Garcia, Munhoz, & Silva, 2009).
Sleep Arousal Disturbances. Researchers have demonstrated that children with
NE commonly experience an inability to awaken from sleep when a void sensa-
tion occurs. The inability to awaken could be caused by problems between the
bladder and brain connection or the child with NE has habituated to the void
sensation resulting in failure to arouse from sleep (Watanabe & Azuma, 1989).
Other Diseases. Roche, Menon, Gill, and Hoey (2005) found that NE can also be
caused by other diseases including diabetes (mellitus or insipidus) and nonoligu-
ric renal failure. Lastly, urinary tract infection (UTI) and constipation can also
produce an increase in the void sensation (Yazbeck, Schick, & O’Regan, 1987).
Family History/Genetics. Fergusson, Hons, Horwood, and Shannon (1986) found
that having a family history of enuresis was the strongest predictor of nocturnal
bladder control. Children with a family history of enuresis were shown to attain
nocturnal bladder control more than 1½ years later versus children with irrele-
vant family histories.
Developmental Level/Delay in Maturation. The central nervous system (CNS) is
hypothesized to play an important role in the etiology of NE. Differences in
maturation of the CNS have been suggested in children with NE when compared
to typically developing children of the same age. Maturation of the CNS involves
bladder stability, recognition of bladder fullness, and the ability to suppress the
onset of bladder contractions (Watanabe & Azuma, 1989). Oppel, Harper, and
Rider (1968) found that individuals with a low birth weight attained nighttime
dryness significantly later than individuals who were born full term.
Typical Age of Bladder Control Attainment
Fergusson et al. (1986) studied a group of children from 4 months of age to 8 years
of age. Initial results showed that 96.7% of children 8 years of age had attained
nocturnal bladder control. During a follow-up study, authors found that 7.4% of
children had relapsed and were experiencing NE. Authors suggested that after
5 years of age, children who were experiencing NE failed to attain primary control
and NE was due to secondary or onset enuresis. Oppel et al. (1968) found that 97%
of children attained bladder control by 7 and 12 years; however, they also found that
one quarter of all children relapsed. These children account for the 25% of 6-year-
old boys and 15% of 6-year-old girls still experiencing NE after attaining bladder
control (Friman, 2008).
There are different factors that are related to the attainment of nocturnal bladder
control including the child’s sex, early sleep patterns, and other psychosocial fac-
tors. Oppel et al. (1968) found that a higher percentage of girls developed both
daytime and nighttime bladder control than boys. They also found that children who
were reported to sleep for longer periods of time were slower to attain bladder
control versus children who slept for shorter periods. Oppel et al. (1968) identified
family social background, presence of stressful life events, consistency of parent
figures, and changes of residences as psychosocial factors that could possibly affect
bladder control attainment. Taken together, NE is a common childhood disorder that
can be the result of and maintained by a multitude of factors. The next section
discusses in-depth interventions to treat NE and provides suggestions on best
practice.
Interventions
Simple Behavioral Interventions
A common first-line intervention for NE involves using simple behavioral tech-

niques such as star charts and token economies for reducing nighttime bedwetting.
Using simple behavioral techniques is less burdensome and stressful for families
than frequent night awakenings and alarms. Twelve randomized controlled trials
(RCT) assessing the effects of simple behavioral interventions were included in a
Cochrane Review. The review suggested that using simple behavioral interventions
resulted in significantly less accidents; however, none of the RCTs were good for
methodological quality. Additionally, most of the sample sizes were small and the
dropout rate was high (Glazener, Evans, & Peto, 2004).
Simple behavioral interventions appear to be beneficial as a first-line treatment
(e.g., wakening, reinforcement-based methods, dietary restrictions) or an adjunct
treatment (overlearning) to keep the individual motivated throughout treatment and
reduce risk of relapse. They are safe and harmless and may be preferred by parents
who do not want to use alarms or medication. That being said, one behavioral
technique which has been found to be counterproductive and should be avoided is
penalties for bedwetting (Glazener, 2008). All behavioral techniques should involve
positive reinforcement.
Wakening. The child is woken after going to bed to allow them to urinate. Wakenings
can be scheduled or done randomly. As the child experiences dry nights, waken-
ings are moved progressively earlier in the sleep cycle.
Reinforcement-Based Methods/Reward Systems. The child is provided with

rewards for dry nights. As the child achieves more dry nights, the reward system
is modified. For example, the child may receive a reward for 2 dry nights in a
week; once the child maintains 2 dry nights for another week, the system should
be modified so that the child is rewarded only if he or she has 3 dry nights in a
week and so on. Rewards should always be given after the preset goal is met.
Rewards should involve the child’s input and continually be changed so that the
child does not lose interest.
Dietary Restriction. Restricting liquids an hour before bed and eliminating caffein-
ated beverages during the day.
Overcorrection. The child is required to clean up their accident (e.g., placing sheets
in the wash) immediately after wetting.
Retention Control. This involves increasing the functional bladder capacity
through techniques such as delaying urination for a period of time or drinking
increased fluids.
Overlearning. Overlearning is used in conjunction with an alarm intervention.
It involves providing the child with extra fluids at bedtime after they have suc-
cessfully become drying using an alarm. Extra fluids at bed add stress to the
detrusor muscles in the bladder. The alarm intervention is then used again until
the child has 14 consecutive dry nights.
Standard Alarm Interventions
Urine alarms are one of the most frequently used interventions to treat NE. Urine
alarms utilize both classical conditioning and operant conditioning. The classical
condition component follows as such:
Unconditioned stimulus (US): awakening stimulus or the alarm sound
Unconditioned response (UR): awakening response and sphincter contraction
Neutral stimulus (NS): feeling produced by bladder distention
Conditioned stimulus (CS): feeling produced by bladder distention
Conditioned response (CR): awakening response and sphincter contraction
The child wets the bed which activates the alarm (US), which prompts awaken-
ing and sphincter constriction (UR), therefore stopping urination in the bed and so
the child can instead move to the restroom to urinate. After repeated pairing of the
alarm (US) and the feeling of having a full bladder (NS), the NS becomes the CS
causing the waking response (CR) of waking and going to the restroom to urinate.
The operant conditioning component involves the alarm serving as a noxious stim-
ulus, resulting in positive punishment whenever the child wets the bed triggering
the alarm. Repeated activation of the alarm elicits an avoidance response; the
behavior of not wetting the bed is maintained through negative reinforcement
(Lovibond, 1963).
Alarms for NE come in many variations, some are attached to the individual
(e.g., clipped on), part of underwear, or placed beneath the individual on the bed.
When the individual wets the bed, an electric circuit is activated, which sets off an
alarm (e.g., bell, buzzer). As explained above, the noise produced by the alarm
causes bladder muscles to reflexively contract, inhibiting further urination.
Generally, as part of most alarm interventions, after an alarm goes off, the child
must change their clothing and bedding before going back to sleep. Additionally, the
child should be encouraged to drink lots of fluids before bed while beginning the
intervention to ensure they have accidents.
Alarm interventions are found to be very effective, boasting around a 78% suc-
cess rate usually occurring within 4 weeks (Mellon & McGrath, 2000); however,
they also tend to have a high relapse rate and dropout rate (Fielding, 1985; Kristensen
& Jensen, 2003). Rates of relapse have been reported to be as high as 50% and
dropout rates as high as 48% (Fielding, 1985; Glazener, 2008). Despite this, many
studies have found alarm interventions to be more effective than other treatments
such as medications and psychotherapy (Mellon & McGrath, 2000). The best pre-
dictor of treatment success is parental motivation (Fielding, 1985). A Cochrane
Review of alarm intervention RCTs indicated issues with adherence to this type of
intervention, suggesting the undesirability of the intervention (Glazener, Evans, &
Peto, 2005). Alarm therapies can be stressful for families and can interfere with
normal sleep cycles. Therefore, if the family is not invested in the intervention, they
are likely to drop out.
Multicomponent Behavioral Interventions
To deal with the high relapse rate of interventions just involving urine alarms, sev-
eral interventions have been designed that combine alarms and other behavioral
techniques. These multicomponent interventions are found to have around a 79%
success rate (Mellon & McGrath, 2000). The combination of alarms with other
behavioral techniques reduces the risk of relapse and decreases length of treatment.
Common treatment components used in conjunction include retention control train-
ing, overlearning, cleanliness training, and positive reinforcement. For example, the
relapse rate after successful alarm alone intervention was 49% compared to a 25%
relapse rate after successful alarm plus an overlearning intervention (Glazener,
2008). Similarly, alarm interventions with a dry-bed training component have
reduced relapse rates from 63% to 27% (Glazener, 2008; Taylor & Turner, 1975).
Dry-bed treatment (DBT) is an example of a complex multicomponent inter
vention initially proposed and studied by Azrin, Sneed, and Foxx (1974). DBT is
designed around the idea that NE is a learning problem, reinforced by a multitude
of factors. The urine alarm component of DBT is less about conditioning (Mowrer
& Mowrer, 1938) the bladder and rather aimed at creating social and motivational
events. DBT pairs a standard urine alarm apparatus with additional features such as
training rapid awakening, self-correcting of accidents, increased positive reinforcement

of motivation for not having accidents, as well as urine retention practice.
In the original DBT protocol, treatment was done by a trained professional in the
child’s home. The child’s parent then continued the DBT once the child becomes
continent. Subsequent studies of DBT have supported its effectiveness and also
indicated that parents can be taught to administer the program, making DBT more
cost-effective and accessible. Additionally, DBT with the urine alarm component is
reported to be more effective than DBT alone or a urine alarm alone, indicating the
value of multicomponent interventions (Azrin & Thienes, 1978; Bollard &
Nettelbeck, 1981; Nettelbeck & Langeluddecke, 1979). Taken together, multicom-
ponent interventions (including an alarm component) are just as effective as alarms
in the short term, but are better at preventing relapse especially when combined with
overlearning or using DBT (Glazener, 2008).
Psychological Approaches
Hypnosis is one of the main psychological approaches used to treat NE. Hypnosis

for NE involves an induction procedure to place the individual into a trance, deepen-
ing the trance, then providing suggestions for urinary continence. Suggestions are
specific to enuresis and cover areas such as bladder capacity, reducing fluids before
bedtime, holding on as long as possible, and waking up to use the toilet when expe-
riencing a full bladder (Edwards & Spuvy, 1985). Hypnotherapy can be done by a
clinician or through teaching children self-hypnosis as a means for self-conditioning
to cure their bedwetting (Olness, 1975).
A review by Mellon and McGrath (2000) identified four studies of hypnosis for
NE and found an average success rate of 71%. Treatment on average lasted six ses-
sions for about an hour each (Banerjee, Srivastav, & Palan, 1993; Edwards & Spuvy,
1985; Mellon & McGrath, 2000; Olness, 1975). However, only one of the studies
reviewed by Mellon and McGrath used quantifiable outcome measures, making it
difficult to compare its effectiveness to other treatments.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been proposed as a treatment for NE;
however, there is limited research examining its effectiveness as a standalone treat-
ment. CBT for NE has been used in a few different ways including targeting a
child’s irrational beliefs that cause and maintain bedwetting and teaching self-
control skills. Cognitive interventions focusing on self-control suggest that a child
must develop both physical and cognitive self-control in order to achieve bladder
control. Overtime, a child learns the specific skills required for bladder control such
as controlling the sphincter and the urge to go immediately, as well as when and
where the appropriate places to void are. Ronen, Wozner, and Rahav (1992) pointed
out that poor self-control may be associated with risk for enuresis as boys exhibit
higher rates of enuresis and are typically found to have poorer self-control than
females and parents with self-control deficits are more likely to have children with
enuresis compared to parents with higher self-control levels (Ronen et al., 1992).
Ronen, Wozner, and Rahav compared the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral

intervention to an alarm intervention (i.e., bell and pad) and a token reinforcement
intervention. The cognitive behavioral intervention was comprised of five compo-
nents: modification of misconceptions and irrational beliefs, rational analysis of
bedwetting, sensitization to pressure in the bladder, self-control training in different
situations, and exercises in self-observation, charting, self-assessment, and self-
reinforcement (Ronen et al., 1992). Results indicated that the cognitive behavioral
intervention was as effective as the alarm intervention, well accepted by participants
and their families, and cost-effective and had a lower but not significantly different
dropout rate compared to the alarm group and token reinforcement group. Most
noteworthy was that the relapse rate was significantly lower in the cognitive inter-
vention group compared to the other groups (Ronen et al., 1992). Taken together,
the evidence for cognitive interventions for the treatment NE is still limited but may
be a good option for families that find alarm interventions aversive or in cases which
relapse is a persistent issue.
Pharmacological Interventions
Common medications used to treat NE include desmopressin and imipramine due

to the antidiuretic effects of the drugs. Medications for NE have been found to be
effective while the child is on the medication, but bedwetting tends to return when
the medications are discontinued (Glazener, 2008). For example, the long-term
effectiveness of imipramine for treating NE ranges from 5% to 40% with a total
remission of 10% to 50% (Sukhai, Mol, & Harris, 1989). Wille (1986) studied
desmopressin in comparison to an alarm and found that desmopressin reduced the
frequency of bedwetting more quickly than the alarm with equal efficacy during the
treatment trial; however, in posttreatment there was a significantly higher relapse
rate in the desmopressin group compared to the alarm group (Wille, 1994). As such,
alarm/conditioning interventions are preferable for the treatment of NE in the long
term; however, medication may be useful when other interventions fail or when
immediate effects are needed.
Combined Pharmacological/Behavioral Approach
To address the issue of high relapse rates associated with medication use for NE and
the undesirability of behavioral intervention, the combined effects of pharmacologi-
cal and behavioral interventions have been studied in great depth. In terms of overall
effectiveness of using a combined approach, most research to date has reported
significantly fewer wet nights when alarms and medications are used in combina-
tion compared to when they are used alone (Bradbury & Meadow, 1995; Sukhai
et al., 1989). Bradford and Meadow (1995) examined the effectiveness of adding the
medication desmopressin to an alarm intervention in two groups of children. At

baseline, the children in both groups had on average 2.3 dry nights per week. After
6 weeks of treatment, the group with the desmopressin and alarm intervention had
6.3 dry nights per week compared to the alarm-only group, which had 4.8 dry nights
per week (Bradbury & Meadow, 1995). Sukhai et al. (1989) reported similar find-
ings but over a 2-week period. Participants were randomly assigned to either the
desmopressin and alarm group or placebo and alarm group. After 2 weeks, the des-
mopressin and alarm group had 5 dry nights a week compared to the placebo and
alarm group, which had 4 dry nights per week (Sukhai et al., 1989). These studies
illustrate the effectiveness of combining pharmacological and behavioral interven-
tions for treating NE, especially in children who have not improved on other treat-
ments. In regard to relapse rate and treatment acceptability, combined treatment
approaches appear to result in faster treatment success and reduce risk of relapse.
Acupuncture
Evidence has emerged supporting the use of acupuncture and electroacupuncture in

the treatment of NE. It is hypothesized that acupuncture influences spinal micturi-
tion centers and parasympathetic innervation to the urinary tract. Additionally, acu-
puncture is believed to modulate brain function through the descending serotonergic
system (Bower & Diao, 2010). To treat NE, acupuncture interventions generally last
10–15 sessions. Traditionally, studying the effectiveness of acupuncture in the
treatment of NE has been challenging due to difficulty standardizing treatment
procedures. Electroacupuncture, a pulsating electrical current that is applied to acu-
puncture needles, is purported to be easier to standardize as stimulation is continu-
ous and the practitioner performance is less likely to vary. Additionally, treatment
dosage can be objectively monitored and assessed.
Evidence of efficacy of acupuncture for NE is around 70% (Bower & Diao,
2010; Tüzüner, Keçik, Ozdemir, & Canakçi, 1989). Few studies exist however com-
paring it to simple behavioral interventions, alarms, or medications or examining
the long-term effectiveness. Electroacupuncture over traditional acupuncture is
found to improve outcomes and has few reported negative side effects. Treatment of
NE with acupuncture is an emerging area of research and may be a viable option for
families interested in less traditional interventions.
Conclusion
Alarm interventions are highly effective in treating NE; however, relapse rates are
fairly high. Combining alarms with other behavioral interventions such as over-
learning, dry-bed training, and positive reinforcement can reduce relapse rates.
Medications such as desmopressin and imipramine are effective in treating NE
quickly, but effectiveness declines significantly when the medication is discontinued.

Therefore, duration of treatment is longer when using alarms, but unlike medica-
tions, their effectiveness persists posttreatment. In cases where children appear to be
highly resistant to treatment or immediate success is needed, a combination of med-
ication and alarms is recommended. Combining medication and alarm interventions
provides quick results due to the medication but also increases the likelihood of
long-term treatment success because of the alarm interventions. Thus, interventions
with an alarm component are considered best practice, garnering considerable
research support, and crucial for successful treatment of NE.
Hypnosis and other cognitive interventions do not have as much research support
as medication or behavioral/conditioning interventions (e.g., alarms, simple behav-
ioral techniques) and currently do not appear to be any more effective. However,
continued study of cognitive interventions is beneficial for families who are hesitant
to try medication and find behavioral interventions time-consuming and aversive.
Acupuncture is another alternative option for the treatment of NE and has produced
promising effects, but well-controlled research is still needed comparing its effec-
tiveness to other interventions and examining long-term outcomes.
One area of study that appears to be lacking with regard to treatment of NE, and
may be worth attention, is if certain clinical features or demographic variables affect
treatment success. Identifying patient characteristics that predict treatment out-
comes would be beneficial for professionals when discussing treatment options with
families to increase success rate and treatment satisfaction. That being said, the state
of research with regard to treatment of NE is overall in a good place as there
are many empirically supported interventions to treat this common childhood
problem.
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Medical Issues
GenaLynne C. Mooneyham, Jessica Xiaoxi Ouyang, and Cassie D. Karlsson
Introduction
Toilet training is often as much about the “accidents” as it is the “successes.” On the
road to continence, episodes of both daytime and nighttime wetting are a part of
normal development. Most parents can share stories about the struggles of achiev-
ing this coveted milestone. However, there are times in which toilet training troubles
fall outside the realm of normal, and recognizing these scenarios is often key
to obtaining an appropriate medical workup when indicated. There are times in
which medication management (in addition to behavioral interventions) may be
warranted.
This chapter examines enuresis and constipation as medical diagnoses, providing
an overview of the subtypes of each condition, common medical and psychiatric
issues that may be associated with ongoing symptoms, as well as management
options. In addition, times in which referral to a specialist would be warranted are
discussed.
G.C. Mooneyham, MD, MS

Department of Psychiatry and Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School
of Medicine, 2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710, USA
J.X. Ouyang, MD
Indiana University School of Medicine, 705 Riley Hospital Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
C.D. Karlsson, MD (*)
Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine,
705 Riley Hospital Dr., Suite 4300, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

194 G.C. Mooneyham et al.
Enuresis
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM 5)
defines enuresis as the “repeated voiding of urine into inappropriate places”
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 355). The subtypes outlined allow for
a differentiation between nocturnal and diurnal symptoms as well as for a combi-
nation of both. The DSM does provide a minimum chronological age requirement
for the diagnosis of enuresis as being 5 years, but also emphasizes the importance
of the developmental assessment. Children with intellectual disabilities may fulfill
the chronological age requirement for the diagnosis of enuresis, but they may not
have met the developmental milestones necessary to initiate a toilet training
regimen.
The DSM 5 diagnostic criteria outlined for the diagnosis of Enuresis 307.6
includes the following (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 355):
A. Repeated voiding of urine into bed or clothes, whether involuntary or

intentional.
B. The behavior is clinically significant as manifested by either a frequency of at
least twice a week for at least three consecutive months or the presence of clini-
cally significant distress or impairment in social, academic (occupational), or
other important areas of functioning.
C. Chronological age is at least 5 years (or equivalent developmental level).
D. The behavior is not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,
a diuretic, an antipsychotic medication) or another medical condition (e.g., dia-
betes, spina bifida, a seizure disorder).
Specifiers include: “nocturnal only” for passage of urine during night sleep only,
“diurnal only” for passage of urine during wakeful hours, and “nocturnal and diur-
nal” when a combination of symptoms is present.
Classifications of Enuresis
A variety of terms to describe enuresis are utilized in practice. This can be particu-
larly confusing to both clinicians and families. The International Children’s
Continence Society (ICCS) proposed a clarification of terms in its 2006 article
“Standardization of Terminology of Lower Urinary Tract Function in Children and
Adolescents” (Neveus, von Gontard, Hoebeke, et al., 2006).
Primary enuresis is the descriptor utilized when urinary continence has yet to be
established. Alternatively, secondary enuresis describes the scenario in which an
individual previously attained urinary continence at one point in time, but has since
regressed or lost this capacity. For example, if a 7-year-old male presents to the
office for urinary incontinence, the clinician needs to focus on understanding
Medical Issues 195
whether the child had attained toilet training proficiency but subsequently lost this
skill set or whether the child had never been fully toilet trained in the first place.
Primary enuresis due to a neurodevelopmental disorder is not uncommon, particu-
larly if there is an underlying etiology that is associated with neurogenic bowel or
bladder. The differential diagnosis for enuresis may be vast, ranging anywhere from
trauma to medication side effects or other discrete disease processes. Whether the
enuresis is primary or secondary, collateral information from the family or caregiv-
ers, along with a thorough physical exam, are recommended for children with pro-
longed or treatment refractory enuresis.
The etiologies and treatment recommendations differ between the subtypes of
enuresis. Medications are far more likely to be utilized as an adjunct to behavioral
strategies when nighttime enuresis is the primary presenting problem. As such, when
addressing toileting issues, the first point of clarification must include the timing of
wetting episodes. Enuresis, “bed-wetting,” and intermittent nocturnal incontinence are
considered to be synonymous. These terms refer to any intermittent discrete amounts
of urine leakage throughout the night. However, children often have w etting episodes
during the daytime as well. In spite of its inclusion in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, the term “diurnal enuresis” has fallen out of favor with
urologists, and in its place are the terms daytime incontinence and nighttime inconti-
nence. Children with both day- and nighttime symptoms have dual diagnoses within
the medical framework. According to the European consensus, daytime symptoms
should be treated prior to attempting to treat nocturnal enuresis if both are present,
since the presence of daytime symptoms indicates a higher likelihood that a structural
and/or organic etiology is present (Vande Walle et al., 2012; Neveus et al., 2010).
The second element that needs to be assessed is the frequency of wetting
episodes. Are they happening continuously or intermittently? In terms of risk strati-
fication, children with continuous incontinence may have a higher likelihood of
being diagnosed with congenital malformations or neurological etiologies for their
symptoms.
One example of a neurodevelopmental disorder that is closely associated with
incontinence is spina bifida. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect in which the spinal
cord fails to develop properly. This is commonly due to a nutritional deficiency of
folate during pregnancy. There are many people in the general public who may
have an asymptomatic mild form of spina bifida. On physical exam you may sim-
ply find a dimple near the base of the spine, a birthmark, or even a patch of hair.
This is referred to as “spina bifida occulta” and is often an incidental finding.
However, with more severe forms of the neural tube defect, the spinal fluid itself
may leak out forming a swelling beneath the skin. This phenomenon is known as a
meningocele. The most severe form of spina bifida is known as a myelomeningo-
cele. In this scenario the nerves at the base of the spinal cord may be visible and
they are often damaged. Patients who have spina bifida may present with motor
weakness in the lower limbs as well as sensory deficits. The nerves which control
the bowel and bladder sensations as well as the muscles required for continence are
often affected. As a result, children with spina bifida may display urinary and/or
stool incontinence.
Case Vignette 1
A 13-year-old male with past medical history of spina bifida occulta presents to the
primary care physicians office with his mother. His mother is concerned that the
patient has been having nighttime enuresis episodes. The family has already been
using a pharmacologic intervention without success. The patient’s mother insists
that the child has been taking the medication prior to sleep onset each night. The
most likely explanation is which of the following:
A. Noncompliance.
B. The presence of spina bifida occulta significantly affects the response to treat-
ment in patients with nocturnal enuresis.
C. The diagnosis of spina bifida occulta is incorrect.
D. The patient is taking illicit substances.
E. The patient has renal cell carcinoma.
Answer: B.
In this study the records of 160 pediatric patients with nocturnal enuresis were
reviewed. Patients were excluded if they had clear organic urological disease or
symptoms that were highly suggestive of spinal dysraphism. The groups of children
with spina bifida occulta and those without spina bifida occulta were compared in
terms of their response to treatment for nocturnal enuresis. Of the 160 children
included, spina bifida occulta was detected in 43 (26.9%). Children without
spina bifida occulta had higher likelihood of a complete response to treatment.
However none of the children with spina bifida occulta who had primary non-
monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis showed a complete response to treatment
(Shin, Im, Lee, et al., 2013).
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
According to the International Council on Continence Society, lower urinary tract

symptoms may include hesitancy, frequency, urgency, straining, and a weakened
urinary stream (Neveus, Eggert, Evans, et al., 2010). Patients may also display evi-
dence of dribbling after a void, pain in the genitalia, pain with urination, and the use
of maneuvers intended to hold in urine (Vande Walle, Rittig, Bauer, et al., 2012)
(Table 1). Daytime incontinence frequently occurs when there are lower urinary
tract symptoms. The workup for lower urinary tract symptoms often includes a
urinalysis, given that urinary tract infections are a common source of secondary
enuresis with abrupt onset or a noticeable change in pattern. Urinary frequency is
considered to be increased when the child is experiencing eight or more voiding
events per day, whereas urinary frequency is considered to be decreased when they
are experiencing three or less voiding events per day. Another important note is
when holding maneuvers are observed, they are only clinically relevant when a
child has previously had bladder control. Urgency is often the presenting feature of
an overactive bladder.
Medical Issues 197
Table 1 Lower urinary tract Increased/decreased voiding

symptoms frequency
Daytime incontinence
Urgency
Hesitancy
Straining
Weak stream
Intermittency of stream
Holding maneuvers
Feeling of incomplete emptying
Post void dribble
Genital/lower tract pain or dysuria
Neveus et al. (2010), Vande Walle et al.
(2012)
Daytime Incontinence
According to Graham and Levy (2009), daytime incontinence has a prevalence of

2–3% in 7-year-old boys and 3–4% in same age girls and declines gradually with
age. Daytime incontinence can be conceptualized either as a storage problem or an
emptying problem (Graham & Levy, 2009). Bladder filling and bladder storage are
both mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, while bladder emptying is con-
trolled by the parasympathetic nervous system. With bladder storage difficulties, the
patient may have normal neurological function but simply be unable to store urine
even at low bladder pressures. Alternatively, they may have abnormal neurological
function with urine leakage when the bladder is under high pressure. Other storage
issues may be centralized around hypersensitivity to bladder distention or decreased
sphincter tone. In terms of emptying problems, some patients may experience
“functional” symptoms in which there is no aberrancy from a neurological perspec-
tive, yet the patient cannot fully relax the sphincter during efforts to void.
Alternatively, the ability to empty the bladder may be caused by anatomical differ-
ences or neurological deficits.
Two other types of daytime wetting are vaginal reflux and giggle incontinence
(Graham & Levy, 2009). Vaginal reflux is routinely seen in females who are obese and
is a phenomena associated with urine pooling within the vagina or the vaginal canal.
As a result, urine leakage typically occurs in the window of time shortly after urinat-
ing. On clinical interview, patients often report having damp underwear the majority
of the day. Vaginal reflux may be diagnosed by completing a Valsalva and finding
urine leakage immediately after the patient has emptied their bladder. Positional
changes during toilet sitting are often encouraged with children who have vaginal
reflux as a way to offset or avoid the pooling of urine in the vaginal canal. One exam-
ple is the use of rear facing toilet sitting (such that the child is facing the back of the
toilet). In theory, this will allow for more effective balancing on the toilet and thereby
may allow for more effective full bladder emptying (Maternik, Krzeminska, Zurowska,
et al., 2015). Giggle incontinence occurs when a patient loses full bladder control with
complete emptying during laughter in spite of normal urodynamic studies. This is a
Table 2 Diagnosis: Giggle Incontinence vs. Vaginal Reflux

Giggle incontinence Vaginal reflux
• Complete bladder emptying with extreme • Urine dribbling after voiding
laughter • Overweight girls and thin girls who
• Girls 10–20 years old have trouble balancing on the toilet
• Normal urodynamics • Other risk factor include labial
• Mechanism thought to be related to a adhesions
cataplectic phenomenon that also mediates • Damp underwear most of the time
narcolepsy • Diagnosed with Valsalva post void that
• Treated with methylphenidate leads to urine flow
• Treated with repositioning when
voiding
Maternik et al. (2015), Graham and Levy (2009)
rare diagnosis found most often in females between the ages of 10–20 years. Some
theorize that this is related to a cataleptic phenomenon and thus there may be an asso-
ciation between narcolepsy. Methylphenidate has been proposed as a treatment for
this pattern of daytime incontinence (Graham & Levy, 2009) (Table 2). Regardless of
the etiology of daytime wetting, non-pharmacologic interventions should be incorpo-
rated. These interventions will be covered elsewhere in this manual. However, from a
primary care perspective, physicians often recommend strategies which target the ele-
ments of bladder distention and bladder overflow. Some of these strategies include the
use of “double voiding” in which a patient is asked to empty their bladder, wait, and
then attempt to urinate again. Another common strategy is to complete scheduled
voiding every 2 h. The interplay between constipation and stool burden leading to
enuresis will be covered in the next section of this chapter. Strategies to treat constipa-
tion are often incorporated into the treatment of daytime incontinence.
Expected Bladder Capacity
A child’s expected bladder capacity (EBC) may be calculated by the following equa-
tion: EBC = 30 + (age in years × 30) mL (Vande Walle et al., 2012). As an example,
a 5-year-old child’s expected bladder capacity is 30 + (5 × 30) mL = 180 mL.
Polyuria
Polyuria is an overproduction of urine. In general, the differential diagnosis for

polyuria is quite vast and may include anything from a common urinary tract infec-
tion, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, diabetes, interstitial nephritis, psycho-
genic polydipsia, benign prostatic hypertrophy, etc. The symptoms of polyuria
(increased urine production) and polydipsia (increased thirst) are classic features of
new onset diabetes mellitus. As such, patients who exhibit polyuria and polydipsia
should be screened for diabetes. Children with new onset diabetes may present with
Medical Issues 199
vague symptoms to include generalized fatigue and malaise. They may also exhibit
nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal distress, and weight loss. If untreated, patients
with type 1 diabetes can progress to diabetic ketoacidosis which is a life-threatening
condition requiring admission to an intensive care unit. With any new evaluation for
incontinence, the clinician must be conscientious to ask about both polyuria and
polydipsia. If these symptoms are present, then the patient should be referred to
their primary care provider. A typical workup for new onset polyuria with polydip-
sia will, at a minimum, include a basic metabolic panel (to screen for electrolyte
abnormalities and blood glucose) and a urinalysis (to screen for glucose being
spilled into the urine). The urinalysis will also provide information about any abnor-
mal concentration of the urine (specific gravity). While this chapter is c ertainly not
meant to explore the diagnosis of diabetes, it is critical for nonmedical clinicians
who may interface with families during an incontinence evaluation to be aware of
the importance of the symptoms of polyuria and polydipsia.
Nighttime Incontinence
Nocturnal enuresis can be further divided into primary monosymptomatic nocturnal

enuresis (PMNE) and non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis.
• Primary Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis (PMNE): These children have
never achieved nighttime continence (thus the use of the term “primary”), yet
they do not have daytime wetting episodes. Additionally, patients with PMNE do
not have a history of bladder dysfunction or concurrent lower urinary tract symp-
toms. PMNE may occur even if a child has normal bladder storage capacity and
normal urine output volumes. A bladder diary may be used clinically to assist
with tracking symptoms. When using this strategy within the medical setting
(such as an inpatient admission), the volume of the urine output is recorded. By
evaluating the expected bladder capacity and tracking the volume of urine out-
put, polyuria can be diagnosed.
• Non-monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis: In keeping with the medical model,
nighttime wetting is conceptualized as a symptom. When this symptom occurs
simultaneously with lower urinary tract symptoms (outlined previously in this
chapter), the clinical presentation is best described by the “non-monosymptomatic”
nocturnal enuresis category.
According to Bayne and Skog, nocturnal polyuria (NP) can be considered when
a child’s bladder diary demonstrates urine production exceeding 130% of their
expected bladder capacity (2014). This subtype is often suspected if a child is wet-
ting in the first third of the night, has a large first void volume, and has soaked bed
linens during enuretic periods. Desmopressin (a synthetic analogue of vasopressin)
is particularly useful in this population.
Small bladder capacity should be suspected when the maximum volume of indi-
vidual voids (Maximum Voided Volume MVV) is less than 50–65% of the expected
bladder capacity (Vande Walle et al., 2012). Desmopressin and anticholinergics can
be useful adjunctive medications if first-line treatments fail (Bayne & Skog, 2014).
Both nocturnal polyuria and small bladder capacity can be present and detected
successfully with the voiding diary tool. When using this strategy within the medi-
cal setting (such as an inpatient admission), the volume of the urine output is
recorded. By evaluating the expected bladder capacity and tracking the volume of
urine output, polyuria can be diagnosed
Comorbidities
Children with constipation and other comorbidities like ADHD may require treat-
ment for these issues prior to addressing enuresis. According to Grahm and Levy,
“surveys show that children who have ADHD have a 30% greater chance of enuretic
events” (p 166, 2009). This was once thought to be due solely to inattention, but
there is a developing movement toward looking at a potential neurochemical effect
for this relationship. Likewise, parents of children with nighttime enuresis often
report that their child is a deep sleeper. However, the role of sleep arousal problems
in enuresis remains controversial. Speculation that being a deep sleeper leads to
enuresis has essentially fallen out of favor within the medical community given that
nocturnal enuresis events and sleep stages are often independent of each other.
Nonetheless, children with sleep-disordered breathing, including obstructive sleep
apnea (OSA) and primary snoring, are more likely to have nocturnal enuresis
(Jeyakumar, Rahman, Armbrecht, et al., 2012). “Tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or
both have been shown to cure enuresis to a significant extent in this select group”
(Grahm & Levy, p 166, 2009).
Case Vignette 2
A 6-year-old male presents to your pediatric primary care office with his parents.
The parents report that the child had been fully continent since the age of 3. The
parents endorse a new concern that the child is “regressing” over the past few days,
and when asked to clarify the nature of their concerns, they cite the following: (1)
The child has started having nocturia and wetting himself overnight leading to high
stress in the household due to cleaning up the wet linens. (2) The child has been
getting in trouble for waking up in the middle of the night and going to the kitchen
without permission. Furthermore, his parents believe that he has been drinking “all
of the lemonade and orange juice” in the house which has increased their grocery
bill. (3) The child has been “trying to get out of things by asking to go to the bath-
room all of the time or saying he has a stomach ache even when he is at school.”
What should your care disposition for this family include?
A. Send the family home with a behavioral diary to track number of requests to go
to the bathroom, number of overnight accidents, and number of juice containers
consumed over the next 4 weeks.
Medical Issues 201
B. Send the family to a urologist to evaluate for bladder size less than anticipated
for body size.
C. Send the patient to your in-office lab to complete a urinalysis and obtain a basic
metabolic panel (electrolytes, kidney function, and glucose).
D. Send the patient to the store to purchase a bell and pad system and follow up
with your office in 2 weeks if no improvement.
Answer: C.
The information obtained from the parents is concerning for both polyuria
(increased volume and frequency of urination) and polydipsia (increased thirst
which may include drinking large amounts of any fluid that is available).
Furthermore, they are describing a child who was previously continent and now has
secondary nocturnal enuresis. Each of these elements may be seen as a symptom of
hyperglycemia. As such, this child needs to be screened for diabetes mellitus. By
obtaining a urinalysis, you can assess whether there are ketones and/or spilled glu-
cose in the urine. Likewise, the basic metabolic panel will tell you what the child’s
current blood glucose value is along with providing information about potential
acidosis. This will greatly assist you in risk stratification for the disposition. If your
screening labs are indeed concerning for new onset diabetes, then this child is at
risk for the development of diabetic ketoacidosis. DKA is a life-threatening condi-
tion that will require emergent hospitalization often within an intensive care unit
(Lamb, 2014).
Medical Workup of Enuresis
The medical workup of enuresis will include a thorough history, review of systems,
physical exam, and any laboratory or imaging studies necessary to clarify the
diagnosis.
Patient History In general, the history of the present illness needs to include a
thorough overview of the clinical symptoms to include elucidating the age of toilet
training, pattern of wetting, volume of wetness, number of wetting episodes per day,
primary vs. secondary enuresis, time of day and activity when incontinence occurs,
history of UTI, total voids per day, presence of nighttime wetting, prior evaluation
and treatments, bowel function, social history for stressors, and family support
(Vande Walle et al., 2012).
As previously mentioned, when evaluating children presenting with a chief
complaint of enuresis, the first question is whether there has ever been a period of
continence. If the answer is yes, then the current presentation of incontinence would
be considered a secondary enuresis pattern. However, those without a historical
period of continence would qualify as having primary enuresis. Is the incontinence
solely occurring during the daytime? Or is the incontinence occurring at night?
If the incontinence is occurring during the daytime, is it a storage problem, an emp-
tying problem, or a combination thereof?
The history obtained during an enuresis workup must also include the toilet
training profile, the patterns of voiding (i.e., number of accidents per night and/or
per week, daytime voiding patterns), and bowel habits. Sleep patterns are helpful to
assess, as are drinking habits. The family response cycle can also provide insight
into the clinical presentation as a shame and/or guilt complex may be inherently
introduced into the enuresis pattern, whether or not this had been the intention.
Likewise, when completing an enuresis evaluation, the trauma history and risk
assessment for trauma is of great importance. Is there any evidence of maltreatment,
neglect, or abuse?
After you have established a clear understanding of the presenting symptoms, the
next elements to be addressed include the developmental history, the past medical
history, screening for comorbid conditions, and the family history. Does the child
have a history of a neurodevelopmental delay? Are there any medical comorbidi-
ties? Is there a family history of bed-wetting? Of note, a child has a 44% chance of
having enuresis if one parent had enuresis as a child. The risk increases to 77% if
both parents had enuresis. Age of resolution in a parent is predictive of the age of
the child’s resolution (Graham & Levy, 2009). Is there a history of constipation?
Reviewing the medication list is also a key element of the patient encounter. The
provider should inquire about whether there have been any changes or additions in
the medication list.
A thorough review of systems must include whether or not the following are
present: polyuria, polydipsia, abnormal urine stream, dysuria, frequency, urgency,
pain, burning, constipation, diarrhea, or the need for abdominal pressure in order to
have a successful void.
For daytime incontinence, the initial differential diagnosis may include urinary
tract infection, constipation, vaginal pooling or reflux, post void dribble, ADHD,
poor attunement to body sensations/cues, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, or
daytime frequency syndrome. Other more rare etiologies may include neurogenic
bladder, urethral obstruction, ectopic ureter, or a host of other structural defects. For
nighttime incontinence the differential diagnosis is relatively unchanged although
vaginal reflux and post void dribble are unlikely etiologies.
Case Vignette 3
A 7-year-old female presents to the pediatricians office with her parents. They report
increasing frustration with attempts to toilet train over the years. The child’s par-
ents describe a lack of response to behavioral modification strategies and are des-
perate for help. The patient’s teacher also sent a note explaining how difficult it has
been to keep the child in the mainstream classroom because of toileting issues
requiring 1:1 attention. The teacher and the parents both comment that the child
“constantly dribbles” in her underwear and doesn’t seem to pay attention to cues
of having a full bladder or needing to go to the bathroom. Furthermore, when taken
to the bathroom for scheduled toilet breaks, the child often sits for long periods and
has to strain with increased abdominal pressure to pass urine. What should your
treatment recommendations include?
Medical Issues 203
A. Referral to a urologist to evaluate for neurogenic bladder

B. Referral to a local psychologist who specializes in biofeedback
C. Referral to a local bookstore with recommendation of a toilet training manual
D. Referral to a family therapist to address the increasing frustration verbalized by
the parents
E. Referral to a behavioral specialist to address school disruption
Answer: A
The need to use abdominal pressure to initiate voiding stream, constant drib-
bling, and apparent lack of response to voiding cues are all potential red flags for
neurogenic bladder. A referral to a urologist would be indicated for future evalua-
tion (Issenham et al. 1999; Neurogenic Bladder, Johns Hopkins Medicine Health
Library).
Testing All children who are experiencing enuresis should have a urinalysis (UA).
In fact, apart from a pertinent and thorough history and physical exam, the
International Children’s Continence Society states that the only mandatory screen-
ing test for enuresis is the urinalysis (Neveus et al., 2010). However, the National
Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence 2010 guideline on nocturnal enuresis
questions whether the UA is actually a cost-effective recommendation. Nonetheless,
the UA holds many pieces of information that can help guide next steps. Proteins or
blood in the urine as well as glucose, ketones, and urinary tract infections can read-
ily be identified with the UA. The specific gravity can also be a helpful piece of
information for diagnoses like diabetes insipidus. If there is any evidence from the
UA that would suggest a urinary tract infection, then the specimen should be sent
for culture. If the culture is positive, sensitivities for antimicrobial management
should be requested.
Despite the above recommendations, it is not uncommon to see other laboratory
and radiologic investigations pursued in the medical workup of enuresis. Abdominal
x-rays are sometimes obtained to evaluate for stool burden. Further discussion
regarding constipation will be addressed in a later section of this chapter. Serum
electrolytes may be checked but are not always necessary and would thereby not be
considered a mandate or part of the standard of care per se. Examples of situations in
which serum electrolytes may be required would include the evaluation of dehydra-
tion or when the medical team is concerned about the possibility of diabetic ketoaci-
dosis. In those with a history of urinary tract infections, especially recurrent,
clinicians may consider obtaining a renal bladder ultrasound. For some patients, uro-
dynamic studies will be required. The voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a test
which uses contrast dye to evaluate the urinary system from both a structural and a
functional perspective. X-rays are taken during the voiding process and the dye is
visible on imaging throughout the urinary system. The urinary system includes the
kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, and the urethra. Anatomical blockages, reflux, pos-
terior urethral valves, strictures, and atypical urinary transit can be detected with this
modality. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages the use of the voiding
cystourethrogram as part of the workup for children with recurrent urinary tract
infections if the renal ultrasound shows hydronephrosis or scarring (Newman, 2011).
In addition to this, uroflow testing is a modality that assesses the urine stream
and should be helpful for evaluating the amount of urine passed, the rate of flow, and
the amount of time until the voiding process has been completed (Hoebeke, Bower,
Combs, DeJong, & Yang, 2010). During urination the bladder contracts and flattens,
whereas during storage it relaxes and expands. Urologists typically favor obtaining
uroflow studies in children with daytime incontinence. A Mag 3 scan is a nuclear
medicine study that shows the kidney size, shape, and function. Stone studies (CT
or ultrasound) may be used to look for kidney stones if there is evidence of pain out
of proportion for physical exam or if there is any evidence of obstruction. MRI may
be used to assess for tumor burden or other structural anomalies. However, it is also
reasonable to consider subspecialty referral to a urologist prior to the initiation of
extensive testing so that a more directed approach can be taken.
Case Vignette 4
An 8-year-old female presents to her child psychiatry appointment for ADHD fol-
low-up. Her parents complete the review of systems questionnaire which is concern-
ing for new onset nocturnal enuresis, low-grade fever, and abdominal discomfort
within the last 3 days. The child wears cotton underwear, is fully toilet trained, and
has had no major life changes or stressors that you can identify. What should your
next step be?
A. Obtain a clean catch specimen for point of care urinalysis and then culture/
microscopy.
B. Order a full-body CT scan due to concern of an occult malignancy.
C. Write a letter to the school special education committee requesting an IEP and
psychoeducational testing.
D. Order a child protection team consultation due to likely sexual abuse.
E. Obtain a suprapubic bladder specimen and send for stat microscopic analysis.
Answer: A
Urinary tract infections are a common source of new onset nocturnal enuresis.
Your pretest probability for a UTI is also increased by the symptoms of abdominal
discomfort with a low-grade fever. Females are at a higher risk for UTIs because of
the anatomical proximity of the urethra and rectum. Furthermore, elementary-aged
females who are learning to become independent in their self-hygiene are at an even
greater risk for unintentional cross contamination leading to a UTI. Obtaining a
suprapubic aspirate is unnecessary for the first step in evaluation. As such, obtain-
ing a point of care urinalysis and then sending for culture and microscopy is an
appropriate intervention at this time (Newman, 2011; Nickavar & Sotoudeh, 2011).
Ancillary Data A frequency-volume chart is recommended as part of the workup
to help provide supportive data for further evaluation. At least 2 days of fluid intake
and output recording should be completed along with 1 week of data on other
bladder-related symptoms and bowel movements (Bayne & Skoog, 2014). A great
deal of clinically salient information can be obtained from the toileting diary (see
Appendix 1). Ideally, families will be able to document the timing, volume, and the
Medical Issues 205
description of voids and stools. This can help to establish maximum volume and
thus bladder capacity. Any co-occurring constipation should be identified and
treated before managing enuresis (Vande Walle et al., 2012). Highlighting the impor
tance of this tool for diagnosis and treatment is an important message to families, as
completing the chart requires consistency and motivation. Reviewing the natural
history of enuresis with families is also essential. Overall, there is a slight male
predilection with about 10–15% of 7-year-olds affected. They should be aware that
nocturnal enuresis has a spontaneous remission rate of 15% a year such that by age
15, 99% of children are dry (Graham & Levy, 2009).
The child’s drinking and voiding pattern can be highly informative. Is the child
drinking large volumes of fluid in the evening or near bedtime? Is the child able to
drink fluids with ease during the school day? Is the child avoiding the bathroom at
school? A distressed and tired parent may not always recognize these patterns.
Examining fluid intake can be a valuable piece of the history and evaluation. For
many families, there is a fair amount of guesswork involved in establishing how
much and when their child should be drinking. What should the fluid intake pattern
look like? According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
(2010), the recommended fluid intake per day for children is as follows:
• 1–1.4 L for children 4–8 years old
• 1.2–2.1 L for girls 9–13 and 1.4–2.3 L for boys of the same age
• 1.4–2.5 L for girls 14–18 and 2.1–3.2 L for boys of the same age
The rule of thirds for timing of fluid consumption suggests that children with
enuresis, especially PMNE, should have two-thirds of their fluid intake before the
school day is over and one-third in the early evening with no fluids 1–2 h before bed
(Bayne & Skog, 2014). The International Children’s Continence Society is more
stringent and recommends 200 mL or less in the evening. This may be difficult to
adhere to if a child engages in a lot of physical activity or sporting events in the
evening or nighttime; adequate hydration should be the primary goal in this case.
Finally, inquiring about bathroom anxiety is important, as some children will drink
most of their fluids for the day at home in order to avoid using the restroom at
school.
Physical Examination The physical exam should focus on the neurological, gas-
trointestinal, and urogenital systems. On neurological examination, it is important
to note the child’s overall tone, reflexes, coordination, and sensation (Bayne &
Skoog, 2014). The back must be examined for a tuft of hair, sacral dimple, or other
markings that would suggest underlying spinal cord issues like spina bifida, spina
bifida occulta, or a tethered cord. In terms of the abdominal exam, the physician will
note whether the abdomen is distended or whether there are any palpable masses –
for example, bladder, kidney, stool burden, or others. The urogenital exam should
include inspection of the phallus and meatus of the penis in males to look for meatal
stenosis or phimosis. Likewise, the introitus should be inspected in females looking
for urethral abnormalities or labial adhesions (Grahm & Levy, 2009).
Table 3 Enuresis: causes for Weight loss

concern
Sacral dimple or tuft of hair on lower
spine
Neuro exam abnormalities
Genitourinary exam abnormalities
Weak or intermittent urine stream
Continuous dribbling or incontinence
Straining to void
Treatment refractory enuresis
Zywicke & Rozzelle (2011), Vande
Walle et al. (2012)
Organic Etiologies The organic causes of enuresis are numerous and highly
variable. Some of the most common causes for enuresis are constipation, UTIs,
impactions, urolithiasis, diabetes, physical trauma, and medication side effects.
Other more rare causes of enuresis include spinal cord tumors, vascular phenomena
including infarction or thrombosis, neurogenic sequelae of surgical procedures,
metabolic disorders, genetic conditions, and bladder spasticity. These will usually
be refractory to conservative management and will have more severe clinical pre-
sentations (Table 3).
Nonorganic Etiologies There are also many nonorganic etiologies of enuresis, as
reviewed elsewhere in this book. Some of these may include psychosocial stressors
such as trauma, physical abuse, sexual abuse, adjustment disorders, anxiety disor-
ders, ADHD, developmental delays, and intellectual disabilities. Consideration of
these factors should be included in a comprehensive medical evaluation.
Medications The most commonly used medications for the treatment of pediatric
enuresis are from three categories: antidiuretic hormone analogues, anticholinergic
medications, and tricyclic antidepressants. DDAVP or desmopressin is the synthetic
formulation of antidiuretic hormone. Desmopressin is known to be an effective and
well-tolerated medication for pediatric nocturnal enuresis. The mechanism of action
is via increased water permeability within the renal tubules causing an antidiuretic
effect which reduces nocturnal urine output. The short-term direct effects of DDAVP
are very good. However, when discontinuing DDAVP, the underlying behavioral
elements are unaffected, thus leaving high relapse rates upon discontinuation.
Anticholinergic agents such as oxybutynin (which theoretically provides antispas-
modic and anti-muscarinic effects) and hyoscyamine (which works by reducing the
secretion of fluid by blocking the actions of acetylcholine) are options for treatment
adjunct when behavioral interventions alone are unsuccessful. However, the side
effect profile for anticholinergic agents can quickly lead to toxicity with atropine-
like effects and central nervous system depression. Signs of anticholinergic toxicity
may include: flushing, fever, tachycardia, dry skin, dry mucous membranes, urinary
retention, tremulousness or myoclonic jerks, hypertension, and altered mental sta-
tus. Any treatment must include risk and benefit assessment with families. Tricyclic
antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline, and imipramine help with sleep
Medical Issues 207
onset and also provide downregulation of the beta-adrenergic system as well as

anticholinergic effects. Table 4 serves as a guideline for medication dosing, dura-
tion, and potential side effects when using for the management of nighttime
enuresis.
Alpha-agonists such as tamsulosin may be used in the adult population but are
not FDA approved for on label usage in pediatrics. Other medications have been
utilized in the treatment of enuresis, but these are generally reserved for children in
the care of subspecialists, and many require further research. Mirabegron is used in
idiopathic overactive bladder refractory to other anticholinergic agents. It is a selec-
tive beta-3 adrenoceptor agonist that is currently approved in adults, but with lim-
ited studies in children at this time. Beta-3 receptors in the bladder have a role in
detrusor muscle relaxation, and in theory, stimulation of the receptors will lead
to increased bladder capacity and improvement of overactive bladder symptoms.
At this time, oxybutynin remains the only anticholinergic agent approved for use in
the pediatric population in North America (Blais, Nadeau, Moore, et al., 2016).
Solifenacin is another agent with promising new evidence for treating enuresis, but
again with limited data in the pediatric population. It is a selective acetylcholine
antagonist at muscarinic receptors and it is used in the treatment of overactive blad-
der. One small study found that a 5 mg dose of solifenacin was associated with 85%
response rate (full and partial) in children who previously were nonresponsive to
oxybutynin or tolterodine (Maternik et al., 2015). Botulinum toxin has also been
studied in treating enuresis. In skeletal muscles, botulinum toxin produces a para-
lytic effect, but in smooth muscles it produces a relaxation effect. It has been studied
in neurogenic detrusor-sphincter dyssynergy or intractable bladder overactivity.
Electrical stimulation techniques are also being studied, but these and local
botulinum toxin injections are deferred to urology subspecialists (Schurch &

Corcos, 2005).
Discontinuing Medications
In a pediatric population, expected duration of treatment must remain at the fore-

front of our risk-benefit analysis. While potentially efficacious, the medications
used to treat enuresis are not without side effects. Further, as mentioned earlier in
the chapter, the rate of remission of enuresis as the child ages is high, and it is
important to avoid ongoing medication if not warranted. Desmopressin is the syn-
thetic analogue of antidiuretic hormone. It is suggested that, as with other hormone-
related therapies, withdrawal syndromes or hormone deficiency can result with
abrupt cessation of the medication. A recent meta-analysis published in Pediatrics
concluded that successful cessation of this medication involves a structured with-
drawal compared to an abrupt one (Chua, Silangcruz, Chang, et al., 2016).
When thinking about tricyclic antidepressant medications, the gradual down-
ward titration in a stepwise fashion is highly recommended so as to avoid any dis-
continuation side effects. Tricyclic antidepressants have a known risk of serotonin
208
Table 4 Medication options for enuresis

Drugs Dose Duration Advantages/uses Caution
Desmopressin Oral formulation Initial duration 2–6 weeks • FDA approved in children • Evening fluid intake should be restricted
(vasopressin preferred: for effect. Can be used for 6+ to 6 ounces to avoid water intoxication
analogue) 0.2 mg–0.5 mg/day for years, but important to • Urine production at night and hyponatremia
use in ages 6 and up. have regular short drug decreases, especially • Relapse upon discontinuation is higher
Taken 1 h before sleep holidays. Guidelines useful in nocturnal than that for the alarm
suggest withdrawal every polyuria without bladder • Side effect: headache, nausea, vomiting
3 months overactivity • Avoid self-titration of medication
• Well-tolerated • Caution in HTN and von Willebrand
• 70% effect size
• Immediate response
Anticholinergics For ages 5+, 5 mg PO Effect within 1–2 weeks of • Reduces bladder contrac- • Not a first-line therapy for nocturnal
(oxybutynin) once daily; dose may medication initiation tion by suppressing enuresis
be increased weekly in Attempt to withdraw detrusor overactivity, • Side effects related to anticholinergic
5 mg increments; Max regularly, about every therefore useful with small include constipation (most bothersome)
20 mg/day 3 months bladder capacity or and increased residual volume after
overactive bladder by voiding.
history • Start only after establishing regular
• Useful in 40% in initial voiding habits, excluded/treated constipa-
treatment failure tion, excluded post void residual/low
• Can be used in conjunction voiding frequency by way of voiding diary
with DDAVP for refractory and bladder scans
enuresis • Only indicated in whom standard
treatment has failed
• Caution in: narrow-angle glaucoma,
obstructive uropathy
G.C. Mooneyham et al.
Tricyclic 25–50 mg starting • Evaluate effect after • FDA approved in age 6+ • Third-line therapy at tertiary care
antidepressants dose at bedtime, larger 1 month • 50% response rate in facilities
(imipramine) dose given to children • Regular drug holidays treatment resistance • Overdose can be fatal
>9–12 years of at least 2 weeks • Affordable • If partial response: add desmopressin
every 3 month • Taper to the lowest effective dose
Medical Issues
• Drug holidays • Lock medicine to avoid accidental

necessary to avoid ingestions
tolerance, reduce risk • Avoid in history of palpitation, syncope,
of cardiotoxicity or family history of sudden cardiac death,
unstable arrhythmia
• EKG prior to treatment should be
considered to rule out long QT
• Side effects appear earlier than beneficial
effect and include mood changes, nausea,
and insomnia. Waiting strategy usually
works for moderate side effects
• Avoid in narrow-angle glaucoma
• Avoid use with SSRI and MAOI
• Relapse rate > 90% after stopping
Maternik et al. (2015), Neveus et al. (2010), Lexicomp Online (2017)
209
syndrome if used concurrently with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). Cross titration between
agents is often required.
Case Vignette 5
A 12-year-old child with an intellectual disability presents to the emergency room
with a member of his group home staff. He wears a diaper product during the day,
but staff report that he has not had a wet diaper in greater than 18 h. They are also
concerned that he is behaving “differently” and are worried that he is “not feeling
well.” When asked to clarify, they indicate that the patient has been “staying in bed
all day just moaning and not participating in things he usually loves like going
bowling or watching TV.” They also report that he has been “picking at things in the
air when there is nothing there.” On your exam the patient is found to have
tachycardia and dry mucous membranes. You obtain a bladder scan and find that he
has retained urine greater than 700 mL. On cardiac monitors you also notice an
intermittent arrhythmia and as a result you obtain a 12-lead ECG. The ECG shows
a prolonged PR interval. Which one of his home medications is most likely to cause
this clinical presentation?
A. Nystatin powder applied to the diaper region due to concerns for fungal dermatitis
B. Augmentin which was recently started due to concerns for a possible ear
infection
C. Levocarnitine used to treat a possible mitochondrial disorder
D. Imipramine used to treat nocturnal enuresis
E. Calcium carbonate used intermittently to treat symptoms of acid reflux
Answer: D.
The patient most likely has a hypoactive delirium propagated by the anticholin-
ergic effects of imipramine. Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant this is also used
to treat enuresis, migraines, and chronic pain syndromes. Imipramine toxicity may
include urinary retention, constipation, tachycardia, tremor, blurred vision, ECG
changes (i.e., increased PR, QRS, and QT intervals), and delirium. These effects are
primarily due to its anticholinergic properties. Individuals with intellectual dis-
abilities are potentially at a higher risk of being treated with pharmacological
agents for nocturnal enuresis simply due to the burden associated with frequent
linen changes and caregiver burnout as opposed to a true medical mandate for
intervention. Furthermore, delirium may go unrecognized for prolonged periods in
a nonverbal/nonambulatory patient. Awareness of the risk-benefit analysis with any
pharmacological agent used to treat enuresis is of great importance (Bentley, 2014).
Constipation
Constipation is a common childhood problem, with prevalence ranging from 0.7%

to 29.6% worldwide (Mugie, Benninga, and Di Lorenzo, et al., 2011). When consti-
pation is undiagnosed or untreated, it can cause significant delays in reaching normal
Medical Issues 211
toileting milestones or potentially lead to more serious or chronic health concerns.

Constipation has been shown to have a significant impact on healthcare utilization
and costs, with estimated costs three times that of children without constipation
(Liem, Harman, Benninga, et al., 2009). For a large number of children with consti-
pation, symptoms emerge as early as the first year of life (Loening-Baucke, 1993),
and a recent retrospective chart review found the median age of onset of functional
constipation in children was 2.3 years (Malowitz, Green, Karpinski, et al., 2016).
The prevalence and definition of constipation varies per child’s age, and knowl-
edge of normal stooling patterns in early childhood is necessary to determine if the
presenting bowel pattern is abnormal. The frequency of normal bowel movements
decreases as children progress through early childhood, with infants generally stool-
ing 3–4 times per day and toddlers having 2–3 bowel movements daily. An adult
bowel frequency and pattern, with one stool daily, is generally achieved by the age
of 4, which is the expected age of bowel continence (Steer, Emond, Golding, 2009;
Corazziari, Staiano, Miele, et al., 2005, Colombo, Wassom, Rosen, 2015).
Etiology
In many children, constipation is associated with infrequent, hard, and sometimes

painful defecation, as well as fecal incontinence (also known as encopresis). It is
often a source of significant distress for the child and family. The medical evaluation
of constipation assesses whether there is an underlying neurologic, anatomic, or
other systemic etiology or whether it can be classified as functional (nonorganic)
constipation. Functional constipation comprises 95% of pediatric constipation pre-
sentations (Loening-Baucke, 2005). Other etiologies are rare and often present in
early infancy with failure to pass meconium or other patterns of irregular stooling
from birth. For systemic etiologies, constipation is rarely the sole presenting symp-
tom of the disorder. Table 5 offers the mnemonic VITAMIN CDEF, a popular tool
in medical education for organizing a differential diagnosis based on etiology. It is
useful here when recalling potential organic etiologies of constipation which are
then systematically excluded through history, physical examination, and other
laboratory or imaging studies if warranted. The primary focus of this section is the
evaluation and management of functional constipation. If in the course of history
and physical examination concerns for other etiologies of constipation arise, r eferral
to a pediatric specialist is often indicated. A more thorough discussion of the initial
evaluation of constipation is detailed later in this chapter.
Functional Constipation
The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and

Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology,
Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) recommend the diagnosis of functional
Table 5 Differential diagnosis of constipation in infants and children

Vascular: not typically seen
Infectious/inflammatory: Inflammatory bowel disease, botulism
Trauma/toxic: sexual abuse, postoperative complications, spinal cord injury, heavy metal
poisoning
Autoimmune: celiac disease, dietary protein allergy, lupus
Metabolic/musculoskeletal: hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, abnormal abdominal muscle tone
(prune belly, gastroschisis, Down syndrome)
Idiopathic/iatrogenic: vitamin D intoxication, medication side effects (anticholinergics, opiates,
antidepressants, chemotherapy)
Neoplastic: pelvic mass, spinal cord mass, brain tumors, colon cancer, multiple endocrine
neoplasia type 2B
Congenital: cystic fibrosis, Hirschsprung disease, anal achalasia, colonic inertia, anatomic
malformations, imperforate anus, small left colon syndrome
Degenerative: not typically seen
Endocrine/environmental: hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, low-fiber diet, decreased fluid
intake
Functional: functional constipation, infant dyschezia, nonretentive fecal soiling
Tabbers et al., 2014; Colombo et al., 2015
constipation, as well as other functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), be

founded on the symptom-based Rome criteria (Tabbers, DiLorenzo, Berger, et al.,
2014). The Rome Foundation is an independent not-for-profit organization that has
played a pivotal role in operationalizing the research and disseminating the knowl-
edge surrounding FGIDs (Drossman, 2016). The Rome IV criteria were released in
May 2016, and the criteria for diagnosing functional constipation in infants and
children are outlined in Table 6. Components of the functional constipation diagno-
sis include two or fewer defecations per week, history of excessive stool retention,
painful or hard bowel movements, large-diameter stools, and a fecal mass in the
rectum. One primary change in Rome IV from the previous version is the differen-
tiation between children who are toilet trained and those who are not. Additional
criteria which may be met for toilet-trained children include at least one episode of
incontinence per week (after achieving toilet training skills) and large-diameter
stools that may obstruct the toilet. The new criteria are now the same for both the
infant and toddler age group and children and adolescents (Zeevenhooven, Koppen,
Benninga, et al., 2017).
Stool withholding behavior is felt to play a large role in functional constipation.
Constipation can lead to large, painful bowel movements, and painful defecation
can promote fear about future bowel movements for a child. As a result of stool
withholding, the rectum can become distended, and the urge to defecate diminishes.
The longer that stool remains in the rectum, the harder it becomes, increasing the
pain and difficulty the child will experience when passing it. Continued withholding
creates a vicious cycle of painful constipation, and disimpaction is often required in
order to restore regular stooling patterns.
Medical Issues 213
Table 6 ROME IV Must include 1 month of at least 2 of the

diagnostic criteria for following in infants up to 4 years of age:
functional constipation in
Two or fewer defecations per week
infants and toddlers
History of excessive stool retention
History of painful or hard bowel movements
Large fecal mass in rectum
History of large-diameter stools
In toilet-trained children, the following
additional criteria may be used:
At least one episode/week of incontinence after
the acquisition of toileting skills
History of large-diameter stools that may
obstruct the toilet
Adapted from Benninga, Faure, Hyman, St. James
Roberts, et al., 2016
Encopresis
Encopresis (fecal incontinence) occurs as the result of constipation in more than

80% of patients (Rasquin, Di Lorenzo, Forbes, et al., 2006). This is the result of soft
or liquid stool leaking around a large bolus of hard stool in the rectum, also clini-
cally described as “constipation with overflow.” Encopresis is often misunderstood
by families. Parents may believe that their child is having diarrhea or has simply not
achieved bowel continence, which can delay evaluation and appropriate treatment.
Encopresis differs from diarrhea or delayed bowel training in that this particular
type of accident is often seen when small amounts of stool are leaked without the
child being aware. As mentioned earlier, because bowel continence is expected to
occur by the age of 4 years, encopresis is not a normal developmental variation after
this age (Colombo et al., 2015).
In a minority of children, encopresis occurs in the absence of constipation and
without any evidence of fecal retention (Rasquin et al., 2006). This phenomena is
known as nonretentive fecal incontinence (NRFI). Children with NRFI tend to
have increased problems with both daytime and nighttime urinary incontinence,
possibly suggesting an overall delay in recognizing the physiological stimuli nec-
essary for toilet training (Bongers, Tabbers, Benninga, 2007). The mechanism for
fecal incontinence in these cases is poorly understood. In general, NRFI is believed
to be multifactorial with gastric motility, genetic predisposition, and the potential
for underlying psychological factors playing a role. Treatment has primarily been
targeted at slowing gastric motility and behavioral interventions (Stein, Beninga,
Felt, 2017).
The Link Between Constipation and Enuresis
It is widely recognized that constipation and enuresis often occur simultaneously.

Likewise, chronic constipation may cause or exacerbate abnormal urine voiding
patterns, as is discussed earlier in this chapter. When children are constipated, the
burden of fecal mass may constrain the bladder and limit capacity. Furthermore, as
the bowel wall becomes distended, the sensorineural response to the stimuli of urge
to defecate and urge to urinate may become physiologically confusing, particularly
at a young age. Previously known as dysfunctional elimination syndrome, the
International Children’s Continence Society named this condition bladder and
bowel dysfunction (BBD) (Austin, Bauer, Bower, et al., 2016). Children presenting
to a gastroenterologist for functional constipation and those presenting to a urolo-
gist for voiding dysfunction show similar patterns and severity of bladder-bowel
dysfunction (Wolfe-Christensen, Manolis, Guy, et al., 2014). The comorbidity of
pediatric urinary and gastrointestinal dysfunction is likely due to multiple factors,
including a shared origin in fetal development, close anatomical proximity, and con-
nected neural pathways between the pelvic organs (Malykhina, 2007).
Case Vignette 6
A 10-year-old previously continent male who has autism spectrum disorder presents
with his father for evaluation of new onset incontinence of urine. The child has
niche interests in John Deere tractors and spends the majority of the visit referenc-
ing tractors. His father reports that the patient sleeps well and likes to run. However,
he has recently been struggling to get his son to eat anything other than chicken
nuggets. The child is average height and weight and BMI is 19. His vitals are all
within normal limits. What is the most likely explanation for the new onset of
incontinence?
A. The child has been traumatized and wants to go back to wearing pull-ups.
B. The child has a nutritional deficiency that is causing a transient neurogenic
bladder.
C. The child has inserted one of the tires from a toy tractor into his penis causing
an obstruction.
D. The child is not incontinent and is engaging in intentional maladaptive voiding
behaviors.
E. The child has a low-fiber diet with niche food preferences and is at risk for
constipation.
Answer: E.
Constipation can lead to a high stool burden and colonic distention. This can
result in aberrant voiding patterns and new onset or worsening of urinary inconti-
nence. Aggressive management of constipation is often necessary to restore urinary
continence. The importance of screening for constipation must not be overlooked in
the medical management of enuresis (Issenman et al., 1999; Tu & Baskin, 2017).
Medical Issues 215
Medical Evaluation
The NASPGHAN and ESPGHAN consensus guidelines (Tabbers et al., 2014) state
that the diagnosis of functional constipation should be based predominantly on his-
tory and physical examination. Rectal examination to evaluate for possible impac-
tion and rectal tone is recommended only if full Rome criteria for functional
constipation are not met or there are other concerning signs and symptoms related
to intractable constipation. While plain radiographic films of the abdomen are used
in some settings, the guidelines recommend against routine use of radiographic
images to diagnose functional constipation. Exceptions to this include situations
where fecal impaction is suspected, but physical examination is unreliable or unable
to be completed. In addition, the routine use of colonic transit studies and/or rectal
ultrasound to diagnose functional constipation is not recommended.
As stated previously, functional (nonorganic) constipation comprises 95% of
pediatric constipation cases. Although constipation may have several etiologies, in
the vast majority of cases, no underlying neurologic or systemic illness is found.
However, in the diagnostic evaluation, it is prudent to be alert to certain symptoms
which would prompt further medical workup, especially those that may warrant
immediate medication attention. Severe abdominal distention, abnormal growth or
developmental delay, bloody stools, perianal fistula, absent anal wink (poor tone),
or sacral dimple indicate a need for further neurologic and medical workup. This
workup may include additional laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging (Colombo
et al., 2015).
As part of the medical history, reviewing the child’s current medication list is
also important. If the child is breastfed, it becomes relevant to review any medica-
tions the mother is taking as well. Medications associated with constipation can
include anticholinergics, narcotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and antihista-
mines, among others.
Guide to the Constipation Diagnostic Assessment
A diagnosis of functional constipation requires focus on specific aspects of the

history and physical examination in order to exclude other possible diagnoses. The
following is a guideline for initial assessment:
• History of Presenting Illness: Establish current stooling pattern and timeline of
symptoms. Identify any precipitating factors, including diet or major life changes,
and attempts at toilet training. Presence of withholding posturing? (standing on
tip toes, holding onto furniture, extending and crossing legs, avoiding the squat-
ting position). Presence of enuresis? Fecal incontinence? Abdominal pain or
rectal bleeding?
• Medical History: Any delay in meconium passing? The differential diagnosis for
delayed meconium passage may include anatomical abnormalities, Hirschsprung
disease, or cystic fibrosis. The growth chart should be reviewed along with any
developmental screenings completed by history.
• Past Medications/Treatments: Trials of oral laxatives, enemas, suppositories,
herbals, behavioral treatments (including duration), and reason for cessation
should be discussed.
• Social History: Any disruption of family life, interaction with peers, tempera-
ment, sexual abuse history, and depression symptoms should be addressed.
• Family History: Hirschsprung disease, food allergies, inflammatory bowel dis-
ease, celiac disease, urinary or kidney disorders, thyroid disease, and cystic
fibrosis are all examples of conditions which should be discussed.
• Examination: Height and weight should be measured. Visual inspection of the
skin and anatomical structures of the lumbosacral/gluteal regions should be com-
pleted in order to screen for dimples and/or a tuft of hair (which may indicate
neural tube defects). Visualization of the anus and surrounding area for fissures/
skin tags/inflammation, abdominal exam to palpate possible fecal mass, neuro-
logical examination of gait, assessment of lower extremity muscle tone, strength,
and reflexes should all be completed in the physical exam.
(Colombo et al., 2015; Tabbers et al., 2014; Rajindrajith & Devanarayana, 2011)
Treatment of Constipation
Constipation management relies on a multifactorial approach, often including

behavioral modification, dietary changes, and medication. Education for the patient
and family involves setting expectations for the duration of treatment and, if medi-
cations are prescribed, highlighting the importance of adherence. Families need to
be aware that treating constipation may take many months of medication and
behavioral modification and that relapses are not uncommon. In a systematic
review, only about 60% of children treated for 6–12 months for functional consti-
pation were symptom-free at the end of treatment (Pijpers, Bongers, Benninga,
et al., 2010).
Children must often undergo disimpaction at the onset of treatment in order to
achieve normal stooling patterns. Methods of disimpaction include oral clean out,
rectal enema/suppository, and sometimes manual disimpaction. The latter is rarely
needed and not advised for routine use. General anesthesia or conscious sedation
may be necessary if manual disimpaction is indicated in order to decrease the
potential for trauma associated with the procedure (Colombo et al., 2015; Tabbers
et al., 2014). A number of maintenance strategies exist to help treat functional
constipation to include various classes of oral medications as will be discussed
below.
Medical Issues 217
Diet
Constipation is often associated with changes in diet, which are quite common in
young children as they are exposed to new foods and new environments. During this
time, children may also develop niche dietary preferences which contribute to a pat-
tern of chronic constipation.
The relationship of cow’s milk and the development of constipation in young
children has been debated. Some have proposed that cow’s milk protein (CMP)
could play a role in constipation through an immune-mediated mechanism, poten-
tially a late manifestation of food allergy. Irastorza, Ibanez, Delgado-Sanzonetti,
et al. (2010) showed that in an open-label crossover study of 69 children with Rome
III diagnosed constipation, over 50% showed improved symptoms when cow’s milk
was removed, though no clear mechanism related to allergy was established. Other
proposed mechanisms for the association of cow’s milk and constipation are that
children who consume more dairy products also consume less fiber containing
foods like vegetables and fruits. However, this notion was not supported in the 2010
study. Interestingly, this same study showed that in children with developmental
delays and comorbid constipation, 78% were responders to a cow’s milk-free diet.
As this population frequently presents with high rates of constipation, more research
is needed to understand underlying mechanisms and potential association with
CMP. Data on cow’s milk protein allergy and constipation is conflicting, and at this
time, routine CMP allergy testing is not recommended as part of the general workup
for functional constipation (Tabbers et al., 2014).
The role of diet modification in treating functional constipation has been studied.
Fiber, fluid therapy, and pre-/probiotics have not shown clear efficacy in treating
constipation in children. Evidence does not support fiber supplements for treatment
of constipation based on the latest clinical guidelines available for physicians in the
2014 NASPGHAN publication (Tabbers et al., 2014). Maintaining adequate
hydration, while not proven to change bowel movement habits alone, remains an
important factor for many other physiological functions and therefore is a safe rec-
ommendation for families (Colombo et al., 2015).
Behavior Modification
Empathizing with parents during this stressful and frustrating time can help to
strengthen the therapeutic alliance and maintain the commitment and motivation to
continue treatment. Setting appropriate treatment expectations for families is vital.
The role of behavioral modification in the setting of toilet training is discussed
extensively elsewhere in this book and will not be repeated here. However, support
and recommendations for behavioral modification from medical providers is benefi-
cial for patients and their families. When necessary, the combination of medical
treatments and behavioral modification are recommended to ensure the most

successful outcomes. Incorporating scheduled time on the toilet at routine intervals
after meals can take advantage of the physiological gastrocolic reflex, thereby
increasing the chance of a successful stooling pattern. In addition, placing the child
in a position where defecation is more feasible, such as with feet supported on a step
stool, increases the likelihood of the child having a bowel movement. This success
will also reinforce future adherence to the toileting plan. Children are often “very
busy” in their playtime and forget to use the restroom or fail to recognize physio-
logic cues when distracted by their play (a problem which may be further exacer-
bated in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or developmental
delays). Scheduled toileting routines can also be helpful in these situations and may
help to avoid accidents while also decreasing the tendency for the child to engage in
withholding stool (Colombo et al., 2015; Tabbers et al., 2014).
Pharmacotherapy
The medications primarily used in the treatment of constipation can be divided into
different classes based on their mechanism: osmotic, stimulant, stool softeners, and
rectal laxatives/enema.
Mechanism of action of medication classes:
1. Osmotic agents (lactulose, polyethylene glycol (PEG), magnesium hydroxide/
citrate) draw fluid into the lumen of the intestine, promoting peristalsis second-
ary to colon distention.
2. Stimulants (bisacodyl, senna) stimulate the myenteric plexus and smooth muscle
of the colon to promote peristalsis.
3. Stool softeners (mineral oil, docusate) decrease surface tension of the stool and
allow increased water absorption to enhance stool softness.
4. Enema/suppositories (bisacodyl, sodium docusate, hypertonic phosphate,

sodium phosphate, saline, mineral oil, glycerin) – Hyperosmotic effects of
sodium-based preparations draw extra water into the colon which promotes stool
evacuation. Stimulating agents increase peristalsis. Mineral oil can soften and
lubricate stool, making it easier to pass.
(Colombo et al., 2015; Epocrates, 2017).
Overall, the quality of evidence supporting the use of these medications is low,
especially regarding dose ranges and length of treatment. That being said, bowel
regimens are often the mainstay of both disimpaction and maintenance therapy in
children. Table 7 outlines current medication recommendations per NASPGHAN
recommendations and a recent Pediatrics in Review guideline (Tabbers et al., 2014;
Colombo et al., 2015).
In general, polyethylene glycol (PEG) is considered a first-line therapy due to its
efficacy, low side effect profile, and safety for both disimpaction and maintenance.
It allows for easy titration to optimize stool consistency. Prune juice and apple juice
Medical Issues 219
Table 7 Medications for disimpaction and constipation maintenance therapy

Duration (per
Drug Drug class Dosing+ NASPGHAN) Pitfalls/side effects
PEG 3350, Osmotic D: 1–1.5 gm/kg/day D: 3–6 days. • Bloating and
Miralax (oral) M: at least diarrhea
M: 1 gm/kg/day and 2 months or when • Pitfall: parents
adjust to clinical symptoms resolve discontinue too
response for 1 month soon
before
discontinuing
gradually
Magnesium Osmotic D: 4 mL/kg/day D: 2 consecutive • Abdominal
citrate days cramping
Magnesium Osmotic M (in ml/kg/dose) • Avoid in infants
hydroxide <2 y.o.: 0.5 and patients
(milk of 2–5 y.o.: 5–15 ml/ with renal
magnesia) day insufficiency
6–11 y.o.: 15–30 ml/
day
12+: 30–60 ml/day
Lactulose Osmotic M: 1–3 ml/kg total Usually well • Flatulence,
for 1–2 times/day tolerated long abdominal
term cramps
• Difficult to
titrate to stool
consistency
• Some reports of
decreased
efficacy with
prolonged use
Normal saline Rectal D: 10 ml/kg D: Once a day for
enema 3–6 days for
disimpaction if
PEG unavailable
Sodium Rectal D: 1.125–4.5 oz. D: 3 consecutive • Risk of
phosphate enema depending on age days electrolyte
disturbances:
low phosphate,
low potassium,
low calcium
Mineral oil Softener D: enema D: 3 consecutive • Can leak from
2.25–4.5 oz. days rectum, not
D: oral 15–30 ml per palatable in
age in year (up to oral route
240 ml) • Not for oral use
M: 1–3 ml/kg/day in children <1
(kids 5–15 ml/day, or with known/
teens 15–45 ml/day) at risk of
aspiration
• M forms not for
children <18
months
(continued)
Table 7 (continued)
Duration (per
Drug Drug class Dosing+ NASPGHAN) Pitfalls/side effects
Docusate Softener M: 5 mg/kg/day (up Intermittent • Minimal side
to 400 mg/day) effects
• Less efficacy
than other
agents
Senna Stimulant M: (in mg/day) Intermittent, • Abdominal
1 month−2 years: rescue therapy cramping, but
2.2–4.4 is self-limited
2–6 y.o.: 4.4–6.6 and reduced by
6–12 y.o.: 8.8–13.2 dose reduction
12+: 17.6–26.4
Bisacodyl Stimulant M: (in mg/day) Intermittent, • Can cause
3–12 y.o.: 5–10 rescue therapy abdominal
12+: 5–15 cramping, so
reserved as
rescue
medicine
Adapted from Tabbers et al., 2014; Colombo et al., 2015
D disimpaction, M maintenance therapy
contain sorbitol, which is also an osmotic and can be used as an adjunctive treatment
(Tabbers et al., 2014; Colombo et al., 2015).
The goal of treatment should be to achieve one soft formed stool per day.
Adhering to medication, close communication, and follow-up with the prescribing
physician (regarding efficacy and side effects) are important aspects of treatment.
Achieving a stable stool pattern before lowering medications is strongly advised.
In 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services posted a Request for
Applications (RFA) for the Use of Polyethylene Glycol in the Pediatric Population. It
indicated that the FDA had found trace amounts of ethylene glycol and diethylene
glycol in some samples of polyethylene glycol (PEG), used in the treatment of consti-
pation. These findings raised some concerns regarding the safety of PEG for chronic
use in children. There have been reports to the FDA of neurological and psychiatric
symptoms in children taking PEG. Thus far, no long-term follow-up studies have
linked acute or chronic polyethylene glycol with these adverse events (DHHS, 2014).
The latest Cochrane study pooling 25 studies and 2310 children on various medica-
tions to treat chronic constipation was published in August 2016 (Gordon, MacDonald,
Parker, et al., 2016). It found that the minor side effects reported with polyethylene
glycol were lower than that with other agents. However, long-term safety and optimal
dosing studies for polyethylene glycol warrant ongoing research.
As with all medications used to treat constipation, ensuring that the lowest effec-
tive doses are utilized is routinely recommended. Likewise, medications should be
combined with diet and behavioral modifications in order to minimize risk and
improve outcomes. While the majority of medications used to treat chronic consti-
pation in children are not FDA approved for this use, it is important to recognize that
Medical Issues 221
chronic constipation is a serious health issue. If untreated, it can have significant

physical and behavioral consequences. As with any treatment, it is important to
weigh the benefits and risks when discussing options with patients and families in
order to facilitate shared decision making.
Families who have been given a prescriptive bowel regimen often discontinue or
decrease the medications based on effect (i.e., the balance between soft formed
stools vs. diarrheal stools vs. hard formed stools that are difficult to pass). At times,
families or providers may discontinue a stool softener or stimulant-based laxative
product due to the propensity for diarrhea. It is helpful to emphasize that passing
liquid stool around a solid or semisolid stool mass routinely occurs. This may lead
families to believe that their child has diarrhea when in fact they are still quite con-
stipated. Routine follow-up in the provider’s office, accompanied by follow-up his-
tory and physical examination, is important in order to determine if the child has
reached a normal stooling pattern before considering discontinuation of treatment.
The 2014 NASPGHAN guidelines suggest that maintenance treatment should
continue for at least 2 months, with all symptoms of constipation being resolved
for 1 month, before slow discontinuation of the medication is attempted (Tabbers
et al., 2014).
The constipation recovery rate is significantly higher when treatment is initiated
before the age of 2 (Loening-Baucke, 1993), emphasizing the importance of early
intervention to prevent persistent and chronic constipation in older children.
Follow-up studies have shown that symptoms of functional constipation persist into
adulthood for one-fourth to one-third of affected children (Bongers, van Wijk,
Reitsma, et al., 2010; van Ginkel, Reitsma, Buller, et al., 2003). Thus, referral to a
pediatric gastroenterologist should not be delayed if preliminary treatment for con-
stipation is inadequate, regardless of compliance.
Conclusion
Constipation and enuresis are common problems in childhood that may often be
undiagnosed and untreated. Failure to recognize medical issues that arise in the
setting of toilet training can result in delays in reaching developmental toileting
milestones. This delay in diagnosis may lead to chronic issues that are more dif-
ficult to treat. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of constipation and abnormal
voiding patterns along with a thorough history and physical examination are often
sufficient to elucidate the need for a more thorough diagnostic workup. Close
follow-up is required to ensure patient progress and to provide ongoing education
and guidance for the family. When there is a lack of response to first-line treat-
ments, including behavioral interventions and medications, referral to a pediatric
specialist is often warranted. A thoughtful multidisciplinary approach to the eval-
uation of childhood enuresis and constipation allows for the greatest treatment
success.
Appendix 1: Voiding Diary
Voiding and Stooling Diary Chart Day# ____
Void Void Volume of void (mL) Drink Fluid in Type of

time type* time (mL) fluid
AM
Total AM
PM
Total PM
Sleep
bedtime
________
Rise time Total

overnight
________
Total
*Stool? y/n and describe

Medical Issues 223
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Special Populations: Toilet Training Children
with Disabilities
Michael A. Cocchiola Jr. and Caroline C. Redpath
Defining Developmental Disabilities
Developmental disabilities are a wide-ranging spectrum of long-term conditions

that occur secondary to physical and mental skill deficits (CDC, 2013). The term
“developmental disabilities” is an expansive term, with many diagnoses that fit
under its canopy, some that have a negative influence on intellectual functioning and
others that have an impact solely on physical conditions. For the purposes of this
chapter, all diagnoses that fit under the umbrella of a “developmental disability”
will be considered for the purposes of toilet training and their impact on children
with skill deficits that may negatively affect toilet training.
The terms intellectual disability and developmental disability are often used
interchangeably across clinical and academic settings to replace older terms such as
physically handicapped or mentally retarded or any of a collection of more archaic
terms used to identify people with cognitive, social, or physical challenges. Clinical
experts responsible for the nosology of these disorders have progressively moved
from a sterile, clinical label onto a diagnostic classification that sheds value on dig-
nity and respect within the term that categorizes specific diagnoses. Nosology is the
branch of medical science that deals with categorizing specific symptoms into con-
crete disorders, for the purposes of identifying disorders and providing treatment
practices available in the scientific field. For the purposes of clarity, developmental
disabilities and intellectual disabilities are different based on the following:
• Intellectual disability: a group of disorders characterized by a limited mental
capacity and difficulty with adaptive behaviors such as managing money, sched-
ules and routines, or social interactions. An intellectual disability typically
M.A. Cocchiola Jr. (*) • C.C. Redpath (*)

Capitol Region Education Council-River Street Autism Program,
601 River Street, Windsor, CT 06095, USA
e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

228 M.A. Cocchiola Jr. and C.C. Redpath
requires an IQ below 70 and originates before the age of 18. It may result from
physical causes, such as autism or cerebral palsy, or from nonphysical causes,
such as lack of stimulation and adult responsiveness during early stages of
development.
• Developmental disability: a severe, long-term disability that can affect cognitive
ability, physical functioning, or both. These disabilities appear before age 22 and
are likely to be lifelong. The term “developmental disability” encompasses intel-
lectual disability but also includes physical disabilities without cognitive impair-
ment. Some developmental disabilities may be solely physical, such as blindness
from birth. Others involve both physical and intellectual disabilities stemming
from genetic or other causes, such as Down’s syndrome and fetal alcohol syn-
drome disorder.
(Source: https://report.nih.gov/nihfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=100).
Either one of the above definitions may include a person with an autism spectrum
disorder (ASD), cerebral palsy, language and learning disorder, fetal alcohol syn-
drome disorder (FASD), and other disorders that occur during the developmental
period and negatively impact key areas of functioning to a notable degree.
Weaknesses in these key functional areas may include a delay in academic progress,
especially in the absence of support based on individualized needs. Progress in the
domains of social skills, communication skills (expressive, receptive, nonverbal),
self-help skills, self-preservation, and self-advocacy may be negatively impacted as
well.
Recent research by Boyle, Boulet, Schieve, Cohen, Blumberg, Yeargin-Allsopp,
Visser, and Kogan (2011) provides information that 1 in 6, or nearly 17%, of chil-
dren were diagnosed with a developmental disability in the USA during the period
between 1997 and 2008. These numbers are not restricted to the USA; the World
Health Organization (WHO, 2011) reports similar numbers worldwide with a range
of 16–19% based on comparable classifications of developmental disorders. Boyle
et al. (2011) also provide an insightful study in conjunction with the National
Institute of Health (NIH) that combined both diagnoses of developmental disability
and intellectual disability to complete a sample analysis of children in the USA
from 1997 to 2008. Data revealed a decrease in the number of children with hearing
impairments though an increase in the number of children with autism and other
developmental delays, perhaps based on an increase in awareness of autism spec-
trum disorders over the past 10–15 years.
To provide a blended, differentially qualified term that maintains a reasonably
sensitive definition for the terms “developmental disability” and “intellectual dis-
ability,” the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
(AAIDD) offers a global description that effectively encapsulates the targeted
group. AAIDD (2013) stated that regardless of vogue labels and details of the diag-
nostic process, three essential elements have remained intact over the past 50 years
that identify what now can be considered an intellectual or developmental impair-
ment. They include:
Special Populations: Toilet Training Children with Disabilities 229
• Compromised intellectual functions or physical functions that delay learning

• Behavioral limitations that negatively impact adapting to environmental changes
• Early age of onset, specifically before the age of 18 for individuals with an intel-
lectual disability and before the age of 22 for individuals with a developmental
disability
Dominant diagnoses identified by AAIDD (2013) include specific criterion-
referenced labels below. The list is non-exhaustive, though the strands that bind all
diagnoses include compromising delays, most commonly in the areas of cognitive
development, language development, activities of daily living (ADLs), and social
and emotional development. In order to meet any of these criteria, delays need to be
well below the normed value of age-related peers (CDC, 2013).
Typical diagnoses that fall under the umbrella of developmental disabilities most
frequently include, though are not limited to:
• Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), in which up to 80% of people with ASD
demonstrate deficits with intellectual measures. Specific deficits are in the
domains of adaptive social interaction, adaptive communication, and the need
for sameness to the point that it impairs adaptive engagement in the school, com-
munity, or home setting.
• Down’s syndrome, when children and adults have an extra copy of chromosome
21. This chromosomal disorder negatively affects cognitive and physical func-
tioning in the individual when compared to age-related peers.
• Cerebral palsy (CP), when significant delays impair motor and postural ability.
These impairments negatively affect basic skill development to include activities
of daily living (ADLs) and effective communication and are often related to
cognitive delays and other self-help skills.
• Fetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD) is a disorder that impacts a diverse set
of physical, behavioral, social, emotional, and behavioral achievements based on
age-related peers. FASD is 100% reliant on the amount of alcohol consumption
of an expecting mother during pregnancy, with an increased risk contingent on
the frequency and amount of alcohol consumed during pregnancy (Chudley
et al., 2005). Emotional regulation, difficulty with attention, and hypotonic motor
skills are all factors that cause a delay in typical development and impact skill
growth in the areas of daily living, to include toilet training.
Finally, according to the Centers for Disease Control (2013), some people are
born with a health condition that impairs life functions, while other people experi-
ence disability secondary to illness, injury, or poor living conditions (e.g., poor
nutrition, limited shelter, attachment deficits, reduced exposure to learning). In
addition, people with disabilities may also be diagnosed with less frequent diagno-
ses such as spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, traumatic spinal cord injury, and chil-
dren with hearing, visual, physical, communication, and nonspecific intellectual
deficits. Some people may have a single deficit, while others may be diagnosed with
multiple deficits. That is, a person with cerebral palsy may have deficits with adap-
tive communication, mobility, and intellectual ability. The intricate interaction
between a specific diagnosis, the environment the person is raised in, and personal
factors means that each child’s experience of disability is different (Phillips, 2012).
Individuals with developmental disabilities have notable deficits in major life
activities to include language, mobility, cognitive learning, self-help, and indepen-
dent living. Specific developmental disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, hear-
ing impairments, or cognitive impairments, to name a few, may be identified anytime
during development and up to 21 years of age. Deficits often last throughout a per-
son’s lifetime, though early intervention with effective treatment may reduce or
mask the specific deficits noted in a diagnosis (Boyle et al., 2011).
According to Yoo (2010), children with developmental disabilities likely face
increased obstacles when toilet training is initiated compared to people without
diagnoses that compromise learning. Obstacles may partly be due to the person’s
deficits in physical development and motor coordination, adaptive communication,
effective social interaction, sensory sensitivity, adaptation to changes, or behavioral
regulation. A brief overview of these deficits follows below.
Impact of Developmental Disabilities on Learning
Motor Deficits and Delays
Professional medical assessment is generally recommended before moving forward

with behavioral interventions to treat a delay in toileting ability. Children with
Down’s syndrome, for example, may have a host of genitourinary issues that com-
plicate toilet training. Surgical or pharmacological intervention may be recom-
mended before considering behavioral interventions (Handel, 2003).
Children with cerebral palsy have their own unique issues with toilet training as
well. They have an increased risk for urinary tract infections, due to spasticity and
hypotonia in muscles that control bladder and bowel. Excitement or tension may
create unintentional muscle tone changes that interfere with adaptive training.
Indeed, medical complications in children with cerebral palsy draw out the average
age of bladder and bowel training to 3.9 and 3.8 years of age, respectively (Osturk,
Oktem, & Kisioglu, 2006).
In conjunction with motor concerns, visual and auditory factors should also be
taken into account before moving forward with a more intensive behavior interven-
tion. Recommendations include support and input from specialized experts, to
include physical therapists to suggest adaptive positioning, an audiologist to recom-
mend adaptive equipment for hearing, or vision specialist to provide tactile materi-
als. Although 98% of typically developing peers are toilet trained by age 3 years
(Cocchiola, Martino, Dwyer, & Demezzo, 2012), the simple notion that toileting is
not intact by age 3 does not necessarily mean that behavior interventions are the
most prudent, especially as a stand-alone intervention. Best practice is to gain the

insight of experts in the core deficit area and move forward with intervention based
on their recommendations.
Cognitive Deficits and Delays
The complexities of processing information through receptive language, applying

its relevance and permanence to a life skill, and then maintaining that skill are often
immeasurable. Typically developing children are able to take in interactions in their
environment, interpret an abundance of observations, and apply a germane skill
secondary to observational learning or operant conditioning. Indeed, it is remark-
able when we consider how much learning occurs in the natural environment with
little to no formal teaching.
In contrast, learning with skill deficits in any areas required for learning (vision,
hearing, working memory, modeling, etc.) often requires direct instruction with
learning objectives altered from a complex task into smaller chunks of information.
This method of direct instruction may require repeated trials and highly relevant
reinforcers for learning to be permanently imprinted. Dalrymple and Ruble (1992)
provide some evidence that children with cognitive deficits develop toileting skills
on average of 1.6 years after age-related peers with no cognitive delays. In addition,
nearly 50% of the children included in their study needed supplementary support to
enhance learning the skill of toilet training, to include visual schedules and other
nonverbal support systems.
Social Deficits and Delays
Typically developing 1-year-old infants display behaviors that indicate a cognitive

awareness of other people whose attention and interaction serve as meaningful and
socially reinforcing. The desire to interact and social responses to their actions are
highly reinforcing and serve as a driving force to support simple imitation and social
engagement (Carpenter, Nagell, & Tomasello, 1998). Learning happens most effec-
tively due to developing social awareness of attention that elicits behaviors. In con-
trast, children with disabilities may have difficulty understanding social interaction
or simply be disinterested due to cognitive deficits inherent to their disorder. In
essence, typically developing children are more likely to be highly motivated by
social contingencies, while the desire to make meaningful social connection with a
caretaker may be an absent skill in children with disabilities (Stadtler, Gorski, &
Brazelton, 1999), thus negatively impacting learning momentum.
Communication Deficits and Delays
Communication deficits also play a role in a child’s ability to understand verbal and
nonverbal directions, as well as respond to and interact with the language in the
environment. Deficits in receptive and expressive language have a global impact on
learning, therefore negatively influence a child’s capacity to toilet train at the
expected age.
The point is that in the absence of effective receptive language skills, the learner
starts at a deficit, not clearly understanding the expectations or sequence of expected
behaviors. In addition, deficits in the domain of adaptive requests (mands) impair
effective requests to use the toilet effectively.
Issues with Perseveration and Sameness
Changes or novel learning processes may increase a level of noncompliance to

nearly any skill acquisition process. The presence of an underlying diagnosis pres-
ent in children with disabilities can frustrate the child, as well as the caregiver
attempting to teach a skill including toilet training (Baily, Hatton, Mesibov, Ament,
& Skinner, 2000). Simple activities such as going into a novel bathroom, removing
a diaper, or sitting in a relaxed state in the bathroom may be barriers to learning
when it is a novel experience. The issue of perseveration and the desire for same-
ness may trump any immediate reinforcers secondary to a chaining of negative
behaviors, making toilet training an aversive procedure as a starting point for the
child.
Behavioral Regulation
Behavioral regulation can be described as the spontaneous or intentional modifica-

tion of a person’s emotional status as a means to promote adaptive or goal-directed
behavior (Mazefsky et al., 2013). People with disabilities have an increased likeli-
hood of deficits that interfere with regulated emotions under times of distress. They
may instead react with behaviors that provide immediate escape from less preferred,
short-term expectations at a cost of long-term learning, such as activities of daily
living. Behaviors such as tantrums or aggression may occur as a reaction to changes
or less preferred expectations with notable deficits in the ability to modify their
emotional state.
A Review of Obstacles
In summary, compromised development in the areas of (a) neuro-physical control

and coordination, (b) cognitive ability, (c) fluency in expressive and receptive com-
munication, (d) adaptive and meaningful social interaction, (e) the desire for same-
ness, and (f) the ability to regulate emotions are important to take into account when
considering skill acquisition and retention. The saliency of social reinforcement, an
understanding of verbal and nonverbal language, rigidity in routines, and the simple
trait of wanting to please an adult or peer are often viewed as the bridges of behav-
ioral cusps. A behavioral cusp is the mastery of a new skill that provides an oppor-
tunity for the learner to access novel and powerful contingencies, new settings, and
a new series of behaviors that compete with older, less effective behaviors (Smith,
McDougall, & Edelen-Smith, 2006). For example, learning to walk is a behavioral
cusp that increases a child’s ability to explore his or her world beyond the simple
and rudimentary act of crawling. Toilet training is considered a behavioral cusp as
well, increasing a child’s independence, adaptive communication, body awareness,
and opportunities for socialization.
Unfortunately, children not toilet trained by age 8 were found not likely to attain
continence (Singh, Masey, & Morton, 2006) and, more importantly, had decreased
opportunities to learn across an expansive range of adaptive, prosocial behaviors. In
addition, research also suggests that failures in toilet training may be due to incom-
plete training and inadvertent reinforcement of incontinence by caregivers who give
the individual a great deal of attention in response to soiling (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002;
Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007).
arent Perspective on Toilet Training Children

P
with Disabilities
Toilet training for children with developmental disabilities continues to be one of the
most frequently researched self-help skills (Konarski & Diorio, 1985). Even for
individuals without developmental disabilities, toilet training can be a difficult
developmental milestone. The venture frequently demands time, energy, and
patience on the part of the caregiver and youngster alike. Regardless, nearly all chil-
dren without developmental disabilities are successfully toilet trained by age 3. In
contrast, individuals with developmental disabilities face greater obstacles with toi-
let training than typically developing peers, based on impairments described above.
Research over the past several decades supports the notion that toilet training
children with developmental disabilities often requires (a) enhanced support and
training from interventionists, (b) an increased amount of learning time to develop
the skill of toilet training when compared to typically developing peers, (c) an
increased amount of direct instruction, and (d) persistence on the part of the
c aregiver. Multiple barriers may exist that delay toilet training at the same age as
typically developing peers. Adding to this complex development issue, research
supports the notion that a delay in toilet training beyond 3 years of age results in an
increased difficulty with training (Singh, Masey, & Morton, 2006). Enhanced sup-
port to teach this skill needs to come into place soon after age 3 to move the process
forward and provide dignity and independence to the individual.
Research by Joinson et al. (2013) supports findings that teaching adaptive toilet
training may become more difficult as the individual ages. Delays in instructional
teaching and support increase the amount of time an individual will depend upon
caregivers for toileting needs. Learning patterns reinforced over a prolonged period,
such as urinating in a diaper, need to be unlearned. Children not successfully toilet
trained by 8 years old were found to be increasingly unlikely to attain toilet training
at all (Singh et al., 2006).
Yoo (2012) and her colleagues from the New York State Office for People with
Developmental Disabilities (NYS-OPWDD) provide a detailed report and step-by-
step training guidelines for interventions on what they call “Targeting the Big 3.”
The Big 3 refers to three specific barriers that prevent people with disabilities from
integrating with age-related peers and integrating with the inclusive population at
large. The Big 3 includes (a) toilet training, (b) meal time behavior, and (c) chal-
lenging behaviors. Yoo and colleagues define toileting as a crucial target skill neces-
sary to provide optimal integration, first in school and then in the community at
large.
Yoo (2010) provides a relevant list of concerns that help bring the issue and con-
cerns of toilet training to the forefront of the clinician’s attention.
• A child with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities
faces greater obstacles with toilet training than children without these relevant
issues.
• The child’s relative weaknesses with communication, social interaction, or level
of comfort with changes may be barriers to learning toileting skills without direct
support.
• Research suggests that failures in toilet training may be related to ineffective
training or unintentional reinforcement by interventionists who provide an abun-
dance of attention or reward for accidents.
• Longer delays in toilet training frequently lead to an increased duration to
achieve continence.
• Interventionists (e.g., parents, teacher, consultants) may experience a degree of
stress associated with attending to the incontinent individual’s toileting needs,
which increase as the child ages.
• A lack of bladder and bowel control is one of the most frequently cited reasons
for abuse to children, secondary only to episodes of severe emotional
dysregulation.
• Societal expectation is that all people have an effective degree of continence.
• Effective interventions to treat incontinence should be a focus soon after a child
is identified as delayed in this area, typically by 3 years old.
Research does support the notion that a child should demonstrate prerequisite
skills (e.g., an interest in the bathroom, a desire to sit on the toilet, facial expres-
sions, and body movements that illustrate discomfort with a full bladder) before
considering toilet training initiation. Although this may be fruitful with a typically
developing child, a child who presents with neuro-atypicality may have significant
deficits in nonverbal expression, a decreased interest in the actions of others second-
ary to a deficit in theory of mind, and the issue of remaining cognitively locked on
sameness. A proportion of children diagnosed with autism or developmental dis-
abilities may demonstrate no prerequisite skills and therefore move into a prolonged
period of no toilet training well beyond the expected norm of 3 years. Current
research supports the notion that early and intense intervention to address toileting
skills is essential for skill acquisition (see Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; Cocchiola et al.,
2012; Baker & Brightman, 1997) and requires focused and prolonged intervention
in order to become toilet trained.
The inability to remain continent may expose individuals with disabilities to
social isolation at best, or worst, overt ostracization, making it difficult to integrate
into the community at large. Some activities such as maintaining a job or recreating
in a public pool may not be available to a person with disabilities who is incontinent
(Smith & Chaneb, 2016). To be sure, continence and appropriate toileting are
important self-help skills that enhance self-esteem, increase effective hygiene, and
increase opportunities for inclusion in schools, peer relations, employment, recre-
ation, and success in community-based settings (Brown & Peace, 2011; Luxem &
Christophersen, 1994; Sells-Love, Rinaldi, & McLaughlin, 2002).
Most caregivers will experience a great deal of stress associated with attending
to the incontinent individual’s toileting needs. Stress may increase as the individual
gets older. Failure to gain bladder and bowel control is one of the most frequently
cited reasons for intentional abuse or injury to children, second only to crying
(Pivato, 2009; Silva & Schalock, 2012). Vermandel et al. (2008) cites negative out-
comes for late or no toilet training for children to include (a) social isolation and
disapproval, (b) restricted access to inclusion in school and gainful employment as
an adult, (c) cost of incontinence supplies, (d) physical complications such as skin
irritation and infection, (e) lack of privacy and independence, and (f) monetary and
social stressors on parents, caregivers, and teachers.
Interestingly, the process and intervention options for toilet training children
with disabilities are similar to toilet training typically developing peers caveat; the
hurdles faced with typically developing peers are often higher for a child with
developmental disabilities. Additional support, training, more expansive periods,
and extraordinary diligence with precision teaching are required from the caregiv-
ers. It typically requires increased patience, an increased period to reach full inde-
pendence, more direct support, and more specific guidelines to reach success
(Greenspan, Wieder, & Simons, 1998; Stadtler et al., 1999; Cocchiola et al., 2012).
To better quantify hurdles along a timeline, children with disabilities require an
average duration of 1.6 years from the onset of programming to full toileting
independence, while typically developing peers require an average of 3–6 months
for full independence (Dalrymple & Ruble, 1992).
Unfortunately, despite parents and caregivers rating toilet training as one of their
child’s most important accomplishments in their first 3 years (Rinaldi & Mirenda,
2012), toilet training frequently becomes a secondary or tertiary goal when pro-
nounced delays in language, socialization, or learning readiness are present.
Educational planning teams develop learning objectives in the child’s school and
often direct their focus on long-term academic planning at a cost to simpler skills
such as toilet training, an adaptive behavioral cusp, that brings a person into contact
with new contingencies that have far-reaching consequences (Rogers, 2010;
Rosales-Ruiz & Baer, 1997). Rogers (2010) states that it may be counterproductive
to delay toilet training too long beyond 3 years old even if some academic or lan-
guage progress is noted. Indeed, the lack of toilet training and other fundamental
early learning skills may allow time for a child to develop maladaptive behaviors,
which then become barriers to toilet training, as well as other adaptive, functional
skills.
A Historic Development of Toilet Training
For millennia, toilet training children has been an expectation of parenting and of
the child, passed on through intergenerational convention, generally effective across
cultures with bladder and bowel control intact across nearly all children by 2–3 years
old. Authoritative yet simple guidelines consisted of basic rules and procedures
passed on as a new generation emerged, with relative success across over 90% of the
population. Children with what would be defined as developmental deficits accord-
ing to current standards were not included in this group.
Past practices included toilet training as early as several weeks after birth and trip
training intact in some instances as early as 6 months. More commonly in recent
history, parents would simply wait for the child to demonstrate an interest in the
skill. Factors that motivated parents to early or later toilet training included family
and social influences, the expense or time commitment to prolonged diaper use, or
parent concern regarding toileting as a relevant skill.
In the 1940s, Dr. Benjamin Spock, an American pediatrician, provided a novel
series of parenting guidelines, which included what he deemed “best practice” for
teaching toileting skills to children. Spock’s seminal writing of Baby and Child
Care (Spock, 1946) helped to launch ongoing guidance to parents regarding adap-
tive and authoritative support for child and adolescent growth, as well as scientific
research for measurable outcomes based on intervention practices. Spock’s position
relied on a developmental approach, to include signs of “toilet readiness,” gentle
teaching based on the child’s learning readiness, and reinforcement (e.g., social
praise, access to preferred items) for adaptive toileting.
In the 1960s, Dr. T. Berry Brazelton refined this approach to include signs of
physical as well as social and emotional readiness with a foundation on a desire for
independence and a desire to please others. The addition of emotional readiness and
social salience proved helpful from a developmental approach for typically maturing
children. The underlying supposition shared by both clinicians was based on a
framework that developmental readiness varied naturally across children and that
each child would be ready for eventual learning once multiple skills were intact to
include physical readiness, social awareness, and a desire for independence. A noted
weakness that the “Child Ready” approach missed was the issue of outliers, such as
children with developmental disabilities. In the presence of a developmental dis-
ability, developmental readiness may be significantly delayed or indeed absent. The
longer the delay beyond a certain age, the more unlikely toilet training would be.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a paradigm shift occurred in the research and
intervention models for toilet training. Although most children were readily toilet
trained within the range of age-related peers, a small proportion of the population
remained untrained, presumably due to deficits in developmental readiness or
missed opportunities to teach the skill. Van Wagenen and colleagues (1969), as well
as Azrin and Foxx (1971) completed additional research to address toilet training in
a population that demonstrated difficulty with learning following the typical devel-
opmental model. This research was highly influential, as it provided clinically reli-
able methods to toilet train people with severe developmental disabilities, the
remaining 2–3% of the population typically not toilet trained by age 3 years. Direct
and intensive intervention, typically provided by trained clinicians, was necessary,
though children and even adults who presented as not trainable became toilet
trained.
Since the early 1970s as well as today, articles and books about toilet training are
abundant with advice from pediatricians, psychologists, urologists, behavior ana-
lysts, and a multitude of other people willing to share their advice. Indeed, toilet
training remains one of the most researched and explored topics among parents and
caregivers with children who have developmental disabilities in the 1970s and
1980s, with an increase trend across all parents over the past several decades
(Matson, 1990). Parents as well as clinicians working in applied settings are seeking
recommendations about toilet training, with methods that follow the procedural
guidelines outlined below.
The “Child Ready” Model
This toilet training process supports the notion that a child needs to demonstrate
emotional and physical readiness before a parent or caregiver initiates toilet train-
ing. Criteria include development of and awareness for bladder control, a positive
relationship with an interventionist, intact receptive language to understand simpler
instruction, and an appeal to control body functions in an adaptive manner
(Christopherson, 1991). Research demonstrates a broad span in age for typically
developing children, with a range of 18–30 months as a starting point for toilet
training readiness. Children who start later in the age continuum frequently have
briefer training periods, while those of earlier ages require a longer learning
process.
The “Child Ready” concept posited by Spock and Brazelton provided a useful
guide to parents. It offered a more relaxed parenting style that supported learning
based on developmental readiness and self-directed learning supported by the par-
ents. This method diverged from parent-imposed expectations on a rigid timeline,
typically based on social pressures. Advice for parents existed before these publica-
tions, though consistent methods advised by skilled professionals were sparse at
best and rarely available for an expansive population.
Spock’s book sold nearly 50 million copies from 1946 to 1998 in 39 different
languages and was often viewed as a reliable resource for parents. The most novel
feature of Spock’s toilet training is that it regarded toilet training as a developmental
milestone, accomplished at different ages based on the child’s interest in the skill.
Additionally, focused points for parents were (a) that toileting should be addressed
when the child demonstrates an interest, (b) that the experience should be positive
in nature, and (c) that the use of punishment and other aversive procedures are gen-
erally unnecessary and perhaps counterproductive to adaptive toilet training.
Although this method provided a high-yield outcome with minimal training,
children with developmental disabilities often remained untrained well beyond the
average age of 3. Indeed, conditions that impaired learning often left them develop-
mentally below the cusp of learning throughout the “Child Ready” window, with a
delay in important early intervention. A notable percent of children with develop-
mental disabilities continued to remain incontinent well after most all (98%) of
age-related peers.
The Use of Rapid Toilet Training
The “Child Ready” model may likely have impaired “trainer ready” interventions
for a small proportion of children who developed at an atypical rate and fit the cur-
rent diagnosis of a developmental delay or disability. Continuing to wait for this
child to be ready may be fruitless after a certain age, most frequently at 3 years old.
Effective implementation of a more intensive instructional program to teach toilet-
ing seemed warranted and indeed efficacious to address this population.
Van Wagenen et al. (1969) provided additional scientific weight to the process of
toilet training, moving it from a developmental “Child Ready” model with defined
prerequisite skills but minimal procedural guidelines to a more empirically based
experimental design. More importantly, this study supported the notion that toilet
training for a small minority of people is a true issue beyond the developmental
process of typically developing children. Participants in the study of Van Wagenen
et al. (1969) included 9 males, ranging in age from 20 years old to 62 years old, with
a mean age of 43 years old, all of whom lived in an institution for people with
today’s definition of developmental disability. None were toilet trained. The duration
of long-term institutionalization due to developmental disabilities ranged from

6 years to 45 years with a mean duration of 21 years.
The outcome of the Van Wagenen et al. (1969) intervention demonstrated that
within 12 days of the first experimental group, patients were able to remain dry and
maintain dryness over an 8-h period, following a 2.5-h daily tripping schedule (e.g.,
cueing to bathroom every 2.5 h). The overwhelming outcome of this study points to
the fact that people with developmental disabilities may be far beyond the reaches
of “Child Ready.” However, they are capable of toilet training regardless with inter-
ventions based on behavioral strategies that teach a skill beyond the premise of
developmental readiness before imposing instruction. The outcome revealed that
even with a lack of readiness proposed by developmental specialists, intensive inter-
vention with a clear sequence of prompting and responses to incorrect and correct
behaviors (consequence-based responses) demonstrated merit across the divides of
development, even with subjects who demonstrated delayed development.
Following the Van Wagenen study, Azrin and Foxx (1971) published what is now
considered a seminal article in rapid toilet training, titled A Rapid Method of Toilet
Training the Institutionalized Retarded. This method recognized that people with
disabilities were much less likely to respond to the “Child Ready” method, sup-
ported by Spock and colleagues, and instead required a much more intensive inter-
vention based on the principles of operant learning. This included (a) eliciting the
behavior of urination through the delivery of a discriminating stimulus (Sd), (b)
increasing opportunities to urinate through increased fluid intake, (c) delivering
reinforcers that motivate adaptive urination, and (d) overcorrection procedures for
episodes of wetting. Outcomes proved highly effective for toilet training individuals
with compromising developmental delays over brief periods, sometimes in as little
as a 24-h period, and more frequently over a weekend period with intense clinical
support intact for long-term learning of toilet training skills.
This rapid toilet training procedure became a principal method to toilet train
children with disabilities who lagged behind age-related peers in this skill. In addi-
tion, it became an option for parents who preferred a “rapid toilet training” sequence
rather than a prolonged process or the need to wait for a child to be ready. In the end,
parents had effective alternatives to use if they had children typically developing in
most other domains who were resistant to toilet training well after a reasonably
expected age of mastery.
The concept of rapid toilet training did have its benefits, though some issues
permeated over the years. First, the title of Azrin and Foxx’s book, Toilet Training
in Less Than a Day (1973), provided parents with the notion that toilet training
could be attained in a brief period, at best a day and perhaps at worst several days.
This concept could be misleading to some parents. The issue of weak procedural
integrity absent in trained clinical staff (e.g., implementing interventions effectively,
in a timely manner, etc.) sometimes extended or perhaps stagnated progress. Parent’s
expectations of toilet training over a day or a weekend were based on an optimal
response from the child and outliers even with typically developing children existed.
Also, rapid regression of progress occurs in some cases if all aspects of the program
were not implemented effectively or if the child demonstrated some resistance.
Trained clinicians were much more effective to ensure procedural integrity, though
infrequently accessible. Availability in the home setting over a full weekend and
sometimes for even longer durations continues to be scarce. This procedure often
dealt with well-intentioned starts and ineffective outcomes due to the expectation of
a rapid and effective outcome. Toilet accidents after a few days seemed to be a com-
mon reason to discontinue a program that required intense and ongoing training.
Also, the use of punishment for accidents, a component used in the rapid toilet train-
ing sequence, was viewed as an unnecessary aversive to teach toilet training (Cicero
& Pfadt, 2002).
The field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and the education community at
large moved away from the notion that rapid behavioral changes were required. This
was based partly on the notion that a less than rapid training period could be deemed
as acceptable, as well as a move away from imposing aversive procedures to attain an
unnecessarily rapid outcome. In many cases, the scientific community agreed that
aversives were usually unnecessary in clinical practice and only used as a last resort
when other methods prove as ineffective and a rapid outcome was necessary.
Operant Conditioning Without a Timeline
Operant conditioning is a learning process following an A-B-C contingency. For the

purposes of toilet training, our focus will be on the use of positive reinforcement to
strengthen toileting skills. Clinicians and program implementers provide the learner
with a specific prompt that elicits urination in the toilet. The occurrence of this
behavior directly following the prompt leads to an immediate “payoff” or access to
a preferred item or activity.
For example, if the instructor prompts the learner “time for potty” when seated
on the toilet and the learner produces urine, then delivery of an edible or another
high-preference item immediately follows urination and increases the likelihood of
urination in the future under the same A-B-C contingency. The difference with this
model versus that provided by Azrin and Foxx (1971) is that a brief timeline to toilet
train (e.g., a day, a week) is not necessary to consider the program effective. Indeed,
learners gain strength in the skill at an individual rate of learning.
In the early 1980s and forward, clinicians doing research in toilet training began
to follow a more tempered approach to interventions on track with ongoing evi-
dence of blending successful interventions identified over several decades of inves-
tigation. Recent and current research shifted the concept from “rapid toilet training”
to less focus on the rapidity of training and instead on the durability of a life skill
readily implemented in nonclinical settings (Cicero & Pfadt, 2002; Kroeger &
Sorensen-Burnworth, 2009; LeBlanc, Carr, Crossett, Bennett, & Detweiler, 2005;
Stadtler et al., 1999, Cocchiola et al., 2012). Brazelton (1962) proposed that the
concept of toilet training for people with developmental disabilities should be
altered from a timeline of less than a day to a timeline of less than 100 days. This
simple yet important change in the timeline lays the foundation for a paradigm shift.
Major changes to teach toilet training included increased patience, simple correc-
tion procedures, and acceptance of slow yet measurable progress, with less direct
clinical support. Also, with the onset of preschool intervention for developmentally
delayed children through IDEA-2004, a migration from home-based programming
to school-based programming occurred.
The amount of research regarding toilet training at large and more specifically
with children with a developmental disability has been expansive over the past
45 years. The question at the onset of identifying toileting as a challenging learning
hurdle is often “what intervention is best to use to toilet train my child?” Klassen
et al. (2006) provide a well-written meta-analysis of rapid toilet training outcomes,
compared to “Child Ready” practices. Interestingly, Klassen et al. (2006) concluded
the following when considering a toilet training program for children.
• The outcomes appear similar for each intervention method across healthy, typi-
cally developing children. Clinicians and caregivers can prescribe to any one of
the intervention models, generally with a positive outcome to attain adaptive
toileting skills.
• Negative social or emotional outcomes appear to be non-salient regardless of
intervention method. To clarify, past theories that claimed that rapid toilet train-
ing had a negative emotional impact on typically developing children present
with no supporting evidence given recent research.
• Nearly all children with developmental disabilities can attain adaptive toileting
as a skill repertoire, to a point where at least partial success can be attained.
Partial success may mean that prompt reliance is required or that isolated epi-
sodes of accidents occur based on the child’s developmental profile.
• The range of functionality among children with developmental disabilities varies
widely, often in conjunction with physical and behavioral deficits. With this in
mind, a toilet training program may need to be more flexible to meet success.
• Toilet training children with developmental disabilities is enhanced considerably
when incorporating a multidisciplinary team (e.g., OT, PT, BCBA services work-
ing collaboratively), with empirical data-driven decisions in place.
• If a child with a developmental disability has not been toilet trained beyond the
far-reaching average of typically developing peers (e.g., 3 years old), toilet train-
ing should start soon thereafter, with timelines expanded based on the availabil-
ity of resources and the child’s developmental level.
Research and intervention over the past several decades present promising meth-
ods which vary as defined earlier in the chapter; the use of a “package intervention”
that utilizes some procedures from the “rapid toilet training” model, others from the
“developmental readiness” model, and still others from the “operant conditioning
without a timeline” model may be practical and effective. The individual needs of
the student appear more salient than selection of a particular program.
IDEA (2004) and Its Impact
Over the past decade, there has been a paradigm shift in special education, moving
to a much more global perspective on learning. Reading, writing, math, and other
academic skills remain salient, though other life skills pushed aside in the past have
taken on increased relevance. A focus is on a more expansive educational progress,
with adaptive social behaviors, activities of daily living, self-preservation skills,
vocational skills, and communication skills as “front and center” to learning in con-
junction with academic and cognitive goals. A germane objective provided by IDEA
2004 is that each child receives adequate skills and training that address multiple
functions in life so that they can learn at their optimal level when they are prepared
to leave school and enter adulthood (IDEA 2004). School districts are required to
teach skills that are beyond the scope of straightforward academic goals; a focus on
and accountability for functional life skills is a requirement as well. Education of
children who require specialized services needs to address broad issues of learning
including adaptive skills that support inclusion (Bryson, Rogers, & Fambonne,
2003). IDEA 2004 provides a clear and succinct definition of “disability” as it
relates to education as follows:
“IDEA ‘child with a disability’ means a child evaluated in accordance with rule
3301-51-06 of the Administrative Code as having a cognitive disability, a hearing
impairment, a speech or language impairment, a visual impairment, a serious emo-
tional disturbance, an orthopedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, another
health impairment, a specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple dis-
abilities and who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.
[The] child must be between the ages of 3–21” (IDEA 2004).
IDEA 2004 definition of a disability is quite clear and provides clear expecta-
tions of the task required of all local education agencies (LEAs) under federal law.
An LEA is typically a local school district that operates public primary and second-
ary education, following the mandates of free and appropriate public education
(FAPE), guaranteeing education to children with disabilities.
Current federal laws in place mandate LEAs to teach skills that are beyond the
scope of straightforward academic goals; a focus on and accountability for func-
tional life skills is required as well. Education of children who require specialized
services needs to address broad issues of learning including adaptive skills that sup-
port inclusion (Bryson, Rogers, & Fambonne, 2003).
This seemingly subtle change in wording provides a vast change in the responsi-
bility of school districts. It shifts learning from focused academics (e.g., reading,
writing, math) to a broad spectrum of learning, to include basic academics but to
integrate other basic learning such as fine motor activities, gross motor, adaptive
communication, social regulation, and activities of daily living (ADLs) such as toi-
leting (see IDEA 2004, Sec. 602(34)(A)). The point of this clause is to a focus on
adaptive living skills and vocational training, with the school’s responsibility to
develop the prerequisite skills needed to provide optimal opportunity outcomes.
Teaching nonacademic skills to students in school may have been viewed as

outside of educators’ field of practice a decade ago, though IDEA (2004) clearly
defines expectations of a child’s school. The positive impact on children with dis-
abilities can be quite convincing. Schools are created to be learning centers with an
expansive series of domains, to include learning readiness, academics, social adapt-
ability, time management, self-advocacy, behavioral regulation, and ADLs.
Educators and related service providers have specialized training across the spec-
trum of learning, with curriculum and research that support learning across people.
The purpose for education at large is to provide expansive learning across multiple
domains so that individuals are ready for independent work and living. The concept
of teaching even basic functional skills to students with identified deficits helps to
attain this end goal at the end of the educational process: increased adaptive
independence.
With the parameters established in IDEA 2004, school districts are not only
required to provide instruction with ADLs but also need to use the least restrictive
methods to provide learning. That is readily interpreted as researched-based interven-
tions with proven efficacy in learning a skill, absent unneeded aversive procedures.
Current Innovations and Future Practices
The enactment of IDEA 2004 and research over the past 45–50 years supports the
notion for direct instruction following empirically validated methods to toilet train chil-
dren who demonstrate difficulty in learning this skill. An increased urgency of inter-
vention is warranted following a student’s third birthday, especially when he or she is
diagnosed with a development disability. Effective methods for consideration in this
population include rapid toilet training and operant learning without a timeline; the
Child Ready process following developmental readiness for toileting may be consid-
ered, though after 3 years old, should be removed as an option due to risks of negatively
impacting behavioral cusps and setting the stage for negative behavioral patterns.
Over the past decade, “sites of primary intervention” have shifted from the home
setting to the school setting. Schools may be the best place to provide treatment for
toilet training, and indeed most skill deficits are identified in a child’s repertoire
when they start preschool. The availability of specialized instruction and “best prac-
tice settings” is intact based on IDEA Part B, providing specialized services based
on presenting deficits to children at the age of 3 years old and can continue up
through a child’s 21st year (see IDEA 2004). The foundation of IDEA Part B is to
provide early identification to children age 3 through 22 who present with deficits
under any of several domains. Examples can include cognitive, academic, social/
behavioral, communication, fine motor or gross motor movement, activities of daily
living, or any other life skill that is notably below that of age-related peers. Once a
team of experts identifies weaknesses, the child receives specific, targeted interven-
tions to address learning in these areas from specialized service providers
in their field. Experts may include a speech and language pathologist (SLP) for
communication deficits, a special education teacher for academic/cognitive deficits,

an occupational therapist (OT) for fine motor issues, or a board certified behavior
analyst (BCBA) for behavioral issues. All experts work in unison as interdisciplin-
ary team, to address each issue as a learning module. Toilet training often falls into
this collection of identified learning issues.
The amount of specialized service available in schools for early intervention and
for continued support through IDEA 2004 Parts 2 and 3 supports the notion that
effective intervention can most effectively be taught in schools and then generalized
across settings once skill development becomes adequately intact. Specialized ser-
vices that were sparse in home and community settings are now readily available,
with up to 6 or more hours per day, with increased opportunity to address each
unique learning need presented by a child, including toilet training.
Indeed, instruction in schools under IDEA 2004 requires that (a) defined objec-
tives, (b) with measurable outcomes, be implemented, (c) in the absence of aversive
procedures and (d) in the least restrictive environment. Interventions for school sys-
tems exist (see Yoo 2012; Cocchiola et al., 2012; Dalrymple, & Ruble, 1992; Stadtler
et al., 1999) providing the most recent procedural guidelines in general that follow
along the standards of IDEA 2004, as well as procedural safeguards to include the
following:
• Rule out medical as a first step.
• Gain parent consent to initiate a toilet training program.
• Set realistic goals to determine progress over time.
• Use non-aversive procedures to teach toileting as a requisite skill.
• Implement trainer requirements for program integrity.
• Provide ongoing data collection and analysis.
• Move from isolated learning to generalization across people, times, and places.
If adaptive toileting skills are absent when a child starts school and the child is
determined to qualify for special education, it is the responsibility of the LEA to
address this as a skill for formal instruction. An LEA typically means a student’s
local school district or a public agency responsible for implementation of edu-
cation in preschool through high school (pre-K through 12). Goals and objectives
are put in place through a formal Individual Education Plan (IEP), to include all
domains identified as deficits and activities of daily living such as toileting. The
expectation is each learning objective is addressed through formal and valid
intervention (e.g., curriculum, research studies, etc.), with data-driven decision
making.
Conclusions
Volumes of research support the notion that toilet training is generally an attainable
skill for nearly 97–98% of the population by 3 years old. This portion of the popula-
tion represents children who are typically developing when compared to age-related
peers. Intervention options to gain independence are expansive, though generally

developmental readiness in the areas of physical, cognitive, and social skills is a key
factor to meet success. The initiation of toilet training at an earlier age typically
leads to an increase in duration with training, and girls usually become independent
with toileting skills at a marginally earlier age.
On the other side of the spectrum lies 3% of the population who may require
more time intensive programming to achieve toileting independence, perhaps with
precision teaching embedded into process to enhance learning. Support across a
multidisciplinary team often yields better results, with a rule-out of medical inter-
vention as a starting point and a formal program to follow based on the child’s
constellation of skill deficits. When supplemental support is provided effectively,
toilet training for the 3% who start as outliers typically is accomplished, though
often requires expanded time and dedication to meet the goal.
Some parents may address toilet training their child who has a developmental
disability with reasonable success. If skill acquisition does not occur and the
child is ready to begin school, the LEA is responsible to implement a toilet train-
ing program, though this responsibility is based on the determination of the
Planning and Placement Team (PPT) when creating the child’s IEP. IDEA (2004)
requires that the least restrictive, scientifically based methods of instruction are
used across all goals and objectives; therefore the use of aversives is not tolera-
ble. Reasonable, and less aversive options must be attempted with subtherapeutic
success first. Schools moving forward into the next generation of learners will
continue to hold the responsibility and privilege to move a child for vocational
and lifelong success, perhaps starting with behavioral cusps as simple and impor-
tant as toilet training.
More research is warranted to support the notion of toilet training in the school
setting with an enhanced interdisciplinary team intact and trained staff as program
implementer versus home-based programming. Specific programs should be used to
measure best practice outcomes.
Appendices
246
Toileting Tracking Sheet
Student’s Initials: _________
SD: “Time for bathroom”

M.A. Cocchiola Jr. and C.C. Redpath
Bathroom Teaching Strategy
Name: John Doe Program: Bathroom Training Teaching Strategy

Date Initiated: 01-08-09 Most recent revision:
Objective: Given staff support, John will sit on the toilet and urinate appropriately
with 100% accuracy for five consecutive days by 08-31-09.
Run this program every day John is at school.
Materials needed: Task analytic worksheet
An established bathroom
A monthly data collection sheet
Timer set at 3 min
1:1 instruction
Edible reinforcers available for correct use of bathroom (currently M&Ms)
Change of clothes in case of an accident
Set-up 1. Each day upon arrival at school, John will enter the bathroom to ensure his
Directions “pull-up” is off.
 2. Every day, John will be cued to the bathroom on the half hr
(e.g., 9:00, 9:30, 10:00, etc).
3. Once in the bathroom and seated on the toilet, he will remain seated for 3 min.
SD: “Time for Bathroom”
Task analysis
1. Go to bathroom
2. Lights on
3. Close door
4. Pants down
5. Sit on toilet
(staff to set timer for 3 min)
6. Stay on toilet (if cue needed)
(Upon sound of timer or upon urination)
7. All done
8. Pants up
9. Wash hands
10. Lights off
Staff Instructions
1. If John urinates on the toilet, deliver heavy verbal praise immediately (e.g., within 0.5 s)
coupled with “M&Ms” as the edible reinforcer.
2. Use the edible reinforcers only for appropriate use of the bathroom
If a wetting accident occurs, simply assist John into the bathroom and help him to put dry clothes
on. Interaction during this procedure should remain neutral and matter of fact.
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Overview and State of the Field
Johnny L. Matson
Toilet training is a universal issue for children and one of the most important first
steps toward independence. As a result, it constitutes a major achievement for
2–3-year-old children with respect to daytime continence. Nighttime continence
typically occurs months or years later since it is a more difficult skill set to master.
Boys have more difficulty in achieving this milestone. Additionally, persons with
special needs such as intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders are par-
ticularly susceptible to difficulties in training. Treatment typically occurs later, is
more intense, and takes longer. Also, these difficulties involve delays in training and
the need to modify training experiences. Adaptations typically include smaller treat-
ment steps with more therapist and educator input.
Modern toilet training methods date back to the 1930s. As such, this was one of
the first childhood problems with successful psychological remedy. The most effec-
tive procedures developed since this time has been based on operant and classical
conditioning. (The former are now often referred to as applied behavior analysis.)
The foundation established early on was followed with studies in the 1970s and
1980s, enhancing the efficiency of the best methods. Also, the number of special
population effectively treated increased as well.
Despite all the positive developments noted above, various issues have not been
addressed sufficiently. For example, how well prepared professionals can be when
confronted with these difficulties? Also, compliance with treatment regimens is
often an issue. Difficulties in this area can lead to temper tantrums, aggression,
anxiety, and/or low self-esteem. When persistent, these issues need to be addressed
by educators and health professionals. This means layers of additional interventions
specific to these problems but is also interrelated to the toileting process.
Issues involving challenging behaviors such as tantrums and aggression are more
pronounced in special populations such as persons with autism spectrum disorder
J.L. Matson, PhD (*)


252 J.L. Matson
(ASD) (Fodstad, Rojahn & Matson, 2012). The new ASD criteria in DSM-5 may
mean even more severe symptoms for the overall group receiving the diagnosis.
Additionally, more severe comorbidities such as noncompliance and challenging
behaviors may result in even more pronounced side effects for toileting persons
with ASD relative to the general population of children (Matson, Kozlowski, Hattier,
Horovitz & Sipes, 2012). The move to identify children with special needs at very
young ages is also now common practice and has implications for toilet training
moving forward (Matson, Boisjoli, Hess & Wilkins, 2010). Methods focused on
toilet training should be incorporated in these early intervention programs.
Problems for daytime would be more specific to sitting on a stool by young
children. The attempts at daytime toileting would be hard for younger children com-
pared to kids who are being trained at bedtime. Temper tantrums and aggression,
while not exclusive to daytime toileting, would be more likely during daytime
applications. Nighttime toileting would involve older children where anxiety and
low self-esteem would be more problematic than when daytime toileting is
ongoing.
Physiological issues can also be present. For children where voiding in the toilet
is problematic, urinary infections and constipation may be present. These issues
need to be addressed by the child’s pediatrician and medical procedures and/or
drugs may be required. However, it would be best to coordinate these efforts with
psychological treatments specific to the toileting process. At present, this approach
is used to some extent, but more and better coordination is still needed.
Compliance is a problem in some instances with children, but it is a much greater
problem for parents. Often, in clinical practice, parents report having used a given
evidence-based treatment with little or no effect. However, upon discussion of the
implementation of the methods it quickly becomes apparent that haphazard and/or
sporadic attempts were made. Also, parents often assume change will occur more
rapidly than is realistic. These problems are often compounded by professionals
who promise results that are unattainable and cause parents to lose faith in proven
intervention methods. Additionally, misinformation on toilet training is rampant in
the news and on the Internet; these are major sources of parent information.
The good news regarding toilet training is that effective intervention is common-
place at this point in time. A combination of applied behavior analysis and classical
conditioning has proven empirical support. These methods date back decades.
Having said that, the available technology could benefit from further improvement
and updating. The general attention to the topic has trailed off substantially in recent
years. This trend is unfortunate for a number of reasons. These topics have been
elaborated earlier on in this volume.
The interactions of psychological interventions with life style choices are also
worthy of additional study. Parents have for many years used restricted liquid intake
close to bedtime as a relevant and often effective intervention. However, this method
is often applied haphazardly. It would be useful to develop a technology based on
age, gender, physical, and developmental handicaps. Flow charts detailing the
amount of liquid intake during the day, the appropriate liquid intake and when to
begin restricting intake at night could prove very helpful to parents and professionals,
Overview and State of the Field 253
particularly pediatricians. These medical professionals are most frequently the first
stop for parents in need of toileting assistance. Also, based on the factors noted
above, intake may vary from child to child. Guidelines to assist parents, given their
child’s specific needs, would be very informative. Also, day- and nighttime toileting
are not binary processes. More needs to be known about how restricted intake inter-
acts with other treatments such as applied behavior analysis and classical condition-
ing. This set of issues is further compounded by how maturation affects this set of
combined technologies. Thus, while maturation has been emphasized in the toileting
process for many decades, little exists on the specifics of how maturation affects
multifactorial liquid intake variables (Brazelton, 1962).
Constipation is the toileting problem most commonly associated with diet. Issues
such as a high fiber diet are often recommended along with or before medical inter-
ventions such as diuretics are used. Most of the focus is on medical approaches such
as the methods just mentioned. This focus is warranted. However, a much greater
emphasis on psychological methods is needed as well. The focus should be on both
research and clinical application. Voiding of fecal material can be classically condi-
tioned, largely by establishing a consistent toileting schedule. The best time to plan
for toileting is 20–40 min post breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. Voiding should then
be followed by praise and tangible reinforcers. Psychological approaches produce a
more normalized set of toileting skills. Similarly, the focus shifts to prevention.
Regular, regulated toileting results in the decrease or elimination of constipation.
A concern in toileting is the use of medications with children. For constipation,
the use of suppositories may be unavoidable. As just noted, greater use of preven
tative methods, especially psychological procedures, can help in this matter, how-
ever. The much larger issue is the continued, widespread use of medications for
nighttime bed-wetting. Given the more effective psychological methods which have
been available for decades, the former practice is difficult to justify. At this point,
the greatest focus moving forward should be on the education of front-line medical
staff such as pediatricians and nurses. These professionals could treat, but at a mini-
mum; hence, they should know what procedures work best for bed-wetting and
where they can refer the family for treatment.
Parents may not wish to use psychological treatments, or for logistical reasons
they cannot carry out these methods. In these instances, the health professional
should be able to explain that medication often only works while the drug is being
administered. The family should also be given information on the short- and long-
term side effects of these drugs for the young child. This information can rebalance
what methods the parents will choose.
Little new development has surfaced in the area of treatment for toileting in
many years. The major reason for this may be that a number of highly effective
treatments already exist as previously noted. An area where considerable strides
could be made involves incorporating the vast developments in technology. It is
hoped, moving forward, that developments in this area would be considered. Some
improvement in effectiveness is likely. However, the greatest gains would most
likely be in its ease of application. For example, decreasing labor for intensive treat-
ments and developing more rapid application of contingencies after voiding success
254 J.L. Matson
and failure are needed. Finally, a much more accurate and comprehensive data
collection is needed. In another domain, learning how best to disseminate informa-
tion to first contact professionals is an area in urgent need of study.
Pediatricians, pediatric nurses, and child clinical psychologists should be among
those who have content built into their curriculums how to advise caregivers in the
toilet training process. As noted throughout the book, there are several issues with
different methodologies that must be considered. These topics include initial toilet
training, daytime wetting accidents, fecal accidents, incontinence, and nocturnal
enuresis. Each of these issues, while being part of the broader concept of toilet train-
ing, are separate issues with separate solutions. Practitioners should also have this
training imbedded in internships and resident program. Research is needed on the
best ways to conduct this training. Also, board certification and licensure exams
should, but rarely do, address this topic.
This book provides a reference work for professionals who frequently are
required to deal with childhood toileting problems. As such, the Clinicians Guide to
Toilet Training Children is by far the most comprehensive review of the toilet train-
ing literature to date. This volume is a major contribution on toilet training books
produced. Previous books have been almost exclusively aimed at parents via a “how
to do it” approach. Several common characteristics in these books are notable. First,
they focus almost exclusively on daytime toilet training. Second, the general
assumption is that the methods are geared to typically developing children between
2 and 3 years of age. Third, the level of specificity and concrete examples varies
markedly from one book to the next. Fourth, the degree to which these books are
evidence based varies considerably. To our knowledge, little has been done on eval-
uating these “how to do it” books in terms of their value in assisting parents with the
toilet training process. It seems reasonable to conclude that many, if not all, of these
books have value. It would also seem reasonable to assume that their value would
vary and that chronicity and severity of the toileting issues, comorbid challenging
behaviors, parent motivation and knowledge, and related factors would also be asso-
ciated with the effectiveness of bibliotherapy for toileting issues. Certainly, “how to
do it” books on this topic far outnumber parenting books on most other develop-
mental skills. How therapists use and assist parents using these books also needs
further study.
From this writer’s perspective, effective toilet training is one of the more
successful areas of treatment with respect to essential childhood developmental
milestones. This factor is based on the important research developments that have
occurred over the years. Also, some topics tend to be fashionable at given points in
history. Toilet training is as essential as it has ever been. However, the topic does not
receive adequate research attention presently. Areas where additional research is
needed have been briefly addressed. Clearly, many new advances are possible. At
this point, it is largely a matter of will and focus on the problem that is needed.
Updates in the area of research are needed due to changing services models and
an increasing focus on early preschool education. Also, values about culture and
childhood education change over time. These topics also are in urgent need of atten-
tion in the research literature. In terms of persons involved in the toilet training
Overview and State of the Field 255
process, moving forward early childhood educators will inevitably need to become
experts in this service delivery area. Thus, while great strides have been made in
toilet training children, time marches on and adjustments in strategies are needed.
This book then has been an effort to provide a comprehensive accounting of where
we have been, where we currently are, and where we need to go.
References
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at-risk toddlers with and without autism spectrum disorder: A cross-sectional study. Journal of
Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 24, 217–234.
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fidelity of the baby and infant screen for children with aUtIsm traits: Part 1 (BISQUIT part 1).
Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 13, 72–79.
Matson, J. L., Kozlowski, A. M., Hattier, M. A., Horovitz, M., & Sipes, M. (2012). DSM-IV vs
DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for toddlers with autism. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 15,
185–190.
Index
A parent implementation, 94–102

Activities of daily living (ADLs), 229, 242 and toilet training, 90–94
Age Bell and pad, 170, 171
chronological, 34 Biobehavioral analysis
onset toilet training, 41 behavior-facilitating modifications,
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), 4, 7 156–160
American Association on Intellectual and bladder and bowel continence, 143
Developmental Disabilities diaper modification and removal of
(AAIDD), 228, 229 clothing, 159, 160
Anorectal malformation (ARM), 71 diapers and undergarments, 158–160
Antecedent-based procedures, 135, 136 environmental stimuli, 156, 157
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) hydration procedures, 161, 162
and application, 120, 121 initiation of toileting, 152
and EAB, 140 interventions, 145, 146, 163
BACB code, 128 modeling, 146–148
procedure, 119 motivating voiding, 160–161
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder negative emotions, 161–162
(ADHD), 27, 182 operant behavior overlay, 145
Authors employed a sequential condition POV modeling, 152
(ABCDC), 125 prompting, 152
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD), 120, 135, regularly scheduled practice, 153
150, 182, 228, 229 reinforcement, 151, 153
Azrin and Foxx’s RTT approach, 14 research, 162, 163
respondent behavior substrate, 144, 145
social learning process, 143
B social validity, 154, 155
Bedwetting structural toileting aids, 158
behavioral techniques, 184 target skills, 152
definition, 181 toilet training, 144, 145
teaching self-control skills, 187 treatment effects, 153, 154
Behavioral problems video modeling, 149, 150
adolescents and adults, 89 video prompting and response chaining, 153
and toilet training, 91–94 video self-modeling, 150–155
Foxx and Azrin procedure, 90 visual prompts, 157, 158
incontinence, 89 in vivo modeling, 148, 149, 163
individuals with intellectual disabilities, 89 VM and VSM, 152

Psychopathology Series, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-62725-0
258 Index
Biofeedback, 176–177 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of

Bladder capacity, 183 Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition
Board certified behavior analyst (BCBA), 244 (DSM 5), 194
Bowel dysfunction (BBD), 214 Diaperless babies, 57–59
Dietary restriction, 185
Differential reinforcement of other behavior
C (DRO), 91, 125
Caregiver factors, 40–42 Down’s syndrome, 229, 230
Caregiver traits, 41 Dry-bed treatment (DBT), 186
Centers for Disease Control, 229
Cerebral palsy (CP), 228, 229
Child behavior checklist (CBCL), 95 E
Child Electroacupuncture, 189
compliance, 108 Encopresis, 24, 26, 213
factors, 34–40 Endocrine system
prerequisite abilities, 107 neuroendocrine, 74
Children with special healthcare needs regulatory, 71
(CSHCN), 34, 35, 45 Enuresis, 26
Chronic illnesses, 34, 37 Environmental factors, 42–44, 156, 157
Chronic nonspecific diarrhea (CNSD), 20 European Society for Pediatric
Classical conditioning, 67 Gastroenterology, Hepatology and
bell-and-pad system, 66 Nutrition (ESPGHAN), 211
conditioned response, 65 Expected bladder capacity (EBC), 198
contiguity and contingency, 66 Externalizing symptoms, 76, 77
Edwin Twitmyer, 66 Exteroceptive, 145, 146
Ivan Pavlov, 66
theories of toileting (see Theories
of toileting) F
and unconditioned stimulus, 65 Fecal/bowel voiding dysfunction, 20
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), 187 Fetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD),
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child 228, 229
Care, 4 Free and appropriate public education
Comorbid psychiatric symptoms, 38 (FAPE), 242
Congenital anomalies of the kidney Functional defecation disorders (FDD), 20
and urinary tract (CAKUT), 72 Functional gastrointestinal disorders
Constipation, 253 (FGIDs), 212
Cow’s milk protein (CMP), 217
Crohn’s disease, 21
Cultural climate, 42 H
Hirschsprung’s disease, 71
D
Daytime treatment, 169, 170 I
Detrusor overactivity, 183 Incontinence, 108
Developmental disabilities (DD), 35–37, 41 bowel/urinary, 19
behavioral regulation, 232 diurnal urinary, 27
cognitive deficits and delays, 231 fecal, 20, 26
communication deficits and delays, 232 risk of, 21
IDEA and impact, 242, 243 subtype of, 27
and intellectual disabilities, 227 urinary/fecal, 23
motor deficits and delays, 230, 231 Individual Education Plan (IEP), 244
perseveration and sameness, 232 Infants
physical and mental skill deficits, 227 before 12 months, 52
sites of primary intervention, 243 diaper-free, 58
social deficits and delays, 231 elimination communication, 57
Index 259
In vivo modeling, 146–149 Muscle

In- vs. out-of-toilet voids, 108 bladder, 71, 73
Internalizing symptoms, 76 detrusor smooth, 73
International Children’s Continence Society sphincter, 65, 71, 73
(ICCS), 194
International Children’s Incontinence Society
(ICCS), 64 N
Inter-observer agreement, 113, 114 National Institute of Health (NIH), 228
Interoceptive, 145, 146 Nervous systemcentral and peripheral, 71, 72
Intervention strategies, 145, 146, 162 Neurodevelopmental disorder, 195
Neurogenic bladder (NB), 22, 72
Neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD), 72
L New York State Office for People with
Language and learning disorder, 228 Developmental Disabilities
Local education agencies (LEAs), 242 (NYS-OPWDD), 234
Lower urinary tract symptoms, 196–197 Nighttime toilet training, 181–182
Nocturnal enuresis (NE)
acupuncture, 189
M age of bladder control attainment, 183–184
Maternal and Child Health Bureau alarm interventions, 189
(MCHB), 34 etiology, 182, 183
Maximum voided volume (MVV), 199 hypnosis and cognitive interventions, 190
Medical issues, 201–207, 211–221, 252, 253 individual, 182
classifications, enuresis, 194–196 medical conditions, 181
comorbidities, 200–201 multicomponent behavioral interventions,
constipation 186–187
encopresis, 213 pharmacological/behavioral approach,
and enuresis, 214 188–189
etiology, 211 pharmacological interventions, 188
functional constipation, 211–212 prevalence, 182
daytime incontinence, 197, 198 psychological approaches, 182, 187, 188
defining enuresis, 194 psychosocial consequences, 181
discontinuing medications, 207–210 simple behavioral interventions, 184, 185
EBC, 198 standard alarm interventions, 185, 186
lower urinary tract symptoms, 196–197 treatment of, 190
medical evaluation Nocturnal fecal continence (NFC), 144, 145
behavior modification, 217–218 Nocturnal polyuria syndrome (NPS), 182, 199
constipation diagnostic assessment, Nocturnal treatment, 170
215, 216 Nocturnal urinary continence (NUC), 144
diet, 217 Noncustodial caregivers, 44
pharmacotherapy, 218–221 Non-monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, 199
treatment of constipation, 216 Nonretentive fecal incontinence (NRFI), 213
medical workup of enuresis Normal developmental milestones
ancillary data, 204 age at initiation vs. completion, 54–55
medications, 206, 207 birth order, 57
nonorganic etiologies, 206 cross-cultural differences, 56, 57
organic etiologies, 206 diaperless babies, 57–59
patient history, 201, 202 elimination communication, 57–59
physical examination, 205 factors, 55–57
testing, 203 gender, race and socioeconomic status,
nighttime incontinence, 199–200 55–56
polyuria, 198, 199 parent-report questionnaires, 60
Mobile phone application, 176 physiological maturity, 50, 51
260 Index
Normal developmental milestones (cont.) R

psychological maturity, 51 Randomized controlled trials (RCT), 184
readiness skills, 52, 53 Rapid toilet training (RTT), 10–14, 121
researchers, 60 Reinforcement, 119
stages of toilet training, 50, 53, 54 activity reinforcers, 121
toileting readiness, 50–53 behavioral principles, 122
in the United States, 49 negative, 122, 125, 126
North American Society for Pediatric operant conditioning, 121
Gastroenterology, Hepatology, positive, 121–124
and Nutrition (NASPGHAN), 211 stimulus, 121
Request for applications (RFA), 220
Risk factors, 33
O
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), 200
Occupational therapist (OT), 244 S
Operant-based behavioral principles Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
ABA, 119–121, 140 (SSRIs), 210
EAB, 140 Self-injurious behavior (SIB), 91
fluid intake, 138, 139 Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors
negative punishment, 130 (SNRIs), 210
negative reinforcement, 125, 126 Side effects
positive punishment, 128–130 anatomical and physiological, toilet
positive reinforcement, 122–124 training, 22
prompting strategies, 135–137 medications, 21
punishment, 126–130 practitioners, 20
reinforcement, 121–126 psychological/social, 25–27
scheduled siting procedures, 137, 138 Sleep arousal disturbances, 183
stimulus control, 130–134 Speech and language pathologist (SLP), 243
tactics, 134–139 Stimulus control
urinary alarm systems, 139 behavioral principles, 131
Operant conditioning, 68–70, 78, 121, 122, 126 higher frequency, 130
Operant voiding dysfunction, 22 three-term contingency, 131
and toilet training, 131–134
Structural toileting aids, 158
P
Pediatric urinary, 214
Pharmacotherapy, 218–221 T
Physiological maturity, 50–51 Technology
Planning and placement team (PPT), 245 application of, 176
Polydipsia, 198 in bathroom, 176
Polyethylene glycol (PEG), 218 definition, 169
Polyuria, 198, 199 “golden age” of, 178
Potty training, 106 and positive reinforcement, 171
Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis and psychological method, 170
(PMNE), 199 toilet training, 169, 177
Prompting, 134–138 Temperament, 39
Psychological interventions, 252 Theories of toileting
Psychological maturity, 51 abnormalities, 71
Punishment, 121 acquisition, 63, 67
conditioning, 126 behavioral treatments, 78
negative, 130 behavioral/learning, 65–70
positive, 126, 128–130 bell-and-pad urinary alarm system, 68
stimulus, 126 biochemical perspective, 74, 75
and toilet training, 127, 128 chaining, 69
Index 261
classical conditioning, 65–68 nonverbal expression, 235

components, 71 operant conditioning, 240, 241
contiguity, 67 parent-centered, 4–6
contingency, 67 parent-directed protocols, 105
enuresis and encopresis, 64, 65 past practices, 236
excitation and inhibition, 67 pediatricians, 16
experimental analysis of behavior, 70 physiological and psychological
extinction, 67 factors, 16
fading, 70 practical challenges, 105
independent, 63 practices, 2
Mowrer’s bell-and-pad system, 67 prerequisite measurement and skills, 2, 3,
operant conditioning and reinforcement, 106–108
68–70 problems, 14, 15
physiological perspective, 71–74 procedural integrity, 112–113
prompting, 70 procedure, 8–10
psychological disturbances, process and intervention options, 235
75–77 professional use, 11, 12
reinforcement and punishment, 69 psychologists, 16
research, 78 rapid toilet training, 10–14, 238–240
researchers, 77 research and intervention models, 237
seats, 176 research developments, 254
shaping, 70 self-help skills, 233
Toddlers, 52 social and emotional readiness, 236
Toilet training social isolation, 235
AAP, 16 teachings and methods, 2
approaches, 3, 4 technology, 3
assumptions, 7, 8 treatment, 10, 11
behavioral approaches, 16 in the United States, 2
benefits and drawbacks, 12, 13 universal issue, 251
caregivers, 235, 254 Toilet Training in Less Than a Day, 10, 12
child-centered, 6–10 Toileting skills
child ready model, 237, 238 anatomic/pathophysiological problems, 19
completion of, 1 children, United States, 19
compliance issues, 114 dysfunctional voiding and toilet training,
concept, 254 20–25
data collection, 114 enuresis and fecal incontinence, 28
demographics and public health psychological and social ramifications,
outcomes, 115 19–20
dependent measurement, 108–111 psychological/social side effects, 25–27
developmental disabilities, 233 in social environments, 28
dysfunctional voiding, 20–25 toilet training, 97
in early childhood, 1 Trends, 177, 178
early civilizations, 4
educational planning teams, 236
evidence, 13 U
history of, 1 Urinary voiding dysfunction, 21
inter-observer agreement, 113, 114
learning patterns, 234
literature, 254 V
measurement procedures, 111, 112 Video modeling (VM), 146, 149, 150, 174
methods, 106, 251 Visual prompts, 157, 158
misinformation, 252 Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), 203

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What are some complications associated with a lack of toileting skills?

What are some complications associated with a lack of toileting skills?

What are some risk factors associated with toilet training difficulties?

What are some risk factors associated with toilet training difficulties?

Autism and Child Psychopathology Series

Series Editor: Johnny L. Matson

Clinical Guide to Toilet

ISSN 2192-922X ISSN 2192-9238 (electronic)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017951390

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Printed on acid-free paper

This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature

Historical Development of Toilet Training�������������������������������������������������������� 1

 ighttime Toilet Training�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 181

Johnny L. Matson, PhD is a professor and distinguished research master in the

Neville Blampied University of Canterbury, College of Science, Psychology

Cassie D. Karlsson Department of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of

Maura L. Rouse, Lauren B. Fishbein, Noha F. Minshawi, and Jill C. Fodstad

The completion of toilet training is considered to be an early childhood ­developmental

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 1

Factors Influencing Toilet Training Practices

implementing toilet training procedures. It is important to rule out the presence of

Brief Overview of Approaches to Toilet Training

Toilet training is a complex process that is affected by physiological, anatomical,

Toilet Training in Early Civilizations

Parent-Centered Toilet Training

general child development was on physical development (e.g., nutrition), as opposed

Child-Centered Toilet Training

young children, those approximately 18–30 months of age, to control their impulses

and parenting practices. Brazelton’s procedure served as the model for

Consistent with his theoretical assumptions, Brazelton (1962) emphasized the

Rapid Toilet Training

follow-­up. In a second study with 49 children who demonstrated readiness skills

In 2006, the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality published a systematic

Recent Variations to Rapid Toilet Training

Problems with Toileting Training Approaches

stool, encopresis, hiding when defecating, and urinary disorders of elimination

In general, toilet training is considered an early child milestone and approaches to

Russell Lang, Laurie McLay, Amarie Carnett, Katherine Ledbetter-cho,

R. Lang, PhD, BCBA-D (*) • X. Sun

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 19

social ramifications of poor toileting skills are considered. Implications of the

 edical and Operant Factors Related to Dysfunctional

sphincter during voiding. Children who experience dysfunctional voiding may

practice opportunities in order increase the likelihood of in-toilet voiding and

 sychological or Social Side Effects Associated with Limited

K.A. Kroeger, Stephanie Weber, and Jennifer Smith

K.A. Kroeger (*) • S. Weber • J. Smith

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 33

d­ emonstrate acquisition of such (toileting) behaviors, the more opportunity they

relatively ­reasonable amounts of time. However, before making recommendation to

relievers or related and associated developmental cognitive or motoric delays

majority of respondents were African-American (59.4%) or Caucasian (32.4%) and

C.O. Burns, BS (*)

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017 49

Definitions of “Toilet Trained”

capacity increases (Jansson, Hanson, Hansom, Hellström, & Sillén, 2000).

In addition to physiological maturity, several psychological factors are involved in

General Timeline of Readiness Skills

As previously discussed, certain readiness skills (e.g., understands words related to

Historical Development of Toilet Training�� 1

ighttime Toilet Training�� 181

The completion of toilet training is considered to be an early childhood developmental

Factors Influencing Toilet Training Practices

Brief Overview of Approaches to Toilet Training

Toilet Training in Early Civilizations

Parent-Centered Toilet Training

Child-Centered Toilet Training

Rapid Toilet Training

follow-up. In a second study with 49 children who demonstrated readiness skills

Recent Variations to Rapid Toilet Training

Problems with Toileting Training Approaches

edical and Operant Factors Related to Dysfunctional

sychological or Social Side Effects Associated with Limited

d emonstrate acquisition of such (toileting) behaviors, the more opportunity they

relatively reasonable amounts of time. However, before making recommendation to

Definitions of “Toilet Trained”

General Timeline of Readiness Skills

Stages of Toilet Training

Age at Initiation Versus Completion

Factors Related to Age of Training

Gender, Race, and Socioeconomic Status

“Diaperless Babies” and Elimination Communication

Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement

Physiological and Biochemical Explanations

Behavioral Problems and Toilet Training

roblems Involving Parent Implementation of Toilet Training

Focus of this Chapter

It is unclear which components of toileting a child must accomplish i ndependently,

Procedural integrity is important to successful implementation of either the child-

Summary and Future Directions

ABA and the Application of Principles of Behavior

Positive Reinforcement and Toilet Training

Negative Reinforcement and Toilet Training

Punishment and Toilet Training

Positive Punishment and Toilet Training

Negative Punishment and Toilet Training

Stimulus Control and Toilet Training