8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?

[?] Subscribe To This Site

8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?

by Susie
(Israel)

My 8 year old son was diagnosed with SPD about a year ago. Among other things, he is still not able to keep his pants dry during the day. He says he doesn't feel it. We have had many visits to a variety of different health care professionals (both conventional and alternative). We have tried everything from sticker charts to beeping watches, acupuncture to bio-feedback, OT and more!

He is going into 3rd grade and STILL WETS HIS PANTS.

Does anyone out there have a similar problem? We feel so alone with this. It is common for kids to wet their bed some still at this age, but he is actually DRY at night..........it's just that when he is busy doing something (anything), he does not get the message from his body to stop and pee.

HELP PLEASE...

Comments for
8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 09, 2012
Rating

Reflex
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I haven't been ignoring you, I simply haven't logged on! My guy is in a co-teaching class. He receives some push in from the special ed teacher. The entire team is a dream. It is the CSE who is keeping the tight reign on the $'s. His attention is a huge problem. I haven't started OT yet. We now have different insurance. I have to get on it. He requires the reflex therapy, plus therapy for spd.

Since the district dragged their feet in all of this, we are another 1/2 year behind in school therapy. He just began that in Dec. They are working on the basic fine motor skills. The district has offered to have my OT come in to give two 1/2 day classes, called professional development. She is to talk to them about reflex integration. It is to give them a better understanding of what he is up against. They won't be doing the exercises that are to do assist the integration. It is my hope that the school OT will actually work in some of these exercises. Trouble is that the reflexes are to be integrated one at a time.

Every step of the way has been very difficult. His behavior is troublesome, with the low tone, he is weary, yet I cannot let him off the hook on everything.
I could go on for a week about it all. Anyone reading this understands the situation and frustrations!

I have to get going. He is beckoning for me to help him brush his teeth. Then the dog needs me! Another fun day!

Jan 09, 2012
Rating

Thanks for updates
by: Deena

So grateful for updates from Susie and Mare. There is hope!!! My son, too, has low muscle tone (diagnosed at 18 mos) that with the SPD makes for quite a challenge.. Will also look more into the reflexes. Also saw urologist who gave meds, didn't work and realized it had nothing to do with urology...it's neurology. Next step is neurologist. Have run into to many roadblocks trying to get OT through local therapy center and insurance. Will be getting school district eval soon and just found a new therapy clinic. Maybe they can provide insurance with the "right" codes so we can get services.

Nov 07, 2011
Rating

frustrating....
by: Anonymous

Hi Mare, sounds like what you are going through is quite frustrating. I used to work in the public school system in S. Florida, but at the preschool level (special education). I remember the frustrations from all sides. The key point that I remember was that for something to be covered by the school and the school system, it had to affect the academics.....but at the same time if the kid's diagnosis warranted social emotional goals, then that's where the other things came into play......

Is your son in a regular class or in special ed? IF you don't mind me asking, what is his 'label', or does he have one? Unfortunately, much of the key to getting services is knowing how to word things in the right way on the proper forms and evaluations......

I would say though, that if the school doesn't provide, then insurance should, no? Wish I had more ideas to offer........keep us posted.

Nov 07, 2011
Rating

wetting
by: Mare

Hi again,

A bit more to the story. The school was expected to give my son OT to integrate reflexes which would help with the wetting, attention and sensory issues. They are now not doing that. I was told that is a medical issue, not academic. They believe he is doing better, even though he has wet in class 4-5 times. Attention and sensory issues are still a big problem. They think co-teaching/special ed are going to help that. The social aspect of wetting isn't academic and since it has eased up, they aren't responsible. I have to look to insurance for it. We sat at the table and we discussed having an outside OT train school OT in reflex integration. They talked this over with lawyer and they aren't required to do this!

Any suggestions anyone? We are in upstate NY.

Nov 04, 2011
Rating

.
by: Anonymous

Mare, hang in there.......I keep telling myself that if could get over THIS, then he'll be able to do anything in life! :)

I'll check out those reflexes....does sound interesting.

Wanted to mention to you too that my son also didn't used to change, even would argue with me that he wasn't wet when he was, and tell me that I was the only one in the world who could smell the pee.....go figure.

Take care...........

Nov 04, 2011
Rating

An update from me too!
by: Mare

Susie, delighted your situation has greatly improved. We too have moved along some. I have found a terrific OT, who evaluated my guy this summer and we are waiting for therapy in school. However his therapy is specific. She found him to have primary reflex issues. One specifically related to wetting....Galant Reflex.

He has low muscle tone as well and his senses don't allow him to know he has to go nor that he has to change. Some of that is behavioral. He doesn't want to get into trouble. We reprimand him for not changing, not for wetting. He often knows he is wet. It is a difficult balance we have to find with him.

School has been great. They remind him to get to the bathroom before he leaves the room, when he doesn't go, he will wet! When he has a cold, he wets a lot. His senses are very out of whack.

At the urologist's suggestion we did meds and took him for
bio-feed back. Don't do it. Not a pleasant experience. Drugs didn't work. His tone and reflexes are the trouble, no meds would help.

We are waiting on the therapy and I will keep you posted on how that goes. The integration of the reflexes are expected to also help with his attention. Read up on primary reflexes, it is fascinating. Of course, it adds yet another issue to the list you already have for your child. but hope is there for me! a little anyway! Stay tuned! :)

Nov 04, 2011
Rating

UPDATE......... :)
by: Susie

I'm so thrilled to come back here and update on my son. I was the original poster here, when my son was 8. He is now 10 1/2 and is doing GREAT! Last year, during 4th grade, we had our usual parent/teacher/student conference in the middle of the year. We had started the year off with a system where the teacher(s) would give him a sign to get up and go at the end of each class. We worked with him on remembering to go with the bell at the end of each lesson. It worked some days, and others not. In this teacher conference in December, he expressed that he did not want the teacher to do the sign anymore to him because he was worried that other kids were starting to notice. She was understanding but firm and told him that he needed to get it under control. We were at the point that we all felt that he was being lazy with this 'diagnosis' and using it as a crutch. He had overcome some other things and just needed the support to believe he could control his body.

Long story short, HE DID IT! She had told him that if he could work on going after each hourly bell, then she wouldn't bug him with the hand signal. It worked. He is now in 5th grade and hasn't had a wetting accident in 10 months! It feels so good............

Every so often, he waits to long to go to the bathroom for a BM and then we have an issue, but it is usually when we are in a park or somewhere that the bathroom isn't so accessible. But that happens so rarely that I don't feel it's a big issue.

Bottom line parents, KEEP THE FAITH, keep talking to your kids about the issue, and tell them that you believe in them. With the right external reminders, even our kids can move past this feeling that they are not in control.

Nov 03, 2011
Rating

You're not alone!
by: Deena

I just figured out my 10 year old has SPD. He was diagnosed with low muscle tone when he was 1 1/2. We were able to get dry nights with alarm last year, but he still wets during the day. Seeing specialist and on meds, but getting only minor change. Your posting has helped me understand that it isn't just a behavioral/medical change issue. It is the combo of low muscle tone and SPD and we may need to investigate other options for lasting results.

Discouraged that there were no postings for tangible things to do to help. Just like the other Dena, many, many tears and am looking for REAL HELP!

Jul 06, 2011
Rating

8 Year Old
by: Anonymous

Glad I found this forum. My son is 8 and has high-functioning autism. He has been pooping in the toilet since 3-1/2 but has always had day & night accidents. He releases a little urine throughout the day until he smells really bad by the end of the day. He doesn't seem to care if he's wet. When I ask why he does this, he says he doesn't know how. It just breaks my heart. Has anyone tried "bladder training"? I've read other forums where people have tried this. Seems to be a common link though...on one forum it was ADHD kids. Interesting, as ADHD is also on the autism spectrum as is SPD.

Dec 02, 2010
Rating

Toileting Trouble
by: Mare

You are NOT alone. I have ruined more makeup and have hidden behind my sunglasses regularly because I cry over my son's wetting etc. He turned 7 yesterday! He wets himself at least once a day. My water bill has tripled. He has taken up wetting the bed just before he wakes. He has pooped several times this year. (twice in school)

We do not have a formal diagnosis, but sensory and attention issues are our focus with the behavioral doctor. I am pushing for OT at school so that we can make him more aware of his body. He doesn't go to sleep until very late. He seeks the big squeezes, tugs hair, squeals, very inattentive, low tone, very fatigued and more.

I watch my son struggle every day. I struggle. I cry for him and for me. I didn't sign up for this. I expected healthy and happy. I didn't expect to cover up for him, explain him, avoid situations. I am happier after I read these postings. Sometimes because someone else's story is more complicated than mine, or someone's is like mine! I feel understood.

I thought I was a compassionate woman before I met my little man Jack! But I have great feeling for people who are trying to keep the lid on the pot. kids, their moms and families!

As far as the peeing goes....stock up on Tide, don't leave home without a backpack of spare clothes and have a blanket on the couch where your little one sits! Peace!

Oct 09, 2010
Rating

8 yeat old autistic son still wets pants
by: Anonymous

My son is a highly functioning and on the spectrum. We had lots of issues even getting him to use the toilet and finally he is good about bowel movements, but he still wets his pants at night and during the day. He still can fit into pull-ups so nights are not as big a concern, but during the day he sometimes will do fine, other times he will not. We have asked his teachers to make sure he uses the restroom frequently (every 20 minutes or so) this usually helps. We purchased a basic sports watch that has three timer settings and can also repeat an alarm at any interval. It was not super expensive and when he wears it we can adjust the time up or down if it turns out to be a good or bad day. If he is very focused on what he is doing he is more likely to not use the restroom. He also seems perfectly happy to be sitting in wet pants, so we have to check with him when possible. Watching the amount he drinks can help sometimes, also his favorite fruit is apples - if he eats a bunch he seems to need to go more often. This is a non-scientific observation though. Just like the rest of the posts - we are all guessing so just trying give as much input as I can.

Sep 27, 2010
Rating

Son With SPD/low muscle tone wetting pants
by: Anonymous

Hi Susie!
I know you posted this a while ago, but I googled "SPD and peeing pants" and your post came up! :) I have a 6-year-old with SPD and low muscle tone. He has been having problems with peeing in his pants or not finishing before he pulls his pants back up. I thought it was just him being in a hurry and not wanting to stop what he was doing, but everytime I ask him about it he tells me, "I didn't feel it until it was already coming out." I am encouraging him to use the bathroom at certain times during day, even if he doesn't have to go, as an intervention. We are also working on core exercises. Have you found any suggestions that have been helpful?

So encouraging to know he is not alone! :)

Thanks,
Dena

Jun 13, 2010
Rating

My six year old not pooping but peeing
by: Anonymous

Thanks for your feedbacks. I plan to try a few new things. My son has pooped a few times in the toilet and thank goodness he can go pee. Still, it's work to clean him up and give into pull-ups b/c I have tried everything. His special ed. teacher told us give him time. I feel the more time I am giving him the more its stressing me out. So...I am hoping he will poop in toilet and that I may not give up. He is such a sweet boy and not his fault. He has a few developmental delays, but we all have complete faith he can do this and needs our help and support continually.

Feb 26, 2010
Rating

I was told to try a chiropractor
by: Anonymous

I am going to take my son to a chiropractor. He has problems with wetting during the day also. A lot of it is that he does not want to stop what he is doing but I want to try the chiropractor also. I have been told that many times these children have something pressing on their bladder and a couple of adjustments from a chiropractor can help.

Feb 23, 2010
Rating

8 yr old son and wetting
by: Anonymous

I had a strong feeling that my son wetting his pants at 8 yrs of age was related to SPD. If he does not go to the bathroom before bed, it's a guarantee he will wet. But over the past 9 months or so he has wet his pants during the day. I have asked him why it's happened. He wont answer me, he usually shuts down. I began to wonder if it was just laziness and he wasn't taking the time to go to the bathroom because he wanted to keep playing...this hasn't been a problem since he potty trained at 3. He has said it just comes out. I am so frustrated with this because I don't want my son to suffer socially if this should happen in school. He has wet his pants while in the car and never said anything. He just goes about what he's doing with wet pants. He's embarrassed by it and has hid his pants in his dresser before. I have gotten frustrated and cried and yelled. Is it one more visit to the doctor? How does he get help for this? I've been on top of OT with his school for fine motor skills...how do I help this relatively new issue of wetting his pants?

Feb 08, 2010
Rating

6 1/2 year old with SPD not potty-trained
by: Danna

Wow--its great to find a place where other parents are struggling with the same issue.

I have been working with my 6 1/2 year old since age 4. He actually was very successful at a special camp in Chicago called Tuesday's Child a couple of years ago. Their methodology is as long as kids are having accidents they need to go more frequently. Sometimes every 20 minutes and then extend the time as they are successful. They suggest taking them to the bathroom during a very busy period when they are very involved in play for two reasons: 1. because that is usually when the will have an accident due to their intense focus on their play and 2. because they don't like to stop what they are doing and you simply tell them we won't have to do this anymore if you get to the potty on your own.

He was virtually BM free and almost urine-free (during the day only still wears pull-ups at night) until just recently and now he seems to have regressed. I know his father (who does not live with us) screams and yells and spank him and I told him not to, so there may be a lot of anxiety because of this. We are on a waiting list to see a Behavior Therapist as I am of the belief that it may not be physiological.

I also have tried countless methods to nip this in the bud. The one suggestion that did work for BMs was sitting on the toilet every morning about the same time for 15 minutes along with a MILD constipation reliever. I also purchased a "timed-timer" which my kids really like. My son would sometimes have several BMs several minutes apart during this 15 minute time period.

My son also has very low muscle tone and is being seen by an OT and has been since 10 months old. I also have him in therapeutic riding and I am desperate to get his core stronger. Thanks for the suggestion on the strengthening exercises we have an appointment tomorrow so I will get on that right away.

He is only in kindergarten but already kids are making fun of him and if this doesn't get taken care of soon he will likely suffer even more social/emotional issues from other kids.

God bless all of you, I know how hard it is, how embarrassing it can be, how frustrating it can be, how you blame yourself time and time again, but these kids are so special and its important to remember that.

Nov 24, 2009
Rating

i understand
by: mm

Our son is almost 9 and has PDD and sensory issues. I bowel trained him at 8. He will wet his pants if I do not remind him to go. Boys in general I think don't like to stop what they are doing, but especially my sensory child. We did bio-feedback as well with no progress. I was able to help him thank goodness and he is on Miralax for the constipation.

I believe because of his low muscle tone and sensory issues he still has accidents. I wish you the best of luck. Try a timer if he can tolerate it, or gentle reminders.

Nov 19, 2009
Rating

Bed Wetting
by: GrantD

Hi, my daughter is 7 yrs. She has not had a problem with bed wetting or daytime wetting but approx 5 months ago she stared wetting at night then during the day. It was not due to stress or infections. If you haven't had your doctor check for infections get that done first. This is what we did and so far it seems to be improving;

We are getting her to drink more during the day to increase her bladder size

We remind her to go to the bathroom more regularly and get her to go at the start of each break at school and end of lunch break.

We get her to do her wee then wait 20sec and try again - this helps girls as some can stay inside and leak later, maybe it will work with boys too?

She doesn't have SPD's but struggles to keep focused on drinking and regular breaks. We just had a weeks holiday and were able to 'enforce' her drinking and bathroom breaks and this has helped. Obviously at school there are a lot more distractions and difficulties keeping youngsters on track. If you can get the teacher sending him off to the bathroom that would help but they generally have other priorities.

Good luck.

Nov 18, 2009
Rating

Like Mother like son
by: Victoria G

I am not sure if this will be of any help. As a child I know that when I got busy I did not like stopping what I was doing to go to the bathroom and so I wet my underwear (how frequently I am unsure) until sometime between 8 and 9 years old. It drove my father crazy which didn't help. My son has had a similar issue but with bm's. Especially at school and especially in Kindergarten and Grade 1 he would come home almost daily with heavily soiled underwear. Yet over the summers the problem seemed to dissipate. He would swear up and down that he couldn't feel anything, or that it would come too quickly.

This year is much better but a number of things have changed. Firstly, for the past year and a bit I have been treating this as a time management issue and not a potty-training issue. I have told him at school to go to the bathroom at all available breaks and before and after lunch/recreation break-time.

Secondly, I have removed my emotional attachments and issues over the problem -- i.e. I never get upset over what has happened, I only help him get changed when he needs it and offer love and I try to provide a lot of encouragement when things go well. I am sure that many things have contributed to the improvement, but I certainly know that once I stopped having an emotional reaction to his soiling his pants, things got slowly but surely better.

Jul 27, 2009
Rating

yes I feel your pain
by: Anonymous

my son is going into the 2nd grade and we send clothes with him to make sure if he has a accident he will have a change of clothes . the doctor told us it was anxiety and the anxiety cause a over reactive bladder sorry nothing you can do about it, but encourage to use the bathroom even if they don't have to go. but that didn't work for use at least once a week he was having accident in school seems to be fine most of the time at home but it still does happen once in a while.

Jul 25, 2009
Rating

My son has the same problem
by: Anonymous

He will be 8 in September. It took him what seemed like forever to control his bowels during the day, and still wets his pants a little every day. We just started OT and the therapist said she has had some success with another boy using some reflex exercises: spinal galant and perez (?) The theory is that these children have not overcome, if that is the right word, these reflexes in infancy and so are not able to advance. We do the exercises with our son 3x a week, plus he sees the OT once a week. You said you did OT, I don't know if they tried this. Good luck, I know how you feel.

Jul 24, 2009
Rating

Similar Problem
by: Anonymous

I have a five year old grandson with SPD. We've made progress with him using the toilet to do his BM's but it was a struggle. He can't seem to tell us also that he has to urinate. We put him on the potty approximately every 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours and I can keep him dry that way. I've tried his big boy underwear, but he's had a few accidents. He will start kindergarten in the fall and I am concerned that he is not toilet trained. I really don't know what to advise in this situation. It seems as though you've tried every outlet. I make him go potty before bed and first thing when he gets up. Most of the time he is dry. I pray every night that these children with SPD will grow into adult hood being able to function and be independent. My grandson is close to "normal" but he has issues that he appears odd to other children and adults. Good luck and God Bless!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to SPD And Potty Training

8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?

Comments for 8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?

Comments for
8 year old with SPD has trouble with DAYTIME wetting...........any suggestions?