Bedwetting At Age 8
by Amy
(North Pole, Alaska)
My SPD son successfully potty trained during the day (both pee and poop) at age 3. However he is almost 8 and still wearing Pull-Ups at night. We've tried DDAVP and I have an alarm on order to help wake him to the sensation but he's becoming increasingly embarrassed about it. He wakes up with a full Pull-Up almost every morning and leaks onto his waterproof pad a couple times a week.
Advice?
I understand your concern for your son, and especially his self esteem. If you have not had him evaluated by a Urologist, you might want to rule out any underlying physical problems. There are a couple thoughts I have on this. You said he was potty trained during they day, but never has been at night. Hmm, that is not so uncommon with our SPD kids, to achieve a level of control while
they are awake and alert. He may be having more subtle signals of sensation than you realize, or even he realizes since the kids do not know how strong the sensations of having to urinate or move their bowels can be for the rest of us.
Once he is sleeping, if these signals or sensations are mild or subtle, he may not wake when he feels it.
There are a couple strategies that may help him right now. An hour before bedtime give him the last drink of the evening. Make sure he uses the restroom before he goes to sleep. Then about midnight, or right before you go to bed, gently walk him into the bathroom and encourage him to try again. That should completely empty his bladder for the night and he should wake dry. I know this would not be easy for you, but it can become routine, and help his emotional well being, knowing he is waking up dry. If you can do this, there may be no need for the Pull-Ups.
To work on the awareness of sensations, as this is an Interoceptive sense (regulation), you may want to get him back into, if he is not currently attending, Sensory Integrative OT, to work on regulation deficits. Listening Therapy through Vital Sounds has at least three CD's that have helped many SPD children with this issue. If you are unfamiliar with this type of therapeutic intervention, you can read more about it at:
www.SPDParentSHARE.com/All-About-SPD.htmResuming a brushing protocol for a period of time, as recommended by his therapist may also address this remaining deficit in regulation. Please know that this can and does get better, when we address this issue.
