My son is 5, ADHD and we still struggle with potty training, HELP! It's been two years!

10/12/09

Cyd

Topics:Parenting , Behavioral Strategies , Children With ADHD

WE have had success with medication. His speech is delayed about 1 1/2 years but he's doing well with therapy. My biggest concern is potty training. He still "soils" himself 2-3 times a week. He also will often wait until the last possible minute to go to the bathroom and then ends up wetting himself. I've read and trying just about everything. We've been working at it for 2 years and still he is struggling and so am I, trying to figure it out to do!! HELP!! Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Answers (3)

Friday, October 16, 2009

Eileen Bailey

Cyd

Thank you for your question and welcome to ADHDCentral.com.

Difficulty with potty training is not normally a symptom of ADHD, however, I have spoken to other parents that have indicated a similar problem. Usually, this will correct itself in time, however, that may not be much help to you right now.

I have read a few good articles on this:

Encopresis

Five-Year-Old Soiling His Pants 10 Times a Day

I hope this helps

Eileen

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Saturday, October 24, 2009

BDFDGirl

I am new to this site and experiencing problems with my son as well. We had problems with him using the bathroom as well and what we did for a while was keep cheerios over the toilet ( we have cabinet up there.) Made a huge game out of letting him "move" the cheerio around the toilet with his urine. There is no easy fix for everyone but maybe this is something to help. As far as bowel mvts go, it was as if he couldn't even sit long enough to go, so finally we just cut out the pull ups all together and after about 2-3 weeks of pooping himself daily something just clicked and he finally would go. We went from NEVER pooping in the potty to suddenly a light went off and he would finally go. I hope this helps. We also have a significant speech delay as well. My son will be starting medication tomorrow after 6 months of therapy with some improvement and also some regression episodes. :( I will try to post more on my story later but I hope this helps!!!

Thank you for your input
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re: My son is 5, ADHD and we still struggle with potty training, HELP! It's been two years!
Cyd
Saturday, October 24, 2009 at 02:56 PM

Thanks for the advice! IT sounds as if our situations are similar. We did much the same thing you did but we haven't tryed the Cheerios yet. As far as the meds and speech therapy go.....Once we had the meds on board his speech is just now starting to take a quick turn in the positive direction. He talks up a blue streak now and he LOVES his therapist. It was, for us as if the meds slowed his brain down so he could finally put everything he'd been taking in together. Hopefully you will have some positive results soon too!! Best of Luck to your family. It's a challenge but hang on to those great moments, it those times that make all the rest worth it!! :)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

tntpoling

My son is 9 and I have dealt with issues also of speech delay and also had trouble with potty training. I know all kids learn and work differently, but the reward process worked well for me. Every time he would go to the potty we had a chart and first he got to put up a sticker and then I would give him a small reward / treat (usually a favorite food or activity) that he really liked. After he would earn so many stickers then he got an even bigger reward (sometimes a small toy, sometimes a trip out to his favorite restaraunt). He loved earning the rewards and it was very effective.

Good luck!!