Toilet training is indeed challenging for a lot of children with autism. There are a several approaches to teaching children to independently use the toilet. Of course, not all kids will respond to the same technique. A technique that is considered helpful for a certain child may not be useful for others.
Here are several techniques that have helped a lot of parents who has a child with autism:
Some children form an attachment to their diapers and refuse to switch to underwear. The good news is, it’s possible for you to help them ease out of diapers step by step. You may start by having your child wear underwear underneath the diaper. This will help them get familiar with the idea of wearing underwear.
It’s also okay if you provide them with the option of wearing diaper over his underwear. As soon as they are comfortable with the feel of having underwear on, you may gradually cut small parts of the diaper until such time that he is no longer wearing it. You may also use pull-ups as a good transition for your child. It will also help them develop the skill of pulling pants up and down.
If your child is afraid of sitting in the toilet, you can help him overcome this by helping him become familiar with it without really making them use it. One way of doing this is by having him sit on the toilet fully clothed. If he is still uncomfortable, let your kid sit on your lap on the toilet. Knowing that you are there will make them feel more secure, and this will help your child relax. You can also have him observe the procedure using his favorite toy. This will make your child realize that nothing bad will happen if they sit on the toilet, and eventually his feeling of unease will pass.
There are a number of children who find flushing the toilet mysterious. They may be thinking along these lines – Why is it so noisy, where does the water go and how does it come back? Setting up a pattern to flushing will help minimize the fear of the act. You may use a sche00004000dule as an indication when it’s time to flush, or use a verbal cue, such as “Ok, ready, set, flush, all done!” If this doesn’t work, let them wait at a distance while you flush. Then encourage your child to gradually get closer to the toilet.
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Let’s start at the beginning with discussing what is Autism?
Autism is a disorder of the brain and one in every two and a half thousand children are born with it. Children who are Autistic will show signs of being withdrawn from their environment and will have problems communicating. Often it is confused with Asperger’s Syndrome and, although similar in many ways, they are two different diagnoses.
Signs of Autism can be displayed in a child as young as twelve months and it is usually prominent by the age of three. Autism is also called spectrum disorder or autistic spectrum disorder, and statistics show more males than females have been diagnosed with the neurological abnormality. Often, a child can seem very normal until up to three years of age, then suddenly they begin to change as their speech and social development is impaired. They will exhibit strange behavior and movements, have trouble communicating, some even become deaf and mute and will not like being held. Some will move compulsively and prefer to occupy themselves rather than play with toys or people. Every case is individual, so each child has a different combination of symptoms.
With communication being so difficult for those with spectrum disorder, it is common for their IQ to be below average. About a quarter of these cases excel in certain areas like math, art or music and their IQs are well above average. It is much harder to diagnose Autism in adults from any physical symptoms, but they have problems with understanding other’s feelings, forming friendships, recognizing fear and behaving appropriately in social situations. Often, they will be self-destructive in their habits and are unable to understand the consequences of their actions.
Asperger’s Syndrome is a mild form of Autism, with most of the symptoms being the same. Where Autism is clearly diagnosed by about age three, Asperger’s onset is usually much later. Children with Asperger’s will prefer isolation, exhibit eccentricities, will have strange inflections in their way of speaking, can be uncoordinated and clumsy and single minded in their interests.
High functioning autism is where a person has been diagnosed with the disorder but is still able to continue with a relatively unaffected life. Asperger’s disorder is considered milder than this type of Autism, so they can usually maintain a fairly uninterrupted existence. Someone with Asperger’s may not be viewed any differently in society, but with Autism, they will be noticeably unique in their movements and speech and can have more trouble learning. This means they can experience more difficulty fitting in and possibly even discrimination.
There is no cure for Autism or Asperger’s and no way to return their normal functions and abilities. However, much progress is always being made in ways to manage the disorders. Speech therapy, special diets, music therapy, sensory integration, art therapy, behavior modification and auditory training are all ways to assist in handling Autism so they can lead a life as close to normal as is possible. Since it is specific to the individual, treatments are tailored to each case. Some may need drug therapy for hyperactivity disorders or anger control.
Having a child with Autism can be very stressful and taxing on the family, so strategies for coping will be needed for all who are involved. Autistic children need extra at00004000tention and endless supplies of love and understanding. They never truly mature like most of us, but they will have a better chance of being independent if they receive the required training and support therapies.
Jon is a computer engineer who maintains many websites to pass along his knowledge, experience, information, and findings. You can read more about Autism, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, and Asbergers Syndrome at his web site at http://www.autism-explained.com/
A Biomedical Autism Intervention Doctor Explains:
The issue of sulfur sensitivity (mistakenly referred to as sulfur allergy) to medications or nutritional products that contain sulfur amino acids or other sulfur or sulfate supplements is a confusing topic. Let’s tackle the ’sulfur allergy’ question first. Sulfur is a natural element in the earth’s crust, and is found as element 16 on the periodic table of elements. It is found as a crystalline yellow solid in nature, and is referred to as brimstone. As pure sulfur or complexed with minerals it has a wide variety of roles in the natural world. In the human body it makes up the sulfur component of methionine and cysteine – two critical amino acids in the methylation cycle.
The methylation cycle is very important for brain chemical production, immune support, attention and focusing, higher cognitive function and cellular detoxification. An allergy to sulfur is not really possible as it is an integral component of our body. When people use the word sulfur allergy – in medicine this generally indicate a particular allergy to sulfa drugs such as Septra and Bactrim – and in these drugs the specific chemical called sulfamethoxazole is the culprit.
What happens is when these drugs are ingested the chemical constituents break-down and interact with endogenous (self) proteins which can trigger allergic sensitization. People with ’sulfa’ allergies can have cross-reactivity to other drugs such as certain diuretics, diabetes medications and anti-inflammatory medications such as Celebrex.
If a known allergy has been determined to sulfamethoxazole this doesn’t mean an individual would have reactions to sulfur or sulfate containing supplements such as taurine, epsom salt, n-acetyl-cysteine, or even drugs like DMPS or DMSA (two sulfur containing medications commonly used for heavy metal detoxification therapy). However, in the case of DMSA or DMPS a test dose (using a small amount from a capsule) in the mouth to see if an adverse reaction of inflammation in the gums occurs is not a bad idea prior to using one of these medications long-term. In rare cases some people will show an adverse reaction.
Sulfites are preservatives found in certain foods, beverages or medications. Some people can have sensitivity reactions to sulfites that lead to itching, rash or respiratory distress. Approximately 1% of the general population in the United States has a sulfite sensitivity while the rate in asthmatics is higher – upwards of 10%.
Don’t let ANYONE tell you there is nothing you can do to help your child. Autism really is treatable! Start your child down the road to recovery from autism. Biomedical Autism treatments and therapies have resulted in many, many children improving – even losing their autism-spectrum disorder diagnosis. For more information and a free ebook on biomedical autism treatment go to http://www.AutismActionPlan.org
Dr. Kurt Woeller is an autism biomedical specialist, with a private practice in Southern California for over 10 years. He has helped children recover from autism, ADD, ADHD, and other disorders, and has the information you need to help your child. Get his ebook, “7 Facts You Need To Know About Autism (But Probably Weren’t Told)” You can download it right now for free at http://www.AutismActionPlan.org
