autistic 12yrs old boy with potty issuse

[Hinds102]

My son is 12yrs old. High functioning autistic child, he has been potty trained since he was 5yrs old. We had trouble with him holding his BM and he continually would have accidents in his pants even wetting accidents. We went to a GI doctor and got a grip on the BM problem but we are still dealing with the holding of his urine and not wanting to stop and go. I have tried every reward system that would encourage him but that falls by the waste side when he doesn’t want it any more. I have taken away his favorite items that he plays with. I have used timers from every hour to every two hours still he won’t stop and go. There’s the key though he won’t stop to go and he doesn’t seem to mind that he smells like urine. I take away the items that hold his attention to the point he wont stop i.e.; computer, TV and game stations. He is left with only his toys which after a couple days of that and staying dry he is back to holding it again. I am at a loss I just don’t know what else to try. Should I just give everything back to him stop timers and rewards and just ignore the whole thing and hope it goes away. Any suggestion or ideas will be very comforting at this point. Thank you in advance for helping.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

I'm assuming that he's been checked out medically and that all is well from that perspective. On the behavior management front, I'd make a little adjustment. Figure out the thing he most likes. Let's say it's a video game. Have him earn it on a day by day basis. He would earn it by staying dry for the day. Or, alternatively, he could earn a certain amount of time playing the game for each half-day he remains dry. So each day stands by itself, and every morning when he wakes up he has a new opportunity to earn the game (or whatever you decide the incentive will be).

[Hinds102]

Thanks so much for your imput, I have not tried the half day and work up to a full day slowly. I will try this out. We are on our last week of school and I am hoping to get a handle on this soon so that I dont have to spend the summer in turmoil worried if he will stay dry or not.
Terri