bathroom problems with my son who has ASD

[babe1634]

My son is 11 yrs old he will not go to bathroon for #2. I like how is this something that is asp Disorder charateristics.
He told me does not going on and sitting there. but he always smears it on the walls too. I made him clean it up. I like to understand him so I can help him. Please help me understand him.iI found about his asd at the age 8 yrs.old. School let him sit in it all day and I told about but will not change him until say something. And does not talk you.

[maggie338]

I'm going thru something similar.    Read my post about my 9 year old who won't go.  My son will go but then he goes through months of doing it in his underwear and then hiding the underwear somewhere in his room.  I have been so frustrated wtih this.  Last sumer he ended up in ER in pain because he was so constipated.  He started Karate last September and is doing awesome.  He can do leadership right now - training to be a leader - but I let him know he needs to be a good leader all the time.  I think because of that he's really trying.  Would your son be interested in Karate??  Might help!   Sometimes I wonder if they get so busy they don't pay attention to when they have the urge.  Also, I wonder if they lose the feeling that tells them they have to go.

[SueNYC]

Toilet problems have little to do with ASD per say.  My daughter hates to go - and though she has never has an accident at school - she has leaked a bit at home.  Usually kids do that because it is uncomfortable for them to go.  You can use mineral oil or senokot until they are going regularly.  Took my kid 6 month to get it right - and we have had occasional relapses.  Pack extra underwear and tell him to change if he has an accident at school.  But I can tell you, the school at going to clean an older child's rear for them - that opens them to all sorts of liabilities.

[Sally44]

I agree with maggie, as I have heard a number of autistic people (eg. Donna Williams) and aspergers people say they have problems recognising 'internal' urges.  Sometimes they cannot tell that they need to go to the loo, sometimes they feel like they need the toilet all the time.  There can also be problems understanding when they are thirsty or hungry.  This type of thing is a sensory processing problem.  This is just one aspect and there could be other reasons behind it.  I know one of the first questions I was asked by the clinical paediatrician was 'does your son smear faeces on the wall/himself etc).  So it must be a common thing.  I did give my 7 year old some shoe polish to clean his shoes with and that ended up all over my walls!
Have you been back to the paediatrican (one with expertise in Aspergers) to get some advice.  
Is your son at a special school?  I don't think they should be letting him sit in it all day.  I think they should at least ask him the question (at regular intervals) of whether he needs to use the toilet or change himself, especially if he tends to get totally absorbed in something and not recognise he needs the toilet or ignore the urge until it is too late.  Afterall other children will be able to smell him and that could lead to teasing.