Disabilities That Affect Potty Training
Potty training is formidable task that most parents find difficult. To parents of children with physical or mental disabilities, toilet training is yet another challenge in a long list of milestones that require much patience and persistence. The method used for potty training and the age that a child might be ready for it is dependent on a number of factors, which include the kind of disability in question and its severity.
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Down Syndrome
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Down syndrome affects approximately 1 in every 800 babies born and is a condition in which an extra chromosome is responsible for both physical and mental delays. Children with Down syndrome develop at their own pace, therefore it is hard to predict when they might be ready for potty training. However, many parents wait until their children are as old as 4 or 5 before they begin the process. Many children with Down syndrome have poor muscle tone, cognitive delays and sensory issues, which can complicate the learning process.
Cerebral Palsy
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Cerebral palsy has several causes, including maternal infection during pregnancy. One common sign of cerebral palsy is lack of muscle coordination. The severity can range from slight difficulty walking to complete inability to control movement. Children with cerebral palsy present a challenge to potty train because in addition to not being able to control the way they move their bodies, they require more physical support than other children.
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Autism
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Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by lack of communication and social skills. Children who have autism are tough to engage, and sometimes resistant to changes in routine. Potty training presents a challenge to parents of these children because sensory issues may prevent them from recognizing the urge to go to the bathroom, or communicating it.
Potty Training Children with Disabilities
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When potty training a child with special needs, it is important to focus on the small achievements and celebrations rather than dwell on accidents and failures. No particular method will work for every child, and parents may need to try several different ones before one is successful.
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