SLPCase SeriesJournal of autism and developmental disorders2021

Classroom Based Intensive Toilet Training for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Rachel R Cagliani, Sara Kathryn Snyder, Emily N White

PMID 33506373

WHAT IT FOUND

Four children with autism and severe communication delays became continent during school hours using a multi-component toilet training package.

Three required intensive intervention including scheduled sits and reinforcement; the fourth became continent simply when diapers were removed.

Key findings

01Three participants achieved mastery criteria for toilet training after receiving a multi-component intervention package.

02One participant achieved continence during baseline solely due to the removal of diapers, before intensive training began.

03Self-initiation of toilet trips improved for three participants but remained inconsistent and did not maintain for all.

STILL TO COME

How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs

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What it does not show

The study included only four participants, so results cannot be generalized to the broader population. The intervention package contained multiple components (sitting schedules, reinforcement, fluids, initiation training), making it impossible to determine which specific element caused the improvement. Bowel movements were not directly targeted or taught; they were treated as accidents if they occurred off-toilet. Follow-up was limited due to the pandemic, so long-term maintenance in home or community settings is unknown. The study was conducted in a classroom with high staff ratios (at least five staff present), which may not be feasible in typical school or home settings.

The easy way to misread this

Do not assume the intensive multi-component package is necessary for all children. One participant became continent simply when his diaper was removed during baseline, suggesting that for some, the barrier is the diaper itself rather than a lack of training.

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