A Case Study Evaluation of a Transfer-of-Stimulus Control Toilet Training Procedure for a Child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder

Abstract

This case study evaluated a transfer-of-stimulus control prompting procedure to promote in-toilet urinating by a 7-year-old girl with pervasive developmental disorder within a public school program. Before training, the girl displayed frequent urinary incontinence and never urinated in the toilet. The prompting procedure consisted of her wearing a diaper, a stimulus associated with urinating, while sitting on the toilet. This arrangement was instituted for 2 weeks with moderate success, whereafter the girl independently sat on the toilet and urinated in the absence of the diaper. Subsequently, in-toilet urinating increased to 100% levels and urinary incontinence was eliminated. Self-initiated toileting requests also were associated with the training program. Results were maintained 1-month posttraining.