Abstract General Information

Title

IMPAIRED TOILET TRAINING AND INCONTINENCE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER

Introduction and objective

An association between developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and the occurrence of impaired toilet training, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and functional bowel problems are regularly observed in clinical practice. However, scientific evidence regarding this association is scarce.

Method

Current results are part of a larger study investigating the impact of DCD on the child and its family. Parents of children aged 4 to 18 years with movement difficulties consistent with DCD were invited to complete an extensive online survey inquiring five domains: diagnostic trajectories, education, socio-emotional development, activities and participation, and therapy and intervention. The results concerning toilet training and incontinence will be presented.

Results

Data was collected from 491 children of which 80% had a confirmed diagnosis of DCD. The mean age of the children was 10.4 years, and three out of four participants were male. Around 60% had one or more co-occurring conditions, with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder being the most common. In 48% of the children, parents reported difficulties during toilet training including a longer training period and more relapse in comparison to peers and siblings. Parents related this to difficulties with bladder awareness, getting to the toilet timely and wiping of the buttocks, often accompanied with stool retention behaviour. No significant difference was seen in amount of children experiencing difficulties during toilet training when comparing children with and without co-occurring conditions. At five years of age, 28 % of the children exhibited daytime urinary incontinence and almost 40 % of the children still had enuresis. Stool problems after the age of four years old was present in 24 % of the children.

Conclusion

Impaired toilet training and incontinence problems frequently occur in children with DCD. More studies are required to investigate the cause and scope of these problems. Clinicians should be aware of these problems in children with DCD.