Toilet training children with learning difficulties: what the literature tells us

Nurses and health visitors are the professional group most likely to be involved in advising and supporting parents of children with disabilities (Bliss and Watson, 1992). Little research has been done into assessing and treating urinary continence difficulties of children with learning difficulties and many questions remain unanswered: what is the extent of the problem; what specific intervention do children with learning difficulties require to attain toileting skills; what expectation can the parent and clinician have that children with learning difficulties can be toilet trained and who is best placed to promote toileting skills? The main findings from the literature will support health and education professionals and carers who are involved in toilet training children with learning difficulties.