Hi Kerry, a number of studies have shown an increased risk of nocturnal enuresis among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder with approximately 11% of children aged between 10 and 14 years experiencing the condition. Many of these children will outgrow bedwetting on their own however some will benefit from a more structured behavioural training program as is achieved through bedwetting conditioning alarms. Nighttime wetting typically happens when children are asleep and are not in conscious control over their bladder. While incentives like sticker charts and presents work well during the day, they are largely ineffective at night due to the lack of conscious control. I often say to parents that it is a little like being offered $500 to stop snoring – now no matter how much you want the money, you will continue to snore at night, the only way to stop yourself would be to stay awake, which is not particularly helpful to anyone. You could certainly look into introducing an alarm, however it would be important that you speak with a continence advisor first. Conditioning alarms work by helping your son learn to recognise the need to pass urine and either wake-up and go to the toilet or learn to hold on until morning. They come in two main forms. One is a body alarm with a small sensor that can be worn inside his DryNites. The second type of alarm is a bell and pad alarm that is placed like a mat over the bottom bed sheet of his bed. It may take a few weeks until he begins to respond to the alarm and can take up to 3 months to achieve continence. With respect to his DryNites, it is not unusual for absorbant pants to leak at night due to improper fit (which happens if they are too big or too small), you could certainly look into using absorbant products that are designed for adults, these are usually available in large supermarkets or chemists (it would also be worthwhile searching online to see if you can save costs by purchasing in bulk). All the best!

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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