Toilet Training for Adults

Adult incontinence is a life-altering and distressing condition. Some individuals are hesitant to seek help due to the embarrassing nature of the problem. However, toilet training and other treatments are available, and people experiencing this problem should seek medical advice.

Statistics

According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, an estimated 5.5 million Americans suffer from fecal incontinence. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that 10 percent to 40 percent of women have experienced urinary incontinence at some point in their lives, and approximately 2 percent of adults suffer from chronic nocturnal incontinence--adult bed-wetting 12.

Urinary Incontinence

According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, three types of urinary incontinence exist: stress, urge and overflow incontinence 12. Stress incontinence is involuntary urine output when pressure is placed on the abdomen, such as when a person coughs. Urge incontinence is experienced when the urge to urinate cannot be voluntarily controlled, and overflow incontinence is the constant dribbling of small amounts of urine. According to Mayo Clinic urologist Erik Castle, M.D., some reasons for these conditions include:

• urinary tract infections or stones
  
• cancers of the bladder or prostrate
  
• obstructive sleep apnea
  
• diabetes,
  
• in rare cases
  
• neurological disorders 1

Fecal Incontinence

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that fecal incontinence most commonly affects women and older adults, but it is not a normal part of the aging process. According to the Mayo Clinic, fecal incontinence can be caused by a number of conditions including muscle damage to the anal sphincter, nerve damage, rectal cancer, or loss of accommodation--muscle damage to the rectum affecting its ability to stretch 1. Hemorrhoids can also result in fecal incontinence if they interfere with the complete closure of the anal sphincter. Incontinence is also associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. When the condition progresses to a certain point, a patient can "forget" the toilet training learned in early childhood and incontinence occurs.

Bladder Retraining

According to WebMD, bladder retraining focuses on a schedule for voiding, and individuals are encouraged to resist the urge to urinate until the scheduled time. After a certain level of success is achieved, the amount of time between scheduled trips to the toilet is increased. The National Institutes of Health state that continence restoration can be achieved by increasing the strength of sphincter muscles through exercises.

Bowel Retraining

Toilet training for adults experiencing fecal incontinence is a somewhat more daunting task, as this is normally the result of damage to various rectal muscles. The National Institutes of Health state that kegal exercises can be very helpful to promote bowel training. Setting a specific time for visiting the toilet can be helpful for those suffering from fecal incontinence, and according to Healthcentral.com, the best time for this is 20 to 40 minutes after a meal. Biofeedback has also been shown to be helpful for this disorder. For fecal incontinence caused by severe muscle damage, toilet training is not helpful and surgery may be required.