Effective Behavior Modification for Reducing Chronic Soiling

Historically, nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting) and daytime bowel and bladder accidents have been treated by quite different behavior modification procedures. Although buzzer-alarm systems have been phenomenally successful in the treatment of enuresis,1-3 the traditional bed-wetting apparatus is quite bulky and is not suitable for treatment of daytime accidents. By developing a small portable version of the traditional buzzer-alarm system, the authors were able to get a 7-year-old boy to eliminate at the appropriate time and place, and by use of praise and other reinforcers, were able to effectively reduce his severe and chronic soiling.