Impaired toilet training and bladder and bowel dysfunction in children with developmental coordination disorder - an underreported issue.

Mathilde Joos; Lo&#xef;c D'Haene; Lynn Bar-On; Amy De Roubaix; Christine Van den Broeck; Ellen Vandamme; Bieke Samijn

doi:10.1016/j.jpurol.2026.105937

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Impaired toilet training and bladder and bowel dysfunction in children with developmental coordination disorder - an underreported issue.

Mathilde Joos·Loïc D'Haene·Lynn Bar-On·Amy De Roubaix·Christine Van den Broeck·Ellen Vandamme·Bieke Samijn

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Abstract

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) face significant, yet often overlooked, challenges beyond motor impairments, including difficulties with toilet training and bladder and bowel dysfunctions (BBD). This study aims to explore whether children with DCD exhibit greater difficulties in these areas compared to typically developing children (TDC). METHOD: This cross-sectional case-control study included 84 children aged 5-8 years (42 DCD, 42 TDC), matched by school-grade and sex (33 boys and 9 girls per group). Parents completed the Vancouver Symptom Score for Dysfunctional Elimination Syndrome (VSSDES) to assess BBD symptoms, the Dutch DCD-questionnaire (DCD-Q) to evaluate motor coordination, and additional questions regarding toilet training, elimination diagnosis, and co-occurring conditions. Correlations and exploratory group differences were analysed. RESULTS: Parents of children with DCD reported significantly more toilet training difficulties than parents of controls (p < 0.001), including persistent accidents (47.6% vs. 9.5%), prolonged training (45.2% vs. 4.8%), and difficulties recognizing urination urgency (40.5% vs. 2.4%). The parental report of delayed attainment of bowel and bladder control (p < 0.05) and BBD rates (p < 0.001) was also significantly higher in children with DCD. Exploratory analyses indicated that the prevalence of these outcomes was not significantly different between children with DCD with and without co-occurring ADHD or autism, suggesting a possible primary association with DCD. Additionally, across both children with DCD and TDC, poorer motor skills were associated with more BBD symptoms (r = -0.474, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Children with DCD have a higher prevalence of toilet training difficulties and BBD compared to TDC, potentially affecting their psychosocial well-being. Greater awareness is crucial for timely and targeted care. Notably, the study's design, directly comparing children diagnosed with DCD to matched TDC, provides new insights into the prevalence of elimination difficulties in this population.

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Humans Male Female Child Motor Skills Disorders Cross-Sectional Studies Toilet Training Child, Preschool Case-Control Studies Surveys and Questionnaires Elimination Disorders Bladder control Bowel control Children Developmental coordination disorder Incontinence Neurodevelopmental disorders Journal Article

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Mathilde Joos, Loïc D'Haene, Lynn Bar-On, Amy De Roubaix, Christine Van den Broeck, Ellen Vandamme, Bieke Samijn. 2026-04-09. Impaired toilet training and bladder and bowel dysfunction in children with developmental coordination disorder - an underreported issue.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2026.105937

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Journal Article resource Case-Control Studies subject Child subject Child, Preschool subject Children subject Cross-Sectional Studies subject Female subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Male subject

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