A pilot investigation of an iOS-based app for toilet training children with autism spectrum disorder.
An iPhone potty alarm is parent-friendly but gives the same end results as classic behavioral training.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers built an iPhone app for toilet training kids with autism. A small sensor in the underwear sends a wet signal to the phone. The phone then beeps so the child and parent know to run to the bathroom.
Families got a short manual and used the app at home. The team compared this tech group to parents doing standard potty training without the alarm.
What they found
Both groups reached the same potty success rate. The alarm kids learned the steps a little faster each day. Parents in the alarm group spent less time on training chores.
How this fits with other research
Libero et al. (2016) looked at twelve older studies and said urine alarms help kids with developmental delays stay dry. Their review gives a thumbs-up to the same tool Mruzek et al. (2019) now pack inside an iPhone.
Mahoney et al. (1971) first showed that a simple buzzer tied to pants-wetting can teach typical and delayed kids to use the toilet. The new app swaps the 1971 buzzer for a Bluetooth beep, but the idea is identical.
Higgins et al. (2021), Fallea et al. (2025), and Miller et al. (2020) all ran tiny tech trials for autistic kids. Each study found the new tool doable and slightly helpful, matching the modest gains seen here.
Why it matters
You now have proof that an iPhone alarm is doable for parents of autistic kids. Do not expect magic dryness scores; use it only if you want to shave a few minutes off daily practice. Pair the alarm with scheduled sits and praise, just like the 1971 study did.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
We developed an iOS-based app with a transmitter/disposable sensor and corresponding manualized intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. The app signaled the onset of urination, time-stamped accidents for analysis, reminded parents to reinforce intervals of continence, provided a visual outlet for parents to communicate reinforcement, and afforded opportunity for timely feedback from clinicians. We compared this intervention with an intervention that uses standard behavioral treatment in a pilot randomized controlled trial of 33 children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3-6 years with urinary incontinence. Parents in both groups received initial training and four booster consultations over 3 months. Results support the feasibility of parent-mediated toilet training studies (e.g., 84% retention rate, 92% fidelity of parent-implemented intervention). Parents used the app and related technology with few difficulties or malfunctions. There were no statistically significant group differences for rate of urine accidents, toilet usage, or satisfaction at close of intervention or 3-month follow-up; however, the alarm group trended toward greater rate of skill acquisition with significantly less day-to-day intervention. Further development of alarm and related technology and future comparative studies with a greater number of participants are warranted.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2019 · doi:10.1177/1362361317741741