Pediatric bladder control

What are the treatment options for pediatric bladder control?

Modification of voiding habits

This treatment is the most common treatment recommended initially and is effective in the majority of children. Typically this involves urinating on a schedule, attempting to urinate again after finishing (called double voiding), modifications of posture during voiding, and taking time in the bathroom.

Treatment for constipation or stool retention

This is recommended at the same time as modification of voiding habits. Because constipation or stool retention is such a common cause of voiding dysfunction, we want to ensure that it is adequately treated. Therefore, we recommend dietary changes and stool softeners to ensure your child has one to two daily soft bowel movements.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a treatment for pediatric dysfunctional voiding that helps improve urinary incontinence and pelvic floor muscle tone. The term “biofeedback” describes a treatment process that uses computer animation to measure, record and display information directly from the patient’s body.

Using a computer program that is like a game, your child will learn how to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles on command so he or she can relax during urination. Biofeedback sessions are completed with a specially trained nurse.

Medication

If needed, medication can help children control the symptoms of their overactive bladder while they work on voiding habits. We use medications occasionally to treat children with refractory wetting or frequency due to overactive bladder. The goal is not to have the child on medication for the rest of their life, but to control the symptoms while they are working on voiding habits and/or constipation.

If your child has other developmental or physical delays, we will provide coordinated care and referrals to other specialists, such as gastroenterology and nephrology.