Enuresis: special classes and regular classes

Bed-wetting has plagued many of our children for generations. Answers to this particular problem seem elusive and far from clear. Kanner indicates that perhaps there is a predisposition to this condition due to hereditary factors. Fishbein suggests there can be organic causation involving lack of sphincter control. Spock states that there is possibly a psychological basis. Perhaps it might well be safely stated that the elusive cause may be a combination of these factors. This would appear in essence to be side stepping the real issue of the problem if the latter statement were accepted. Can there be an either-or basis in this case? Even though the authorities quoted in the foregoing statements suggest a combination of factors, they appear to have definite leanings. This study is concerned with parental reaction to the problem of enuresis and also compares children who were enuretic with others who were non-enuretic. Those subjects compared came from special classes composed of the educable mentally retarded, educationally handicapped, physically handicapped, mentally gifted minors, and a random sample group drawn from each of the twelve schools within the Merced city school district during the 1968-1969 school year.