My 12 year old child urinates in unusual places

[jj16242]

My son who is 12 has urinated in unusual places throughout the years.  It stopped for awhile but he is back to it.  The trash can, an empty laundry basket and most recently the top of my washer machine.  I am at my wits end.  He is a very sneaky child waiting for us to fall asleep to then sneaking downstairs to get on the computer or do what ever he seems fit to do.  I am at my wits end and am unsure of how to handle this anymore.  Could there be a simple explaination for this or something more involved?  When asked why; he just shrugs his shoulders and says he doesn't know.  Any help or advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.

[RabbitMan73]

Aspergers Syndrome perhaps?  Not to jump to conclusions, but children and adults with Aspergers tend to exhibit such socially unacceptable behavior such as relieving themselves in the most strangest of places because in their minds, they just don't register that it's socially unacceptable.  Trying to discipline them will only agitate them and cause them to continue such behavior out of spite.

[jj16242]

Thank you very much for getting back to me.  I have already set him up with an appointment with a behaviorial specialist to try to get to the underlying causes.  Thank you again for your prompt insight.  

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

He probably does not know why he behaves in this fashion. As adults, we often expect that children are aware of the 'motives' underlying their behavior, but they often have no such awareness. Set a firm limit on the behavior - i.e., urinating is to occur in the bathroom and nowhere else. Let him know there will be a consequence (e.g., loss of computer or video games for a 24-hour period) if there is any recurrence. If there is, seek an evaluation with a mental health clinicvian.