Impulsivity

In children with ADHD we often observe sudden, intense and rushed reactions. This kind of uncontrolled reaction can often bring the child or anyone around them into dangerous situations. The behavior of children with ADHD may be described as erratic, rash, not considering the consequences. Children with ADHD aren’t capable of controlling or suppressing their actions. During directed activities their impulsivity manifests itself in an inability to listen to the full instructions as tasks are being set and instead reacting only to a subset. There is also a noticeable decrease in the ability to delay wish fulfillment. These children are unable to “wait their turn,” and try to force the fulfillment of their current needs through inappropriate behavior (for instance a child may try to gain a teacher’s attention by misbehaving).