Sometimes, after a brain
injury, a child or young person may act without thinking about the possible consequences of their actions or the effects of their behaviour. This is
called impulsive behaviour.
While it is challenging to manage, it is important to remember that often your child will not be aware that their
behaviour is impulsive. There are general ways to help manage
impulsive behaviour and, if needed, a clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist can
develop individual strategies for each individual child.
What is
impulsivity?
Children with a brain injury may be more impulsive than they were before their
injury. This is because they can have difficulty controlling and
checking their behaviour. An impulsive child acts quickly on an
urge without considering the consequences of their
actions.
Examples of impulsive
behaviour
- not looking for traffic
before crossing the street
- reaching up to get a toy
near the hot stove
- trouble waiting and
taking turns
- using a sharp knife to
cut fingernails
- rushing into an activity,
making lots of mistakes
- starting another task
before finishing the first
- lashing out physically or
verbally without thinking of the consequences
- making inappropriate
comments
Ways to help a child with
impulsive behaviour
Impulsivity is challenging
to manage as the child's urge to act is sudden and strong. It is
important to remember that often your child is not aware that their
behaviour is impulsive.
- Try to reduce situations
that may put your child in danger. For example, provide supervision
when crossing roads and don't leave dangerous tools around the
house.
- Your child's ability to
plan their actions does not come naturally. Break tasks down into a
set of steps (say them or write them down) and use check-lists to
help them with planning. This can help reduce the chance of
impulsive behaviour.
- Give verbal or visual
prompts (e.g. 'stop, think, do') as a reminder to think before
acting.
- Talk with your child
about the steps involved in a task. During the task, it may be helpful for you and your child to say the steps out loud.
- After a task, discuss the
successes as well as the mistakes. This approach can help children
to respond better when faced with similar situations at a later
stage.
- Establish clear rules and
make sure your child understands the rules, the consequences of
breaking them, and also the rewards for sticking to
them.
- Provide clear feedback
and help them recognise the consequences of their actions on
themselves and others.
- Try to be positive and
calm and not respond in anger.
When to see a doctor?
If impulsive behaviour is
happening often and is affecting your child's safety, it may be
helpful to get a referral to a clinical psychologist. The clinical
psychologist can develop individual ways to modify and cope with
your child's impulsivity. A program usually involves ways to
develop alternative responses as well as consequences for problem
behaviours.
Key points to
remember
- Impulsive actions are those made without
taking into account possible problems or thinking about possible
consequences.
- Children with a brain injury may
be more impulsive than they were before their injury because they
can have difficulty controlling and checking their
behaviour.
- If impulsive behaviour is happening often
and is affecting your child's safety, referral to a clinical psychologist
may be helpful.
For more
information
Developed by The Royal Children's
Hospital Paediatric Rehabilitation Service based on information from the Brain
Injury Service at Westmead Children’s Hospital. We acknowledge the input of RCH
consumers and carers.
Reviewed September 2020.
Kids Health Info is supported by
The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation. To donate, visit www.rchfoundation.org.au.