One of the three main symptoms of ADHD is impulsivity. ADHD children often appear to "act without thinking", which can sometimes get them in trouble...

According to the DSM-IV (the most commonly used diagnostic criteria for ADHD), diagnostic criteria for impulsivity includes:

• often blurts out answers before questions have been compleated.
• often has difficulty awaiting turn.
• often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., at school or work and at home).

This "acting without thinking" can often result in the child engaging in dangerous activities without considering the outcome.

All children generally display some level of impulsivity. Children with ADHD, however, consistantly exhibit developmentally inappropriate levels of impulsivity - constant and across settings (home, school, clinicians office,...).

Impulsivity is one of the three main symptoms of ADHD, the other two are: hyperactivity and inattention.