Impulsivity and Overactivity in Lowe Syndrome
Research has shown that around half of individuals with Lowe Syndrome showed hyperactive or inattentive behaviour.
Common hyperactive behaviours shown by individuals with Lowe Syndrome include difficulty sustaining attention, difficulty remaining quiet or seated, being easily distracted, engaging in activities with no awareness of potential danger and excessive talking.
Excessive talking indicates a desire for social interaction in individuals with Lowe Syndrome.
Causes and Links to Other Behaviours
Hyperactivity and impulsivity have been suggested to be related to behaviours that challenge, such as temper outbursts, aggression and self-injury, and these behaviours may be underpinned by difficulties in controlling behaviour. Research has also indicated that individuals with intellectual disability with higher impulsivity and overactivity are more likely to show repetitive behaviours.
Download: Burbidge et al. (2010)- Original Research Article.
Overactivity, impulsivity and repetitive behaviours often occur together, and it has been argued that this may indicate general behavioural dysregulation. It has been suggested that a common underlying cognitive impairment (a difference in how the brain functions) may explain these characteristics; this is a promising theory, but needs more research to be confirmed. To read more about this theory in children with developmental delay download the following papers:
Richards et al., 2012.
Richards et al., 2017.
Davies and Oliver, 2016.