Executive Function Disorder
What is Executive Function Disorder (Executive Dysfunction) ?
Executive function disorder is a problem with the brain functions that impairs a person’s ability to analyze, plan, organize, schedule, and complete tasks.
When executive function isn’t working as it should, your behaviour is less controlled and can affect your ability to live a fulfilling and engaging life. As a result, this can impact your ability to work or go to school, do things independently, and maintain relationships.
Types of Executive Function
Executive Function can be divided into two groups:
- Organization: Gathering information and structuring it for evaluation
- Regulation: Taking stock of your surroundings and changing behaviour in response to it
For example, seeing a piece of chocolate cake cake on a dessert cart at a restaurant may be tempting. That’s where executive function can step in. The organizational part reminds you that the slice is likely to have hundreds of calories. Regulation tells you that eating the cake conflicts with goals you may have, like eating less sugar or losing weight.
Although some people may be born with weak executive function, individuals with ADHD, Depression, or other Learning Disabilities will often have problems with these skills. In fact, many ADHD symptoms are problems with executive function.
Signs of Executive Function Disorders:
Warning signs that a child may have problems with executive function include problems with:
- Planning projects
- Estimating how much time a project will take to complete
- Telling stories (verbally or in writing)
- Memorizing
- Starting activities or tasks
- Shifting plans when situations change
- Focusing only on one task
- Shutting down when parents or peers don’t act as expected
How Can Therapy Help?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), used in combination with medication to treat any coexisting conditions like ADHD, is very effective at treating executive dysfunction including problems with inhibition, emotion regulation, time management, and planning in adults.
Although CBT is sometimes less effective with children, if your child has ADHD you can explore ADHD treatment options such as ADHD Coaching or a holistic and non-medicinal approach like the Safe and Sound Protocol.
For more information, or to see if therapy might be a good fit, please contact us.
