Times have changed a lot in the past several decades. We’re now, as a society, more aware of mental health issues and how they can affect people. But just because we *know* about mental health issues doesn’t mean we fully understand them.
That is especially true with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Most people – not only educators, but the average individual – now have at least a general, basic understanding of what ADHD is: a neuro-developmental disorder that makes it difficult for people to focus, stay on task, and sometimes control their energy.
But ADHD is *much* more than that.
We talk about this often on the blog. We talk about how ADHD can cause daydreaming, especially in young women with ADHD. We talk about how it can cause people to ask a lot of questions in a way that seems aloof. We talk about how those with ADHD are more prone to watching the same movies over and over.
There are many ways that ADHD can touch a person’s life, and even if you know generically about ADHD, you may not necessarily have an understanding of all of the different ways that this disorder can change and affect a person’s behavior.
One thing that many people do not know about hose with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is that they also typically have another challenge, known as “executive function disorder” or “executive dysfunction.” Nearly all children, teens, and even adults have executive function disorder, yet it’s frequently not discussed outside of mental health circles.
Yet it might be the most important thing for a parent of a child with ADHD to understand. Let’s talk about what it is, why it’s so important, and how to help your child, teen, or yourself through it.
Who We Are
We are ADHD Training Center, an ADHD coaching service that supports those of all ages (and their parents and loved ones) build the skills they need to understand and address both ADHD and executive function. Our team has a combined decades of experience supporting people with ADHD, and is made up of individuals with a wide variety of backgrounds, including therapists and counselors.
If you need support for yourself or a loved one with ADHD, please reach out to our team, today.
What is Executive Function Disorder?
There are specific cognitive abilities that a person generally needs in order to regulate thoughts/emotions, achieve goals, perform tasks, and function in today’s neurotypical world. We call these “executive functions.” They include, but are not limited to:
- Time Management
- Cognitive Flexibility
- Emotional Regulation
- Working Memory
- Planning and Organization
- Inhibition
- Flexible Thinking
- Self-Regulation
Within these executive functions are both minor and major examples of the roles that these play in a person’s life. For neurotypical individuals, these are so “normal” that they do not even know that they’re working behind the scenes.
The best way to understand executive functions is to understand what it’s like to be without them – to be someone with executive function disorder.
A person with executive function disorder does not, for example, have the ability for “time management.” But this isn’t just “the ability to manage their time.” It is also – as an example – the ability to sense the passing of time accurately. Neurotypical individuals can typically tell when an hour or so has passed. Someone with executive function may have “time blindness,” and not have the ability to conceive whether 5 minutes have passed or 5 hours. They may also not have the ability to conceptualize how much time is needed to complete a task, so they may wait until the final hour for a project to be due for a project that takes the average person 3 days to complete.
Those with working memory issues may not just struggle to stay on task. They may also suffer from literal memory loss, as their brains struggle to process what they’ve been doing and how they’ve spent the day. Someone with poor cognitive flexibility may have a hard time thinking deeply about challenging thoughts or beliefs.
These are all examples of the ways that executive dysfunction can disrupt a person’s life. It’s also important to remember that these are not in someone’s control. You cannot yell at them in a way that will improve their ability to plan and organize. You cannot punish their way into better time management.
For those that love someone with executive function disorder, you have to imagine that your reality and their reality is different, and adjust how you help them accordingly.
Executive Function Disorder Importance and Approach
Executive dysfunction is also not something a person grows out of over time. They may still have the condition into adulthood. But, through the right approaches, a person with executive function disorder may be able to develop skills to help them navigate these.
It is for these reasons that executive function disorder may be a more important focus when it comes to lifelong skills than the ADHD itself. Each individual is different, and we will talk to each person to see what they need the most help with, but – especially for those with family members that have ADHD, or those with ADHD themselves – understanding executive function disorder can go a long way towards understanding why someone does what they does and how they see the world.
If you or someone you love has ADHD or executive dysfunction, please reach out to ADHD Training Center today to learn more about our coaching and classes.