ADHD and Executive Functions
What Is The Difference Between ADHD and Executive Function Deficits?
Executive functioning refers to the cognitive and mental abilities that help people engage in goal-directed action. Executive functions direct actions, control behavior, and motivate us to achieve our goals and prepare for future events. Executive function skills are the skills that help us establish structures and strategies for managing projects and determine the actions required to move each project forward. People with executive dysfunction struggle to organize and regulate their behavior in ways that will help them accomplish their long-term goals. These executive function deficiencies include trouble with analyzing, planning, organizing, scheduling, and completing tasks at all, or on deadline.
The following six clusters of executive functions tend to be impaired in individuals with ADHD. Anyone who exhibits the classic symptoms of ADHD will have difficulty with all or most of these executive functions:
Activation: organizing tasks and materials, estimating time, getting started
Focus: finding, sustaining, and shifting attention as needed
Effort: regulating alertness, sustaining motivation and processing speed
Emotion: managing frustration and modulating feelings
Memory: using working memory and accessing recall
Action: monitoring and regulating physical activity
These executive functions make the following skills possible:
Adaptable thinking or flexibility- ability to adopt when something changes or shifts; problem solving when new information is obtained
Self-control or self-monitoring- ability of a person to understand how they are doing at a task.
Planning- ability to understand how to plan out the execution of a set of tasks and prioritize between tasks.
Time management- ability to understand accurately how long something will take to properly plan and execute.
Organization- ability to create methods and systems to stay tidy and have things put away where they can be found easily.
Working Memory- ability to hold things in your mind. How well you can picture things mentally. An inability to remember directions even after having had them explained numerous times.
Focus or Attention- ability to maintain sustained focus on a person or project and shifting to the next project when needed.
Task Initiation- ability to initiate a task that is assigned without coaxing or another adult present.
Emotional Regulation- ability of a person to react appropriately to positive or negative feedback or instructions.
Task Management- ability to understand the micro-steps and timing of a bigger project and how to manage those steps in an order.
Meta-Cognition- ability to understand how one learns best to apply it to acquire more information.
Goal Directed Perseverance- ability to stick to the task at hand and not give up when faced with a challenge.
What is Executive Dysfunction?
Executive dysfunction is a term used to describe the range of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional difficulties which often occur as a result of another disorder or a traumatic brain injury. Individuals with executive dysfunction struggle with planning, problem-solving, organization, and time management.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is an official diagnosis that according to the diagnosing and statistical manual, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is “persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development”.
In order for a person to be diagnosed with ADHD, the following conditions must be met, along with a set of symptoms related to the specific type of ADHD:
Several symptoms were present before age 12 years.
Several symptoms are present in two or more setting.
There is clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, school, or work functioning.
The symptoms do not happen only during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder. The symptoms are not better explained by another mental disorder.
There are three subtypes of ADHD, each defined by their own set of criteria including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Hyperactive Type, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Inattentive Type and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Combined Type.
The Difference Between ADHD and Executive Function Deficits
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is brain-based disorder, that it is present from childhood and persists throughout lifetime. ADHD and executive functions are tightly linked, but are not the same. People diagnosed with ADHD exhibit deficits in executive functioning. We all have executive functioning strengths and challenges that affect the attention, learning, work, and relationships. However, for those with ADHD, executive function challenges are more severe and more numerous than for those without it.
ADHD is an official diagnosis. Executive functioning issues is not. It’s a term that refers to weaknesses in the brain’s self-management system. Although problems with executive function are often termed as Executive Function Disorder, it is not, in fact, a defined mental disorder. Instead, the “disorder” is actually a deficit in one’s ability to manage and execute daily tasks.
Individuals with ADHD often have significant difficulty with executive function. It is natural, therefore, to combine the two and look at them as one disorder. However, executive function deficits may be present without ADHD. As an example, a person with a learning challenge might have an executive function deficit, but they might not have ADHD.
Is the difference important? If you have a diagnosis of ADHD, it may not be very important. The behavioral interventions will likely be similar. However, if you do not have ADHD, but you struggle with executive function deficits, this is an extremely important to know the difference.
While there is no quick fix in dealing with ADHD, we can help you improve your life with a thorough ADHD diagnosis, individualized treatment plan, and ongoing support that includes coaching and psychotherapy.
Here at the Thriving Wellness Center we are ADHD specialists that perform thorough and accurate ADHD Evaluations, Testing for ADHD in New York, New Jersey, and virtually. We also help you manage any coexisting conditions like depression and anxiety.
Please contact us to see how we can help you improve your life.