Could I have ADHD or Executive Functioning Issues?
Do you struggle to plan, manage time, set goals, or complete tasks? Have you felt that you’ve been wrongfully labeled as “lazy,” or, “impulsive,” when you’ve really been trying your hardest? If so, your challenges may be stemming from Executive Functioning (EF) issues. The parts of the brain responsible for EF are slowest to develop, and many kids and adults struggle from impaired EF skills.
Think your challenges could be from ADHD or Executive Functioning issues? Here are 7 questions to consider:
1. What does EF impact?
The first step in questioning whether you have EF challenges is to understand what EF skills affect. EF skills impact your:
Attention & memory
Initiation
Planning & time management
Managing behaviors and emotions
Organization
Flexible thinking
Reading social cues
2. Right… but what does that look like?
EF issues can manifest in many different ways throughout life. Here are a few examples of what EF issues sometimes look like in adults and children:
Taking action without thinking it through
KIDS: Not delaying screen time until chores are done
ADULTS: Accepting a social invitation, even though it means bailing on an important appointment
Difficulties with non-verbal working memory
KIDS: Trouble creating outlines and study guides in school
ADULTS: Not planning adequate time to travel from home to pick the kids up
Struggling to self-talk and track progress toward goals
KIDS: Playing games on their calculator during a test, not considering how it will impact their grade
ADULTS: Repeatedly hitting the snooze button without considering the time it takes to get ready, resulting in being late
Planning & problem solving
KIDS: Staying stuck on a difficult test question, rather than finishing the rest of the test and coming back to it
ADULTS: Having a great project idea at work, but struggling to execute the details, resulting in missed deadlines
Emotional regulation: Inhibiting strong emotions for your own well-being
KIDS: Name-calling or pushing another student who bothers them
ADULTS: Yelling at a server for the chef overcooking their steak
3. Are other issues at play?
Everyone with ADHD has EF impairments, but not everyone with EF impairments has ADHD. Other conditions can affect EF performance, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, slow processing speed, anxiety. Diagnostic testing is a critical first step in determining what is causing your challenges so you can pursue effective treatments.
4. How can I manage EF challenges?
While EF challenges can disrupt many areas of life, there are steps you can take to limit their impact:
Set a structured schedule
Break down large tasks and goals into smaller segments
Engage in supportive self-talk
Practice mindfulness
Use technology to your advantage (note-taking apps, digital planners, etc.)
Talk to teachers or employers about your challenges and needs
Need help learning how to discuss EF issues with work or school? Schedule your consultation below to learn how we can help.
5. Are there ways to boost EF skills?
Just like your quads or biceps, your brain is a muscle that can be strengthened with the right efforts. Beef up your EF skills by making puzzles and brainteasers a regular hobby (i.e. - Scrabble, Words with Friends, Pictionary, Chess, Mancala, or Sudoku). Fortify your mental health with proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and regular exercise.
6. What accommodations are there?
If you have a child with an EF impairment, they can benefit from accommodations in school through an IEP or 504 Plan. Accommodations may include:
Color coded materials
Strategic seating
Directions read and explained
Detailed outlines
Behavior plans
Daily check-ins & positive reinforcement
Similar strategies can be helpful for adults in college or the workplace. Our Doctors can provide diagnostic testing or Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) to recommend the best supports for you or your child’s needs.
7. Can Diagnostic Testing help?
Without support, EF challenges can hold a person back from achieving their academic, career, or relationship goals. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Our Doctors can evaluate you or your loved one for EF issues and provide effective strategies to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
Schedule your consultation below to learn how our diagnostic services can support you and your family.
So you know you need help, but aren’t sure how to find the right help?
Picking a therapist or type of therapy can be confusing, and “trial and error” with the wrong therapist can cause many families to feel overwhelmed and give up on seeking help.
If a loved one has a learning difference or other condition that impacts their mental health and education, you may feel lost in determining the best ways to support them.
Our Diagnosticians can provide psychological testing to remove the
guess-work and guide your family on the best path toward mental health, emotional wellness, and academic success.
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More about Variations Psychology
Variations Psychology is a group practice specializing in diagnostic testing to identify psychological conditions.
Our comprehensive evaluations test for conditions that impact mental health and development such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, learning disorders, and developmental delays.
In addition to diagnostic services, we offer Independent Educational Evaluations (IEEs) of K-12 students to assess needs for accommodations in school and determine their appropriate placements. IEEs provide an objective second opinion on existing IEP and 504 Plans.
For K-12 and post-secondary students, we offer evaluations to assess needs for accommodations on standardized tests, college entrance exams (e.g. - SAT, ACT, AP Exams), and graduate and professional licensing exams (e.g. - MCAT, LSAT, GRE, CBEST, NCLEX, GMAT, CA Cosmetology Exam,
CA Contractors State Licensing Exam, CA Bar Exam).
Variations Psychology is located in Newport Beach, CA and provides psychological testing to residents throughout Orange County and its surrounding areas including Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Irvine, Shady Canyon, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Coto de Caza, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Yorba Linda, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Pelican Hill, Crystal Cove, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, Lake Forest, Huntington Beach, Sunset Beach, Seal Beach, and more.
References:
Barkley, R. (2010). ADHD & Executive Function. Retrieved from https://childmind.org/article/adhd-and-executive-function/
Shinn, M. M. (2018). Find Your Focus: ADHD. Variations Psychology. (Powerpoint)
Understanding Executive Functioning Issues (2019). Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/understanding-executive-functioning-issues
Signs of Executive Functioning Issues at Different Ages (n.d.). Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/signs-symptoms/could-your-child-have/executive-function-disorder-symptoms
How I Explain the Relationship Between ADHD and Executive Functioning. (2019). Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/community-events/blogs/expert-corner/2016/05/11/the-new-thinking-about-adhd-and-executive-functioning
The Difference Between ADHD & Executive Functioning Issues (n.d.). Understood.org. Retrieved from https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/difference-between-executive-functioning-issues-and-adhd
What’s Executive Function and Why Does it Matter? (2019). George Lucas Educational Foundation. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/video/whats-executive-function-and-why-does-it-matter
Shinn. M.M. (2019). 10 Tips for Talking Back and Keeping Safe from Bullies. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/10-tricks-for-talking-back-and-keeping-safe-from-bullies
Shinn. M.M. (2018). Accommodations for College Entrance Exams: What Parents Need to Know. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/does-my-child-need-accommodations-for-the-sat-act
Shinn. M.M. (2018). ADHD or Just Kids Being Kids? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/adhd-or-just-kids-being-kids
Shinn. M.M. (2019). How Can I Boost My Self-Esteem? 10 Tips to Be Your Most Confident You. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/how-can-i-boost-my-self-esteem-10-tips-to-be-your-most-confident-you
Shinn. M.M. (2019). How Can My Family Master Mindfulness? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/how-can-my-family-master-mindfulness
Shinn. M.M. (2018). How to Stop Anxiety in its Tracks. Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/how-to-stop-anxiety-in-its-tracks
Shinn. M.M. (2018). I Can’t Spell Dyslexia – Do I Have It? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/i-cant-spell-dyslexia-do-i-have-it
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Independent Educational Evaluations. Variations Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/educational-placement-assessments-dr-shinn
Shinn. M.M. (2019). My Kid Struggles with Writing - How Can I Help? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/my-kid-struggles-with-writing-how-can-i-help
Shinn. M.M. (2018). Should I Get My Kid Tested? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/schools-out-should-i-get-my-kid-tested
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Why is My Kid Struggling So Much with Math? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/why-is-my-kid-struggling-so-much-with-math
How to Cite This Blog Article:
Shinn. M.M. (2019). Could I Have ADHD or Executive Functioning Issues? Psychologically Speaking. [Variations Psychology blog post]. Retrieved from https://www.variationspsychology.com/blogs/could-i-have-adhd-or-executive-functioning-issues