Executive dysfunction definition
What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment
Overview
Executive dysfunction can affect many parts of your life, including work, social interactions and more.What is executive dysfunction?
Executive dysfunction is a behavioral symptom that disrupts a person’s ability to manage their own thoughts, emotions and actions. It’s most common with certain mental health conditions, especially addictions, behavioral disorders, brain development disorders and mood disorders.
What are executive functions?
To better understand what executive dysfunction is, it helps to know more about executive functions. The main executive functions are:
- Working memory.
- Cognitive flexibility.
- Inhibition control.
Working memory
Working memory is the kind of memory that involves whatever you’re doing right now. If you’re reading, taking notes or having a conversation, then your working memory is part of the process.
Cognitive flexibility
Also known as fluid or flexible thinking, this refers to how well your brain can shift and move from one topic to another. The more flexible your thinking, the better you can adapt to whatever is happening around you. This also helps you react to unexpected changes in your situation.
People who are better at flexible thinking are often very creative and imaginative. This ability lets them connect concepts and ideas that might not ordinarily seem linked, which also helps with creative problem-solving.
Inhibition control
Inhibition control is your ability to steer or manage your thoughts, emotions and actions. This is a huge part of executive function, and we’d be unable to control our impulses and thoughts without it. There are two main ways that inhibition control works:
- Behavioral control. This is your ability to keep yourself from doing things that you think you shouldn’t do. An example of this is staying silent around an extremely annoying person because you believe in the saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
- Interference control.
This is the ability to steer or manage your thoughts. It includes focusing on something that needs your attention and ignoring whatever doesn’t. Sometimes, the attention and focus are outside of your head. Sometimes, you have to apply interference control to your own thoughts, which might distract you from whatever needs your attention.
Higher-level executive functions
Working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control are the foundation of executive function. There are also higher-level processes that can happen, including:
- Planning. This is when you mentally map out a series of actions that’ll help you reach a goal.
- Reasoning. This is the ability to apply critical thinking. It’s a key way for you to build on your stored knowledge to think creatively or break down something complicated into easier-to-understand pieces.
- Problem-solving
. This function can involve all three main executive functions, as well as planning and reasoning.
This is how you apply what you know and how you think to overcome obstacles or problems that are in front of you.
What are some examples of executive dysfunction?
Because executive functions involve so many processes inside of your brain, executive dysfunction can take many forms. Some examples of executive dysfunction include:
- Being very distractible or having trouble focusing on just one thing.
- Focusing too much on just one thing.
- Daydreaming or “spacing out” when you should be paying attention (such as during a conversation, meeting, class, etc.).
- Trouble planning or carrying out a task because you can’t visualize the finished product or goal.
- Difficulty motivating yourself to start a task that seems difficult or uninteresting.
- Struggling to move from one task to another.
- Getting distracted or interrupted partway through a task, causing you to misplace items or lose your train of thought (like leaving your keys in the refrigerator because you wanted a snack, but your hands were full, so you put your keys down inside the refrigerator and forgot about them).
- Problems with impulse control, like snacking when you’re trying to manage your diet.
- Struggling with thinking before you talk, causing you to blurt out the first thing that pops in your head without considering that it might hurt someone’s feelings.
- Having trouble explaining your thought process clearly because you understand it in your head, but putting it into words for others feels overwhelming.
Care and Treatment
How is executive dysfunction treated?
In general, the treatments for conditions that cause executive dysfunction can vary based on the condition itself and a person’s circumstances, health history and preferences. Because a variety of options is available, your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what treatments are available and most likely to help you.
For the most part, mental health conditions that cause executive dysfunction are treatable, but this can vary from case to case.
Mental health conditions
When executive dysfunction happens because of a mental health condition, the goal is usually to treat the underlying condition causing it.
That’s because executive dysfunction is often just one of the many symptoms that happens along with these disorders.
By treating the underlying disorder, it’s often possible to reduce the impact of executive dysfunction. With treatment, the effects of executive dysfunction are often minimal or barely noticeable. The most common treatment methods for mental health conditions that cause executive dysfunction include:
- Medication. Medication(s) depends on the underlying condition. Potential medication types include stimulants (especially for ADHD), antidepressants and antipsychotics.
- Psychotherapy (mental health therapy). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common form of mental health therapy for conditions that cause executive dysfunction. It’s common for treatment to involve only therapy or in combination with medication treatment.
Brain damage and degenerative disease treatments
The treatments for executive dysfunction from brain damage or degenerative brain conditions can vary widely.
For some of these conditions, direct treatment or supportive care can help. For others, the underlying condition may improve on its own without treatment. Unfortunately, some of these conditions aren’t treatable. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what kind of treatments are available and what results you can expect.
What can I do at home to deal with executive dysfunction?
It’s not possible to self-diagnose and treat conditions that cause executive dysfunction on your own. Because of this, you should see your healthcare provider if you suspect you have symptoms of executive dysfunction. They can either offer you treatment recommendations, such as medication, or suggest providers who can help you with other treatment options.
Is executive dysfunction preventable?
Executive dysfunction isn’t preventable when it happens because of mental health conditions or degenerative brain diseases.
The only ways to prevent executive dysfunction involve avoiding brain injuries that can cause it.
Ways you can avoid this kind of damage include:
- Wear safety equipment. Head injuries can result in brain damage that cause executive dysfunction. Helmets, seat belts and other protective gear can help you avoid head injuries whether you’re at work or at play. Other types of safety equipment can also help you avoid exposure from toxic chemicals or other substances that can also cause brain damage.
- Don’t ignore infections. Eye and ear infections need fast treatment. If these infections spread to your brain, then they can become serious or even deadly. They can cause brain damage that leads to executive dysfunction.
- Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Many conditions related to your circulatory and heart health, especially stroke, can damage areas of your brain. Preventing — or at least delaying — stroke and similar conditions is a key way to reduce your risk of developing executive dysfunction.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause severe brain damage (including executive dysfunction) if it isn’t discovered and treated quickly.
When to Call the Doctor
When should a doctor or healthcare provider diagnose and treat executive dysfunction?
If you notice this symptom and it’s disrupting your life and usual activities, then you should talk to your healthcare provider. You should also talk to your child’s pediatrician if you notice they’re showing signs of executive dysfunction, especially the symptoms that overlap with ADHD or any other mental health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between executive dysfunction and procrastination?
Procrastination doesn’t happen because of an issue or problem with part of your brain. It’s a conscious choice to delay doing something.
When you have a condition that causes executive dysfunction, the parts of your brain that control self-motivation, planning and inhibition control don’t work as they would in a person without this condition.
That means it’s not something you can easily control, if you can control it at all. Because of this, executive dysfunction isn’t procrastination, laziness or simply not caring.
Is executive dysfunction a symptom of ADHD?
Yes, executive dysfunction is one of the key symptoms of ADHD. Research shows that the parts of the brain involving executive functions tend to be smaller, less developed or less active in people with ADHD. That’s why ADHD nearly always involves this symptom. It’s also a common feature among many conditions that affect people who are neurodivergent.
What does executive dysfunction feel like?
People who have executive dysfunction are often very — even painfully — aware of the dysfunction. How it feels can take different forms, depending on what people are doing when they experience it:
- When you’re trying to self-motivate to do a task. One way to describe it is like a vinyl record player that’s skipping over the same part of a song repeatedly.
You want to fix the problem and make it play correctly, but the record is stuck in the same pattern. - In social situations. A person who has executive dysfunction can often struggle when interacting with others. This can feel like your words getting ahead of your thoughts or tripping over what you want to say. This often makes people with executive dysfunction feel very anxious or worried in social situations.
- When trying to focus or concentrate. People with executive dysfunction can struggle to focus on something that needs their attention. They may find other sights, sounds and things happening around them extremely distracting to the point where concentrating is impossible.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Executive dysfunction is a symptom that experts are still researching and trying to better understand. What experts do know is that executive dysfunction disrupts some of the key functions of your brain that help you manage and control your thoughts, emotions and actions.
On the outside, a person with executive dysfunction might seem careless or indifferent, but many people who experience this are uncomfortably — even painfully — aware of their struggle.
If this is something you face, then talking to your healthcare provider can be the first step to managing or even overcoming this issue. A trained provider can offer suggestions and resources that can help you. If you have a loved one who struggles with executive dysfunction, then patience, listening, understanding and support can make a big difference. With the right support and treatment, many people can learn to manage this symptom and reduce the disruption it has on their lives.
What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment
Overview
Executive dysfunction can affect many parts of your life, including work, social interactions and more.What is executive dysfunction?
Executive dysfunction is a behavioral symptom that disrupts a person’s ability to manage their own thoughts, emotions and actions.
It’s most common with certain mental health conditions, especially addictions, behavioral disorders, brain development disorders and mood disorders.
What are executive functions?
To better understand what executive dysfunction is, it helps to know more about executive functions. The main executive functions are:
- Working memory.
- Cognitive flexibility.
- Inhibition control.
Working memory
Working memory is the kind of memory that involves whatever you’re doing right now. If you’re reading, taking notes or having a conversation, then your working memory is part of the process.
Cognitive flexibility
Also known as fluid or flexible thinking, this refers to how well your brain can shift and move from one topic to another. The more flexible your thinking, the better you can adapt to whatever is happening around you. This also helps you react to unexpected changes in your situation.
People who are better at flexible thinking are often very creative and imaginative.
This ability lets them connect concepts and ideas that might not ordinarily seem linked, which also helps with creative problem-solving.
Inhibition control
Inhibition control is your ability to steer or manage your thoughts, emotions and actions. This is a huge part of executive function, and we’d be unable to control our impulses and thoughts without it. There are two main ways that inhibition control works:
- Behavioral control. This is your ability to keep yourself from doing things that you think you shouldn’t do. An example of this is staying silent around an extremely annoying person because you believe in the saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”
- Interference control. This is the ability to steer or manage your thoughts. It includes focusing on something that needs your attention and ignoring whatever doesn’t. Sometimes, the attention and focus are outside of your head. Sometimes, you have to apply interference control to your own thoughts, which might distract you from whatever needs your attention.
Higher-level executive functions
Working memory, cognitive flexibility and inhibition control are the foundation of executive function. There are also higher-level processes that can happen, including:
- Planning. This is when you mentally map out a series of actions that’ll help you reach a goal.
- Reasoning. This is the ability to apply critical thinking. It’s a key way for you to build on your stored knowledge to think creatively or break down something complicated into easier-to-understand pieces.
- Problem-solving. This function can involve all three main executive functions, as well as planning and reasoning. This is how you apply what you know and how you think to overcome obstacles or problems that are in front of you.
What are some examples of executive dysfunction?
Because executive functions involve so many processes inside of your brain, executive dysfunction can take many forms.
Some examples of executive dysfunction include:
- Being very distractible or having trouble focusing on just one thing.
- Focusing too much on just one thing.
- Daydreaming or “spacing out” when you should be paying attention (such as during a conversation, meeting, class, etc.).
- Trouble planning or carrying out a task because you can’t visualize the finished product or goal.
- Difficulty motivating yourself to start a task that seems difficult or uninteresting.
- Struggling to move from one task to another.
- Getting distracted or interrupted partway through a task, causing you to misplace items or lose your train of thought (like leaving your keys in the refrigerator because you wanted a snack, but your hands were full, so you put your keys down inside the refrigerator and forgot about them).
- Problems with impulse control, like snacking when you’re trying to manage your diet.
- Struggling with thinking before you talk, causing you to blurt out the first thing that pops in your head without considering that it might hurt someone’s feelings.
- Having trouble explaining your thought process clearly because you understand it in your head, but putting it into words for others feels overwhelming.
Care and Treatment
How is executive dysfunction treated?
In general, the treatments for conditions that cause executive dysfunction can vary based on the condition itself and a person’s circumstances, health history and preferences. Because a variety of options is available, your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what treatments are available and most likely to help you.
For the most part, mental health conditions that cause executive dysfunction are treatable, but this can vary from case to case.
Mental health conditions
When executive dysfunction happens because of a mental health condition, the goal is usually to treat the underlying condition causing it. That’s because executive dysfunction is often just one of the many symptoms that happens along with these disorders.
By treating the underlying disorder, it’s often possible to reduce the impact of executive dysfunction. With treatment, the effects of executive dysfunction are often minimal or barely noticeable. The most common treatment methods for mental health conditions that cause executive dysfunction include:
- Medication. Medication(s) depends on the underlying condition. Potential medication types include stimulants (especially for ADHD), antidepressants and antipsychotics.
- Psychotherapy (mental health therapy). Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common form of mental health therapy for conditions that cause executive dysfunction. It’s common for treatment to involve only therapy or in combination with medication treatment.
Brain damage and degenerative disease treatments
The treatments for executive dysfunction from brain damage or degenerative brain conditions can vary widely. For some of these conditions, direct treatment or supportive care can help.
For others, the underlying condition may improve on its own without treatment. Unfortunately, some of these conditions aren’t treatable. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you what kind of treatments are available and what results you can expect.
What can I do at home to deal with executive dysfunction?
It’s not possible to self-diagnose and treat conditions that cause executive dysfunction on your own. Because of this, you should see your healthcare provider if you suspect you have symptoms of executive dysfunction. They can either offer you treatment recommendations, such as medication, or suggest providers who can help you with other treatment options.
Is executive dysfunction preventable?
Executive dysfunction isn’t preventable when it happens because of mental health conditions or degenerative brain diseases.
The only ways to prevent executive dysfunction involve avoiding brain injuries that can cause it. Ways you can avoid this kind of damage include:
- Wear safety equipment.
Head injuries can result in brain damage that cause executive dysfunction. Helmets, seat belts and other protective gear can help you avoid head injuries whether you’re at work or at play. Other types of safety equipment can also help you avoid exposure from toxic chemicals or other substances that can also cause brain damage. - Don’t ignore infections. Eye and ear infections need fast treatment. If these infections spread to your brain, then they can become serious or even deadly. They can cause brain damage that leads to executive dysfunction.
- Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Many conditions related to your circulatory and heart health, especially stroke, can damage areas of your brain. Preventing — or at least delaying — stroke and similar conditions is a key way to reduce your risk of developing executive dysfunction.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors in your home.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can cause severe brain damage (including executive dysfunction) if it isn’t discovered and treated quickly.
When to Call the Doctor
When should a doctor or healthcare provider diagnose and treat executive dysfunction?
If you notice this symptom and it’s disrupting your life and usual activities, then you should talk to your healthcare provider. You should also talk to your child’s pediatrician if you notice they’re showing signs of executive dysfunction, especially the symptoms that overlap with ADHD or any other mental health conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between executive dysfunction and procrastination?
Procrastination doesn’t happen because of an issue or problem with part of your brain. It’s a conscious choice to delay doing something.
When you have a condition that causes executive dysfunction, the parts of your brain that control self-motivation, planning and inhibition control don’t work as they would in a person without this condition.
That means it’s not something you can easily control, if you can control it at all. Because of this, executive dysfunction isn’t procrastination, laziness or simply not caring.
Is executive dysfunction a symptom of ADHD?
Yes, executive dysfunction is one of the key symptoms of ADHD. Research shows that the parts of the brain involving executive functions tend to be smaller, less developed or less active in people with ADHD. That’s why ADHD nearly always involves this symptom. It’s also a common feature among many conditions that affect people who are neurodivergent.
What does executive dysfunction feel like?
People who have executive dysfunction are often very — even painfully — aware of the dysfunction. How it feels can take different forms, depending on what people are doing when they experience it:
- When you’re trying to self-motivate to do a task. One way to describe it is like a vinyl record player that’s skipping over the same part of a song repeatedly.
You want to fix the problem and make it play correctly, but the record is stuck in the same pattern. - In social situations. A person who has executive dysfunction can often struggle when interacting with others. This can feel like your words getting ahead of your thoughts or tripping over what you want to say. This often makes people with executive dysfunction feel very anxious or worried in social situations.
- When trying to focus or concentrate. People with executive dysfunction can struggle to focus on something that needs their attention. They may find other sights, sounds and things happening around them extremely distracting to the point where concentrating is impossible.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Executive dysfunction is a symptom that experts are still researching and trying to better understand. What experts do know is that executive dysfunction disrupts some of the key functions of your brain that help you manage and control your thoughts, emotions and actions.
On the outside, a person with executive dysfunction might seem careless or indifferent, but many people who experience this are uncomfortably — even painfully — aware of their struggle.
If this is something you face, then talking to your healthcare provider can be the first step to managing or even overcoming this issue. A trained provider can offer suggestions and resources that can help you. If you have a loved one who struggles with executive dysfunction, then patience, listening, understanding and support can make a big difference. With the right support and treatment, many people can learn to manage this symptom and reduce the disruption it has on their lives.
Autistic self-help №4. Executive Dysfunction: Domestic Chaos
Together with Diana, an autistic psychologist and foundation author, we are releasing autistic self-help , a column that autistic authors write for autistic readers. In previous articles, we discussed what to do if you suspect autism in yourself or loved ones, and also talked about sensory overload, myths around psychiatry and alexithymia.
What is executive dysfunction?
Autistic psychologists Diana and Mila, artist Yulia and writer Nastya are talking. Illustrations by Sergey Tisnek, student of the Anton is Right Here Foundation.
Executive dysfunction
Sometimes it is more difficult for autistic people to perform tasks familiar to many: cleaning, washing dishes, planning the day, and others. This is not due to laziness, but to a violation of the effectiveness of executive functions. Working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility are the 3 main elements of executive functions.
Working memory is the ability to keep information in mind and work with it. Inhibitory control is the ability to control impulses and behavior, resist temptation, and resist spontaneous response. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt to change.
Together they help us plan, focus and multitask. If there are difficulties with them, then we can talk about executive dysfunction - its severity also varies.
Even in one person, it can manifest itself more strongly if the brain experiences overload.
“ Me and my daughter are autistic. We both have difficulty with daily activities that require a certain sequence of actions. This is especially noticeable in a state of fatigue, tension or strong emotions » .
Mila, autistic psychologist
It is important to remember that executive dysfunction is not laziness or lack of motivation. It's just another job of the brain. When you are focused on work or reading an interesting book, you may not notice what is happening around you. Here is the same situation. With this dysfunction, the brain has difficulty trying to chase two birds with one stone and quickly switch between different tasks. Often, it is not easy for others to understand why a person can do something uber-complicated without any special effort, and with such “simple” things as washing dishes, he has difficulties.
« It's a shame to admit that everyday affairs are in complete chaos, but sometimes dirty dishes stand for a week, or there is so much dust on the floor that it gathers in balls. Sometimes I follow this, but then I get distracted by something (study, work) and that's it - a terrible mess at home. I forget to take things out of the washer and find them there after a couple of days » .
Julia, autistic artist
From the outside, it may seem that an autistic person simply does not want to clean up or prefers chaos reigned in the house, but in reality it is simply very difficult for us to see that the environment is already quite dirty. I can’t see that it’s time to clean up the table until I specifically switch my attention to it. Well, or until the next attempt to fit something on the table, the objects do not fall on the floor.
“ I don’t notice the mess and generally forget about this aspect of life, and then bam, and there is nothing, all the dishes are dirty, and I don’t understand how this happened at all ” .
Julia, autistic artist
Essential Brief:
Working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility are the 3 main elements of executive functions. When problems arise with them, we can talk about executive dysfunction.Executive dysfunction is not laziness or lack of motivation. It's just another job of the brain.
Features of thinking
Neurotypical people take it for granted that they can do things with ease and without thinking. However, for an autistic person, all these processes look a little different.
If a typical person can do the cleaning in half an hour, then I need to spend 6 hours on it. This is because the autistic person needs a more detailed internal monologue (or other mental image) in order to focus and get things done from start to finish. I will go to every thing on the table and think about what to do with it and where to put it. And it is always quite difficult to explain this moment to others.
Everyone in response objects that they also think about it and do not understand what is such a difference. And the difference is that they look at the pencil and think: “Oh, the pencil, I need to put it in the pencil!”
And my thought process looks like this: “So, this is a pencil. Why is it here and is it still needed? To do this, you need to remember what I did to them. Have I finished that job? Yes, it means that it is no longer needed and you can remove it. So where did I get it from? From a pencil. How does she look? Like a blue glass. And where he? On the other side of the table. So, now it will be necessary to take a pencil, go to another part of the table, put the pencil in the blue pencil box. And so you need to do with each item. That's why, by the way, I don't really like inviting guests. Before they arrive, it is customary to clean up, which means I need to spend a lot of time preparing.
The duration of daily activities is one of the big problems of executive dysfunction.
Sometimes such a duration can be at the expense of something else. Here, a certain everyday thing comes to the fore, diverting attention from all other activities. Often, autistic people can clean for several days in a row, which also surprises neurotypical people for some reason. Sometimes, for example, it is difficult to know when to stop. When can a plate be considered clean? And when is the kitchen already completely cleaned? Starting to dust off the bookshelf, I go into such detail that after half an hour you can find myself wiping every pencil I have with a damp cloth.
« Cleaning is a lengthy process, it can take all day or three days. At the same time, I forget about everything else and just clean up, plan everything, buy cleaning products and methodically clean everything » .
Julia, autistic artist
The worst thing you can do: start reproaching a person with executive dysfunction for laziness and indifference.
Quite often, autistic people themselves make such reproaches to themselves. However, this is fundamentally wrong. Because a lazy person does not want to do something , but a person with executive dysfunction cannot.
IMPORTANT BRIEFS:
In order to focus and get things done from start to finish, an autistic person needs a more detailed internal monologue.The duration of daily activities is one of the big problems of executive dysfunction.
A lazy person does not want to do something, but a person with executive dysfunction cannot.
Self-help tip #8: Detailed plan
As we discussed above, autistic people require much more specific instructions. So from now on, the glider is your new best friend.
« Helps me to go through or mentally imagine upcoming actions, what I will do for what; then dictate to yourself the steps in the process, marking each step taken.
This helps a lot to keep the rhythm and not fall into a stupor » .
Mila, autistic psychologist
Agree, the planned "wash the kitchen" is very abstract. To really do something, it is necessary to prescribe a clear course of action. In our case, "wash the kitchen" includes several consecutive items:
- wash dishes;
- wash the sink;
- wipe dust;
- put away on the table;
- wipe the table.
And now each item must be explained to yourself in more detail. For example, to wipe dust, you need to understand what tools you will need (rag and water) and what surfaces you will need to wipe (stove, shelves). It is necessary to imagine a clear sequence of actions, for example, take a rag from the battery, wet it in the sink, go to the stove, wipe the stove from the top, front, side, go to the sink, wash the rag and put it back on the battery.
As you guessed, there will be many points in such plans. It is not always necessary to prescribe everything right down to the smallest detail, but it will be great to work out some kind of sequence of necessary actions. And having something similar at hand, next time it will be easier for you to go through this list again. It remains to determine the regularity of such actions. For example, set yourself a reminder for Sunday every two weeks.
“It's easier for me if there is some kind of permanent plan. Here I am first dusting, then washing the floor, then my bathroom. If I do something in a different sequence, it's ... strange to me. In short, I always clean the same way, so there are no problems with this” .
Nastya, autistic writer
It is worth developing several plans for different situations. If you have a lot of time and you need to do a general cleaning, then here you need a big plan with cleaning many places. However, if a friend is going to visit you in the evening, then you need to have a trap plan for a mini-cleaning.
Without such a plan, I can start paying attention to the little things, like wiping every book in the kitchen with a damp cloth, and end up not doing something bigger and more noticeable, like cleaning the floor. For such cases, it is necessary to allocate a pool of the most significant things and stick to this plan, even if you notice that your books have also become dusty.
“The distribution of efforts helps me - before doing things, determine the necessary minimum and start from there, the rest depends on the situation. For example, going to the store. If there are a lot of people in the store and I’m covered, I buy according to the minimum list and leave, if everything is in order, according to the full list” .
Mila, autistic psychologist
I've talked a lot about cleaning here, because it's the easiest to explain, and because it's really a very big challenge for many autistic people. But in general, the same applies to some fees (for example, on a trip), hygiene procedures (do you even know what a complicated sequence is in taking a shower?) or cooking (thanks to the Internet with detailed instructions for cooking buckwheat).
When I get ready for work, I have a certain sequence of what I need to put in my bag with me.
Important Brief:
Autistic people require much more specific instructions.It is necessary to imagine a clear sequence of actions and prescribe it to yourself as a plan.
It is worth developing several plans for different situations.
Self-help tip #9: Organize your space
Different tasks require different plans. When I try to move from one area of activity to another (for example, after a break to go to work), I have difficulty understanding what I need to do and where to start.
In such cases, special spaces allocated for certain tasks help. For example, for work, I have a table with a work diary, calendar, stationery, and notes reminding me of what needs to be done. In the bathroom, I have personal care items laid out. They are arranged in a certain sequence, which helps you remember to do everything you need to do.
It is important to remove all foreign objects from such spaces so that they do not interfere with you.
We get a kind of spatial clue that reminds us what to do. Coming to such places, it becomes easier to switch and not be distracted by other things. For example, when I sit down at the table, I understand that I need to work, and I can focus better. Of course, you must not forget to create space for relaxation.
It's hard for me to remember things in my house when I can't see them. Therefore, in spatial clues, everything is in front of the face. However, when there is no way to fit everything, I use stickers. In the evening, I put a sticker on my laptop with a reminder that I have some kind of food that I can have for breakfast. And on the working papers, the same stickers are pasted, on which it is written exactly what actions will need to be done with them.
Important in brief:
To switch between tasks, special spaces allocated for certain tasks help.
It is important to remove all foreign objects from such spaces, and the necessary objects can be arranged in a certain sequence, which will help you not to forget, to do everything you need.
It's also useful to use stickers to remind yourself of things you don't have at hand.
What is executive dysfunction | Lifestyle
✅Executive dysfunction refers to damage to the frontal lobes of the brain that interferes with cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes (which extend to many aspects of life).
Executive dysfunction - This term includes impairment of the frontal lobes of the brain that interferes with cognitive, emotional and behavioral processes (which extend to many aspects of life). The significance of executive functions can be understood in situations where the difficulties that have arisen prevent the most ordinary actions from being carried out and lead to a decline in cognitive (thinking) skills, a holistic personality and social behavior.
- What problems does executive dysfunction cause?
- Which part of the brain controls executive functions?
- What is executive dysfunction?
- What problems does executive dysfunction cause?
- Impact of executive dysfunction on daily life
- Assessment of executive dysfunction
- Rehabilitation of executive dysfunction
- Coping strategies after brain injury
- Executive dysfunction from a carer's point of view
Executive functioning is a universal term for many abilities, including:
- Planning and control
- Flexible thinking
- Monitoring
- Non -standard problems
- Self -sob
- Social behavior
- Decision making
- Motivation
- Activation of patterns of behavior
- Avoidance of inappropriate behavior
- Control of emotions
- Mindfulness and information processing ability
Most people take these abilities for granted, performing extremely difficult tasks most of their lives.
Let's consider the role of some executive functions in a "simple" activity, for example, let's take cooking:
- Motivation - the desire to cook delicious food and decide to do this process.
- Planning and control - the need to get all the ingredients, as well as thinking about the time to prepare a single dish at one time.
- Performance Tracking - checks the correctness of the cooking process (putting food while boiling water).
- Flexible Thinking - increase the temperature during fast cooking, or decrease it if the food requires slow cooking.
- Multitasking - doing laundry at the same time as cooking for a limited period of time.
These complex skills will require advanced brain functions.
Which part of the brain controls executive functions?
Executive functions (think of as the conductor of a brain band) are controlled by the frontal lobes of the brain, they are connected to many other areas of the brain, and also coordinate the activities of other parts.
Trauma to the frontal lobes is the most common cause of executive dysfunction. Sometimes, damage to other areas of the brain that are associated with the frontal lobes can also impair executive function.
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The frontal lobes cover most of the anterior region of the brain:
The frontal lobes can be damaged as a result of any form of traumatic brain injury, or other types of illness - stroke, tumor, encephalitis and meningitis. They are especially vulnerable to traumatic brain injury due to their proximity to the front of the brain and their large size. A blow to the back of the head can lead to injury to the frontal lobe, as the brain is shaken back and forth in the skull and the frontal lobes hit the bony protrusions above the eye sockets.
What is executive dysfunction?
The importance of executive functions is manifested in situations in which the difficulties that have arisen do not allow performing the most ordinary actions, and lead to a decline in cognitive (thinking) skills, a holistic personality and social behavior.
The most common symptoms of executive dysfunction:
Difficulties with behavior activation, control and implementation of activities
- Violation of the “get up and do” pattern
- Trouble planning and following the steps needed to complete a task
This can often be mistaken for "laziness" or a lack of motivation and energy.
Mental and physical obsession
Difficulties in evaluating the result of actions taken and reduced ability to change behavior or switch between tasks.
Difficulty in solving problems
- Difficulty in anticipating consequences
- Decreased ability to draw accurate conclusions or find solutions to problems if things do not go according to plan
Impulsivity most of the money earned in a short period) Mood disturbances Difficulty communicating with other people Difficulties with memory and attention You may hear different names for the symptoms listed above, usually referred to as executive dysfunction, many people use the term "dyskinetic syndrome" or just "frontal lobe problems". It is important to remember that not every patient with executive dysfunction experiences these problems. Symptoms can range from subtle and subtle behavioral abnormalities that only close friends and family members may notice. Often, people with frontal lobe problems find it difficult to explain the difficulties they face because they do not understand that their behavior is inappropriate. Their behavior may appear anti-social and may be misinterpreted as depression, lack of motivation, selfishness, or aggression leading to negative relationships with others. Problems with executive functioning can significantly affect the emotional life and lead to feelings of frustration, exhaustion, embarrassment and isolation. In the work environment, they are expressed in problems with multitasking tasks, organization and motivation of working time, inability to set priorities. It is important to remember that this behavior occurs as a result of traumatic brain injury and is by no means intentional. The initial evaluation of the functioning of the executive organs after a brain injury, usually performed by a clinical neuropsychologist. The score provides detailed information about a person's cognitive, emotional, and behavioral state. The obtained results can help in the formation of a rehabilitation strategy to solve current problems. During the evaluation, the neuropsychologist may ask a number of questions: Neuropsychological assessments include a range of different, standardized tests that are designed to measure various aspects of cognitive functioning. It is important to remember that scores indicate areas that need rehabilitation, so people do not need to worry about the functioning of individual abilities - they need to complete the assigned tasks as much as possible. Rehabilitation can be complex and will require an individual approach to treatment. The rehabilitation program for each patient will depend on the patient's goals, the nature of the outgoing difficulties, self-esteem, readiness for treatment, level of social support, and the presence of other problems such as mood disturbance. To improve a person's understanding of the problems that have arisen, it is necessary to inform him about the consequences of the injury. Because our daily tasks and performance are built on executive functions, patients need to consider several types of coping strategies to help them cope: Planning Set aside enough time for yourself to plan events and activities, while writing down your plans using various gadgets and writing tools, such as a calendar, diary, laptop, computer, mobile phones. Mood Social difficulties Caring for a person with an executive disability can create complete dependence and withdrawal from one's personal life, and changes in the behavior of a relative or friend will often be unpleasant. Problems that caregivers may have: It is important that family members, caregivers and friends also have access to emotional and practical support (for example, on the Internet, where groups of people with similar problems are located remotely). Conclusions: Frontal lobe damage is the most common cause of acquired traumatic brain injury and causes symptoms collectively referred to as executive dysfunction. Subscribe to our VIBER channel! A variety of executive function difficulties mean that assessment and rehabilitation is not a guaranteed path to normalization of the patient's condition, although the use of useful types of strategies and rehabilitation techniques will help patients recover faster by learning to manage their emotional urges.
Sometimes, due to the general focus of the problems, doctors combine the disease into the concept of a syndrome, since many symptoms occur together. Impact of executive dysfunction on daily life
Evaluation of executive dysfunction
Some of the proposed tests may be in written form, part as a puzzle or game format, while others in a real environment. It is important to note that the tests must be completed without prior knowledge or preparation in order to accurately reflect the person's current abilities. Executive Dysfunction Rehabilitation
Therefore, reading a newsletter or other informational materials on the subject of the disease can be a useful activity for the patient and his family members. Coping strategies after brain injury
Discussing your plans with other people will make you more likely to remember early events that remain beyond the memory line
caregiver's vision
