There have been many questions about how executive functioning overlaps with ADHD. Is ADHD an executive function disorder? Is every EF disorder also ADHD? The answer to this question depends on who is defining executive functioning. In this blog I will examine the key relationships and differences between ADHD and executive dysfunction.
Dr. Thomas Brown, who is a clinical psychologist, developed a model detailing that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms because of impairment of six executive functions. He has shown that executive functioning is managed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain. This is the part of the brain that controls organizing, prioritizing, and activating to work, focusing, and shifting attention to tasks, regulating alertness, sustaining effort, and processing speed, managing frustration and modulating emotions, utilizing working memory, accessing recall, monitoring action, and regulating behavior.
You will not find executive functions in the DSM-5. But a clinician can still detect EF weaknesses—especially those that create excessive, persistent, and severe symptoms that lead to harm or impairment. Many women without an ADHD diagnosis struggle with their executive functioning, though not all who struggle with executive functioning qualify for an ADHD diagnosis. While executive dysfunction is often a symptom of ADHD, the opposite is not always the case.
There are so many connections between ADHD and executive dysfunction. women struggle with both may have difficulty:
– paying attention
– maintaining self-control
– managing emotions
– avoiding distraction
– holding information in working memory
– switching easily from one activity to another
– getting started on tasks
– organizing time and materials
– remembering things
– keeping track of what’s going on
– completing long-term projects
– thinking before acting
– remembering assigned tasks.
Key Differences Between ADHD and Executive Function
The key difference between ADHD and executive functioning is ADHD can receive an official diagnosis whereas executive functioning cannot. The difficulty with executive functioning is not limited to ADHD . EF refers to weaknesses in the brain’s self-management system. People can have trouble with executive function for many reasons—not just ADHD. In fact, the majority of kids with learning differences struggle with one or more of the eleven executive function skills. This means EF challenges are actually much more widespread than ADHD, even though we’re just starting to understand how prevalent these challenges really are.
The difficulty with executive functioning is it can affect women with ADHD in different ways and it can often look like the signs of ADHD. That is due to ADHD is a problem with executive function. With that being said, in this series of Strengthing Executive Functioning Skills For Women with ADHD I will be going through each of the EF that I mentioned above in greater detail and some strategies on how to manage it.