Executive Function: An increasing number of children and adolescents struggle in school because of weaknesses in executive skills even though they may not meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD or Autism. The transitions
between 5th grade to middle school, middle school to high school and high school to university are typically when these limitations significantly impact academic performance and peer relationships the most; this practice specializes
in helping students at each of these critical milestones successfully transition.
A speech-language pathologist plays a meaningful role in the identification, assessment and treatment of executive functioning delays, secondary to the higher-level metacognition and language-based needs of the child or adolescent.
While executive functioning skills impact every aspect of child or adolescent's life, a strong intervention plan can immediately begin improving the quality of life for students who are struggling with successful executive functioning.
When a child or adolescent struggles with executive function, they may have difficulty with:
- Organizing materials and keeping track of time during school work and projects
- Self-monitoring and impulse inhibition
- Initiating and completing tasks, school work, homework and projects on time
- Analyzing information and applying previously learned information to solve problems
- Knowing when and how to seek help, or more information when they are stuck
- Difficulties with social communication and maintaining peer relationships
Bayou City Speech & Language offers
- Executive Function evaluations for children and adolescents ages 5-18, in conjunction with a comprehensive social communication, speech and language evaluation.
- Executive Function services for children and adolescents ages 5-18.
Based on individual needs, cumulative sessions will focus on refining relationships with peers, family, teachers and coaches, increasing strategic planning, improving material and project organization, time management, decision making, and amplified personal self-regulation, leading to greater academic achievement and success.
Executive Function in the News
Executive Function Disorder, Explained!
ADDitude Magazine
by Larry Silver, M.D.
A child or an adult with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be hyperactive, inattentive, and / or impulsive. Clinicians have always understood hyperactivity and impulsivity. The understanding of inattention, though,
has shifted from primarily "the inability to stay on task" to a broader concept called executive function disorder (EFD), which involves a pattern of chronic difficulties in executing daily tasks.
Read more at additudemag.com
The Testing Ground for Executive Functions? Sixth Grade
ADDitude Magazine
by Marcia Eckerd, Stephen Rudin
Middle school is hell for many kids. Aside from social struggles, many begin to miss deadlines, lose assignments, and drop balls as executive function deficits come to light. Earty detection and intervention, though, can make a huge
difference.
Read more at additudemag.com
What's the Difference Between Executive Functioning Issues and ADHD?
Understood.org
by Child Mind Institute, Understood Founding Partner
If your child has an ADHD diagnosis, is being evaluated for ADHD, or even if you're just doing research on the disorder, you might also hear that she could have problems with executive functioning. This can be confusing! They seem
to be two different ways of describing the difficulties your child is having.
Simply put, executive functions are self-regulating skills. We all use them every day to do things like plan ahead, stay organized, solve problems and focus on what's important. These are some of the same things kids with ADHD have
trouble doing. So is there a difference between executive functioning issues and ADHD? And if so, what is it?
Read more at understood.org
Help Your Child Be the CEO Of His Brain
ADDitude Magazine
by Jerome Schultz, Ph.D.
Efficient executive functioning is critical to all human behaviors. Thousands of articles and books have been written about this set of brain-based skills. Noted EF/ADHD expert Thomas Brown, Ph.D., likens executive functioning to
being the conductor of an orchestra. Researchers at the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University have compared EF to the air-traffic control system in a busy airport. Brain scientists agree that strong working memory,
self-control, or self-regulation, and the ability to maintain and shift attention are the foundation upon which academic and social success is built. Well-developed executive functioning skills unlock human potential; deficits
in EF prevent us from living up to our personal best.
Read more at additudemag.com
7 Executive Function Deficits Tied to ADHD
ADDitude Magazine
by Jerome Schultz, Ph.D.
Dr. Russell Barkley on what parents need to know about the executive function challenges that can start as early as age 2 — and serve as early warning signs of ADHD in children.
There's a lot of confusion around "executive function" — and how it relates to ADHD. Is ADHD an executive function disorder? Is every executive function disorder also ADHD? The answers hinge on what we mean by "executive functions"
— and how they relate to self-regulation.
Traditionally, the term "executive functioning" has been used extensively in neuropsychology, clinical psychology, and psychiatry. In recent years, however, it's spread into the broader field of general psychology and into education,
where it's often incorporated into teaching strategies and classroom accommodations.
Broadly speaking, executive function refers to the cognitive or mental abilities that people need to actively pursue goals. In other words, it's about how we behave toward our future goals and what mental abilities we need to accomplish
them.
Read more at additudemag.com
Social Communication Disorder
Social Communication Disorder: Students who perform well academically, but continually struggle with social skills, with making and keeping friends and with understanding the unspoken rules of social communication typically do not receive speech therapy services even though they have significant difficulties with social skills.
Social Communication Disorder Assessment
Your child or adolescent may have already been tested through the school system for Speech Therapy Services, Autism or ADHD but did not meet the district's criteria; sadly, you watch their peer and instructor relationship difficulties continue to grow year by year. Children and teens often score within the normal ranges on typical speech and language tests and social language tests that the public-school assessment teams use, despite the parents' and classroom teachers' significant concerns about the student's social interactions. An assessment for Social Communication Disorder requires a seasoned speech-language pathologist's comprehensive evaluation of the student's facial expression, tone of voice, emotional affect and intention, as well assessing as their actions and reactions in social situations. Norm-referenced test frequently fail to capture these areas. As a result, school district speech-language pathologists and special education teams frequently fail to capture the social difficulties noted by the child's parents and teachers which results in no services for the student.
With Social Communication Disorder, the student:
Social Communication Disorder Services
Bayou City Speech & Language specializes in Social Communication Disorder assessments and therapy for children and adolescents. We also offer peer group classes several times a year. Additionally, Julie has successfully advocated for families in the capacity of an independent educational evaluation consultant in ARD and 504 meetings resulting in the student receiving speech therapy services for Social Communication Disorder in their public school.