ADHD - The Different Types of Executive Function

According to the executive function theory of ADHD, ADHD is not a problem of attention, per se, because people with ADHD can focus on things that interest them and, on occasion, concentrate so much that they lose track of other things (the phenomenon known as hyper focus or hyper fixation). Instead, it is a difficulty with skills and brain chemistry that interferes with executing attention the way we want. Below are some examples and strategies individuals can use to help with these skills. 

Response inhibition is known as thinking before acting or resisting urges.  

If individuals can "look before they leap,"  They have good response inhibition. Something that may help: visualizing and verbalizing waiting rather than forgoing something altogether leads to better outcomes. Response inhibition is finite, meaning you use more energy to inhibit a response. ADHD specialists recommend recognizing when you may be "running out" of response inhibition and taking a break until you feel rested.

Working memory is the ability to hold information in memory while doing a complex task.   Something connected to working memory is retrieving past information to apply it to a present task. Something that may help: ask the individual to recall what they did last time to accomplish this task. (Note: for adults, it is better to modify the environment than to try to increase working memory 

Emotional Control is the ability to control emotions to focus on a goal or task.

Parents must help children regulate their emotions. Modeling from parents is one of the first ways children learn how to regulate and process emotions. Break it down into where the feeling is and what sensation you feel. Example: My stomach feels rumbly and warm when scared or anxious.  

Flexibility is the ability to revise plans to accommodate new information barriers or challenges. It can be seen by age 8 or 9 and remains stable throughout life. Develop a coping strategy for when unexpected things happen, such as walking away and taking a 10-minute break to settle into the possible change.   

Task initiation is the ability to end procrastination efficiently or promptly. Task initiation is one of the most challenging skills to master, and procrastination increases until the mid-20s, after which it slowly declines. Task initiation is difficult for those who have low internal motivation. It is okay to have low task initiation for the things we don't care about, as procrastination can take several forms. Active procrastinators, for example, still produce qua

lity work when they use deadlines as motivation. Passive procrastinators, by contrast, may feel motivated by a deadline but continually miss them.     

These skills are a good jumping-off point to discovering your unique brand of ADHD, and tailoring the environment and support system to your complex skills can be very helpful