What is Executive Functioning?

The term "executive functioning" is very popular nowadays. Doctors use this term to explain Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The term comes from researchers who study child development. These researchers think there is a part of the brain that controls many activities. This part of the brain is like the boss of these activities, which is where the term "executive" comes from. Executive functioning does not involve just one thing. Instead, it describes lots of related things.

Executive functioning gives us the ability to:

• Plan ahead
• Focus on something (even if it is really boring)
• Stop doing one thing and start doing another
• Not do something we really want to do
• Wait patiently
• Remember something for a short while
• Do math or word problems in our head
• Problem solve
• Monitor our own behavior

Some people, like people with ADHD, struggle with executive functioning. These people may:

• Struggle waiting in line
• Struggle waiting their turn in a game
• Blurt out answers
• Interrupt conversations
• Lose things, struggle to find things
• Get places late
• Rush through work
• Frequently get out of their seat
• Become frustrated when focusing is required
• Talk loudly
• Not be organized

For information about helping children with executive functioning problems, click here.