An Introduction to Executive Function: What is it and how can we improve it?

Angela Moscheo Benson, M.A., Clinician at Strategies for Learning

Executive Function- a concept educators like to address with parents and students, and one many people are unable to define.  Fundamentally speaking, executive function deals directly with the concept(s) of brain plasticity and/or adaptive thinking, and without effective strategies, deficiencies in EF can be crippling to otherwise healthy cognition.  EF tends to stem from cognitive and behavioral tendencies that aid in planning, time-management, organization and other self-regulatory processes.  That is why so many individuals with ADHD also struggle with EF.  Impulse control and task initiation are just two of the many behavioral issues that are common among those with EF deficits.  Communication, concept formation and word/idea generation are a few of the other  cognitive functions often associated with these behavioral trends.  Working memory- another hot topic among educators- is profoundly impacted by poor EF and is an adaptive process commonly improved when other deficient processes are addressed.  So now that we have a basic understanding of EF, how can we improve it for ourselves and others?

Clinically speaking, when I begin to work with a client who struggles with EF deficiencies, I typically begin by identifying deficient behaviors.  Isolating areas for improvement is an effective way to begin; it is also a strategy that allows clinicians to address behaviors immediately so that the student is able to modify habits and see improvements in real time.  In a world accustomed to instant gratification, the ability to notice improvement in the very first session yields a profound impact on both the students and their families.  Simple modifications like a checklist or other visual aids utilized to ensure the student brings home all necessary resources to complete assignments, calendars- paper or electronic- that are actually monitored, timers intended to keep a student on schedule, and color-coding notes, folders and assignment types are just a few suggestions made during initial sessions.  When used consistently, these simple strategies provide big results in organization, time management, and task initiation, just to name a few executive functions.

Learn more about how we support students academically.