1. …and WHY Should Parents Care?
What the Heck is Executive Function…
…and WHY Should Parents Care?
Elaine Taylor-Klaus CPCC, PCC
Diane Dempster MHSA, CPC, PCC
Co-Founders and Parent Coaches

2. Why do Smart Kids Struggle…
in School & in Life?

3. There are Two Components to School Success:
Cognitive/Intellect & 
Executive Function 
Smart only gets you So far…

4. Smart
Self -
Management
Smart only gets you So far…

5. (Executive Function/Self-Management)
Frontal Lobe
(Executive Function/Self-Management)
Cerebral Cortex
(Intellect)
Frontal Lobe is where Self-Management happens
Limbic System
(Emotions-Amygdala)

6. If your Brain was an Orchestra,
Executive Function Would be the Conductor
Elaine
If your Brain was an Organization, Executive Function would be the CEO

7. ALL ASPECTS of Life Executive Function:
Skills involved with organization and self-management
Capacity to follow through
Prepared by ImpactADHD 2015 All Rights Reserved ®

8. Thinking Feeling Acting
Executive Function is also responsible in one way or another for organizing and directing:
Thinking
Feeling
Acting

9. How Does Executive Function Work?
Diane
This matters in the world of ADHD because the “simple act” of paying attention requires MANY Executive Functions working together in combination
As an Example, let’s think about all the steps it takes to “pay attention”…
Notes:
Focus: you must pick one thing to pay attention to. Not easy for someone with ADHD
Select: you must select the right stimulus, and someone with ADHD may have difficulty determining what is relevant.
Sustain: Some individuals with AD/HD may be able to focus; they may be able to select the correct stimulus, but they are unable to SUSTAIN attention.
Resist Distractions: Throughout the attention process, students must RESIST DISTRACTIONS. Someone with AD/HD is often influenced by external stimuli, such as activity around them or their own thoughts.
Shift: Students with AD/HD have difficulty being able to change their focus immediately when involved with a task. The act of “changing in midstream”. Going from one task to another without thinking.
Example: Paying Attention
CHADD Parent to Parent © 2008

10. Activation/ Task Management
Focus/ Attention Management
Effort Management
Emotion Management
Memory/Information Management
Action Management

11. ImpactADHD® 2014 All Rights Reserved

12. Activation/Task Management

13. Focus/Attention Management

14. Effort Management

15. Emotion Management

16. Memory/Information Management

17. Action Management

18. ImpactADHD® 2014 All Rights Reserved

19. Executive Function cannot be medicated, so we must teach our kids to manage, one step at a time
Various things that influence some aspects of Ex Function Can be medicated – like Anxiety, Limiting hyperactivity, inhibiting actions
Facilitation of improved neuro-pathways…
But on the whole, MANY aspects cannot be.
You cannot Medically Change Disorganization.
Nutrition, exercise, educating parents, advocating, accommodations
Most people are aware that people, particularly kids with ADHD take medications, typically stimulants to “help” their ADHD.
We do not advocate in favor or against medication, but it’s important to understand that taking Medication is not a “cure”
When someone medicates, what they are medicating for is an increased ability to focus which can greatly help many people, but the other challenges we indicated in Executive Functioning can not be medicated.

20. Role Clarity Phase 4 Phase 3 Phase 2 Phase 1 Empower, Champion
Trouble-shoot
Phase 3
Transfer Ownership
Support Organization
Phase 2
Motivate ownership
Model organization
Phase 1
Motivate Effort
Direct Work

21. Wrap Up What did I focus on, or pay most attention to, today?
What’s my clarity, or take-away?
What is a realistic action step for me to take?
How can I set myself up for success with this action?

22. Q & A