What is Executive dysfunction?

Executive dysfunction

Executive dysfunction is a catch-all term that describes ongoing challenges with our ability to manage ourselves and our responsibilities. These self-management abilities are often referred to as Executive Functions and include skills such as organization, time management, task initiation, emotional regulation, and long-term planning.

examples of executive dysfunction

Time Blindness

Difficulty or inability to sense the passage of time

Procrastination

Difficulty in starting or initiating tasks for a variety of reasons

Disorganization

Challenges in keeping track of personal belongings, maintaining an orderly space, and managing deadlines

Impulsivity

Inability to understand and manage reactions to feelings or events

Distractibility

Easily losing focus on a goal or objective

Irritability

Tendency to become easily annoyed or angered

executive function in adults

As an adult, executive functions are absolutely essential to managing day-to-day demands at work and at home alike. From paying bills to meeting work-related deadlines, we rely on these core skills to do just about everything we need. When executive dysfunction becomes a constant, unaddressed problem, the potential for serious consequences in our lives becomes unavoidable.

the impacts of executive dysfunction

Life balance	Executive dysfunction can result in an inability to manage both work and personal life demands.
Stressors	Executive dysfunction can lead to heightened stress due to a lack of control over life demands.
Skills gap	Underdeveloped executive function skills from your childhood can persist into adulthood and make it more difficult to change old habits.
Demands outpacing capacities	When the complexity of your demands increase, executive dysfunction can prevent you from meeting expectations.

What can you do about executive dysfunction?

You might have heard the term "Executive Function Disorder." While there isn’t an official diagnosis called executive dysfunction disorder, substantial challenges with self-management skills can often feel like a disorder.

Understand how executive dysfunction begins

Executive dysfunction commonly occurs in individuals with ADHD, but any lack of cognitive control in selecting and monitoring behaviors that will help you to reach your goals will also increase executive dysfunction.

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know the signs of executive dysfunction

	What does executive dysfunction look like at work?	What does executive dysfunction look like at home?	What does executive dysfunction look like in relationships?
Focus	Struggling to finish tasks	Difficulty completing house chores due to distractions	Difficulty being present with friends or partners
Organization	Struggling to schedule and organize projects	Misplacing household items or hoarding	Forgetting important dates like birthdays or anniversaries
Emotional regulation	Trouble tolerating work frustrations and working with peers	Damaging furniture or items due to emotional outbursts	Struggling to proportionately react to inconveniences or negative things
Time management	Showing up late to work or running long meetings	Oversleeping or leaving food in/on the stove for too long	Difficulty making time for partners or friends
Flexible thinking	Difficulty solving problems and considering the perspectives of co-workers	Leaving appliances inoperable for extended periods of time	Difficulty resolving disagreements
Planning & prioritizing	Struggling to decide what's most important	Difficulty planning meals and paying bills on time	Trouble making and committing to long-term plans/goals

Do you have Executive Dysfunction?

How to evaluate

Seek a qualified provider for a neuropsychological evaluation.

Use the executive dysfunction checklist below.

Take our executive function skills quiz.

executive dysfunction checklist:

The more of these you check, the more likely it is that you're experiencing executive dysfunction.

	It's difficult for you to find things when you need them.
	You struggle to focus on tasks.
	You often struggle to manage your time.
	You often get overwhelmed or stressed out.
	It's difficult for you to know where to start when you have multiple tasks.
	You have a hard time working with people.
	You procrastinate often.
	You're often running late.
	You feel like your thoughts are "all over the place".
	You have an unclear sense of your strengths and weaknesses.
	It's normal for you to lose momentum when working on a project.
	You struggle to adjust to change.

Understand Potential Causes of Executive Dysfunction

Neurodivergence

ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), dyslexia, sensory processing disorder (SPD), nonverbal learning disability (NVLD)

Trauma

Head injury (concussion, traumatic brain injury), PTSD, early childhood neglect/deprivation/abuse

Underlying Medical or Mental Health Conditions

Depression, anxiety, dementia, OCD, and many other conditions

Learn Ways to Manage Executive Dysfunction

Useful tips

Get an executive function coach.
Chunk out your work.
Find a work buddy if procrastination is an issue.

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Everyday Tools

apps

Create daily, weekly, and monthly to-do lists.
Pomodoro
Use Google Calendar.
Reminder App
Habit List

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Know Your Professional Help Options for Executive Dysfunction

Treatment provider options

Therapist

Builds confidence and the ability to cope with challenges from the past
Grows self-reflection and self-awareness skills and improvement of mental health

Occupational therapist

Develop, recover, improve, and maintain the skills needed for daily living and working
Often helpful for individuals with complex cognitive or physical disabilities

Speech-language pathologist

Assists with rehabilitation from brain injury
Address the development of social skills with adults on the autism spectrum
Build skills in all areas of Executive Function, most commonly in a school setting

Executive function coaching

Builds self-management skills
Teaches strategies to overcome old ineffective habits and achieve personal goals
Focuses on action, application, and reflection

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