The answer may be an underlying deficit of executive functions. ‘Executive functions’ is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of difficulties some of which include:
- Working memory – ability to hold information in memory needed to complete a task. Eg- writing to dictation, answering questions
- Controlling impulses – unable to wait for a turn or the child may answer questions without thinking first.
- Understanding and following the rules of a game
- Regulating emotions – excessive crying, bursts of anger
- Transition skills – moving from one activity / object / person to another.
Deficit in executive functioning is treated through a multi-disciplinary approach by a team of professionals which include the speech language pathologist, psychologist, occupational therapist and special educator. Significant difficulty in the above mentioned areas can impact an individual’s quality of life and also have consequences on their social life, relationships, academics, money management and daily life activities- like following a sleep schedule, cooking, shopping, planning or hosting an event etc. Executive function deficits may be observed in individuals with Autism, ADHD, learning disability, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder, intellectual deficits.
Other neurological factors which may cause deficits in executive functioning are delayed development of Pre- frontier cortex in the brain. The pre-frontal cortex plays a major role in transition skills ( moving from one activity to another), emotional regulation, working memory and inhibitory control. Any lesion or failure of this brain area to develop would result in impulsive reactions,rather than planned choices and responses. The child may respond impulsively or fail to regulate emotions.
Shifting mental gears between tasks (eg- chopping, sauting, adding ingredients in a cooking activity) requires cognitive flexibility that many learners find overwhelming. This happens because the working memory holds on to old task information while the new task competes for attention resources. It can often be very frustrating. An executive function deficit can also be seen in children with a history of malnutrition, emotional trauma or parental neglect.
Professionals can help an individual with executive functioning deficit through sessions targeted towards:
- Identifying patterns (through caregiver or personal interview and observation)
- Adjusting systems
- Specific training in the area of difficulty (working memory, transition, emotional regulation, planning, group interaction etc)
- Microchoice integration
- Developing compensatory strategies
- Establishing routines
- Using co-regulation language that soon becomes the individual’s inner voice
- Providing recovery windows
Marlyn Mathew
Senior Speech Therapist
Related services and reading
- Memory test for children
- ADHD screening in Kochi
- Speech therapy in Kochi
- ADHD Chronicles: Distracto and the Runaway Thoughts
- The Role of Parents in Child Therapy
Further reading: Harvard Center on the Developing Child: Executive function.
Need support? Contact Nutrimind or call +91 97450 05400 to book a consultation in Tripunithura, Kochi or online.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are executive function deficits in children?
Executive function deficits in children refer to difficulties in higher-order cognitive skills including working memory, impulse control, emotional regulation, and transition between tasks. These skills are controlled by the prefrontal cortex and are essential for learning, social interaction, and daily functioning. - What causes executive function deficits in children?
Executive function deficits can be caused by conditions like Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, delayed prefrontal cortex development, malnutrition, emotional trauma, or parental neglect. The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in these skills. - How is executive function deficit treated in children?
Treatment involves a multidisciplinary team including speech-language pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and special educators. Therapy focuses on working memory training, impulse control, emotional regulation, establishing routines, and compensatory strategies. Nutrimind in Kochi offers specialized executive functioning therapy. - Which professionals treat executive function deficits in Kochi?
At Nutrimind Child Development Centre in Kochi, a multidisciplinary team of speech-language pathologists, child psychologists, occupational therapists, and special educators work together to treat executive function deficits in children with individualized therapy plans. - What are executive functions?
Executive functions are mental skills such as working memory, impulse control, emotional regulation, planning and shifting between tasks that help us manage everyday life. - What are the signs of executive function deficits in children?
Difficulty following classroom instructions, waiting for a turn, following game rules, handling transitions and controlling emotional outbursts. - Which conditions are linked with executive function difficulties?
They are often seen in autism, ADHD, learning disability, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders and intellectual disability. - How are executive function deficits treated?
A multidisciplinary team, including a speech language pathologist, psychologist, occupational therapist and special educator, works on targeted skill training, routines and compensatory strategies.