7 Executive Functions Impacted by ADHD – What Parents Need to Know

Executive functions are cognitive processes that enable individuals to plan, organize, remember information, manage emotions, and make decisions. For children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), these skills can be impaired, significantly impacting day-to-day life. Understanding the 7 executive functions and how ADHD affects them is essential for parents looking to support their child's development.

In this article, we’ll explore the 7 executive functions, how ADHD affects each one, and provide strategies for parents to help improve executive functioning skills in children.

What Is Executive Function 

Executive function refers to a set of mental processes that help individuals plan, make decisions, solve problems, control their impulses, and manage emotions. These cognitive processes are primarily controlled by the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking. Executive functioning skills help individuals navigate their day-to-day life, from organizing tasks and following through on goals to regulating emotional responses and handling stress.

For children with ADHD, these functions are often impaired, leading to struggles in school, at home, and in social settings. Executive dysfunction is a hallmark of ADHD, making it difficult for children to complete tasks, stay organized, and manage their emotions.

Is Executive Dysfunction a Sign of ADHD?

Yes, executive dysfunction is a key symptom of ADHD. While ADHD is most commonly associated with inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, it also affects executive function skills, contributing to challenges in areas such as problem-solving, emotional regulation, and time management. Research has shown that executive function deficits are a central feature of ADHD, which is why children with ADHD often have difficulty with planning, organization, and goal completion.

Research emphasizes that the impairments in executive function are not due to laziness or lack of motivation but are a result of neurobiological alterations, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. These impairments are often most noticeable in academic settings, where organization and focus are crucial to success.

What Part of the Brain Controls Executive Function?

Executive functions are primarily controlled by the prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain located just behind the forehead. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for high-level cognitive processes such as decision-making, working memory, and problem-solving. In individuals with ADHD, research has shown that there is often hypoactivation (reduced activity) in the prefrontal cortex, leading to deficits in executive functioning. This dysfunction can contribute to difficulties with attention, emotional regulation, and time management, making it harder for children with ADHD to plan and execute tasks effectively.

Functional neuroimaging studies have also revealed that ADHD is associated with abnormal brain connectivity, particularly in areas involved in working memory and inhibitory control. These brain differences are thought to underlie the executive function deficits seen in people with ADHD.

What Are the 7 Executive Functions Affected by ADHD?

Self Awareness

Self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize one’s own thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It’s essential for understanding how actions affect others and for adjusting behavior in real-time. Children with ADHD often struggle with self-awareness, leading them to act impulsively and have difficulty recognizing when their behavior is inappropriate.

Impacts on daily life: Children may struggle with assessing their emotions and behaviors, making it harder to self-regulate or understand the consequences of their actions.

Inhibition

Inhibition is the ability to control impulses and delay gratification. Children with ADHD may have difficulty with inhibitory control or modulation, this can lead to difficulty following rules, waiting their turn, or resisting distractions.

Impacts on daily life: Children may have trouble controlling urges to interrupt, blurting out answers in class, or engaging in risky behaviors without thinking through the consequences.

Non-Verbal Working Memory

Non-verbal working memory involves holding and manipulating visual or spatial information in the mind. Children with ADHD may struggle with remembering directions, spatial arrangements, or other non-verbal tasks.

Impacts on daily life: Difficulty with tasks that require visual memory, such as reading maps or organizing objects, can hinder academic success and daily organization.

Verbal Working Memory

Verbal working memory is the ability to hold and manipulate verbal information, such as remembering instructions or following multi-step directions. Children with ADHD often struggle with verbal working memory, which affects their ability to follow conversations, retain information, or complete tasks that require remembering multiple steps.

Impacts on daily life: Children may forget instructions, struggle to organize their thoughts when speaking, or fail to follow through on verbal tasks.

Emotional Self-Regulation

Emotional self-regulation refers to the ability to manage one’s emotional responses to stimuli. Children with ADHD often experience emotional dysregulation, which can lead to outbursts, frustration, and difficulty calming down after becoming upset.

Impacts on daily life: Emotional dysregulation can cause difficulty in social situations, disrupt classroom behavior, and create challenges in relationships with peers and family members.

Self-Motivation

Self-motivation involves the ability to initiate and sustain goal-directed behavior. Children with ADHD may struggle with motivation, particularly for tasks that require sustained attention or effort over time. They may procrastinate or give up easily, especially if the task feels overwhelming.

Impacts on daily life: Difficulty staying motivated can result in unfinished homework, neglected chores, and inconsistent performance at school or extracurricular activities.

Planning and Problem Solving

Planning and problem-solving are key components of executive function that involve organizing tasks, setting goals, and finding solutions to obstacles. Children with ADHD often struggle with planning, breaking tasks into manageable steps, and completing tasks in a timely manner.

Impacts on daily life: Children may have trouble organizing their schoolwork, managing time effectively, and problem-solving when faced with challenges, leading to missed deadlines or incomplete tasks.

‍How Can Parents Support Children with Executive Dysfunction Due to ADHD?

Parents play a crucial role in helping children with ADHD strengthen their executive function skills. Here are some strategies:

• Establish routines: Consistent routines help children with ADHD stay organized and manage their time more effectively. Create visual schedules for daily tasks and use reminders to stay on track. Don’t underestimate the value of a multidimensional holistic lifestyle including rest, nutrition, movement and fresh air as all of these factors support ADHD as indicated in a 2024 review. These factors influence the processes in the body and mind suggested to be involved in the etiology of ADHD— including alterations in the gut microbiome–brain axis, inflammation and oxidative stress. 
• Break tasks into smaller steps: Help your child break large tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Encourage them to focus on one step at a time and celebrate progress along the way.
• Use visual aids: Visual reminders, such as checklists and color-coded charts, can help children with ADHD organize their tasks and stay focused.
• Provide emotional and social support: Encourage your child to talk about their feelings and offer strategies to help them calm down and self soothe when upset. Emotion regulation skills can be developed with practice.
• Model problem-solving: When your child faces challenges, work through the problem together. Teach them to identify solutions and weigh the pros and cons of different choices. Also, be aware of how you’re handling the situation in terms of your own distress and how that is conveyed to your child. 
• Engage in mindfulness meditation exercises. These can be fun, engaging and relaxing—tailored to your child’s in-the-moment needs. Mindfulness meditation also improves the default mode network (DMN) in the brain, supporting improved executive functioning and may even induce neuroplasticity. 

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

If your child’s executive function deficits are significantly impacting their academic performance, social relationships, or overall well-being, it may be time to seek professional help. A therapist or ADHD coach can help your child develop executive function skills through tailored interventions. Additionally, a comprehensive assessment can help identify areas of executive dysfunction and guide the development of a personalized treatment plan.

Next Steps

Supporting your child with ADHD and executive dysfunction requires a combination of strategies, structure, and understanding. By strengthening your child’s executive function skills, you can help them navigate daily challenges with greater ease. If you're seeking professional guidance to support your child’s growth, schedule a free consultation with one of our licensed therapists today.