Problem

What Is Executive Dysfunction?

Executive dysfunction is a term used to describe difficulties a person has with cognitive processes that regulate thoughts and behaviors. These processes, known as executive functions, include skills like, self-monitoring, planning and prioritizing, impulse control, task initiation, and working memory. When executive dysfunction occurs, these functions are disrupted and the effects are felt. An individual with executive dysfunction may struggle with finishing important tasks, managing their time, or even with the basic functions needed to survive day to day like eating, showering, or brushing their teeth. 

Where Does It Occur?

Executive dysfunction is not its own disorder, but rather a symptom commonly associated with other neurological and psychological conditions, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD for short. People who struggle with ADHD often struggle with executive dysfunction on a daily basis. There is no set time period for it to occur either. Imagine this, you have an important essay due in a few hours. You know that realistically you can do it in that time period so you set off to work on it, when suddenly executive dysfunction occurs. You end up sitting in front of your computer, your document empty with this sense of dread. It feels like your brain is disconnected, that it’s just shut off when you need it the most. Then, when it finally decides to reconnect, the words feel off, so off that you restart with every sentence. It’s debilitating, frustrating, and never ending. This is how executive dysfunction feels for me. As someone with ADHD I can attest to the fact that this feeling never goes away forever. I may be able to negate some of it, but eventually it will hit me at unassuming times.

Why Does It Occur?

There are reasons as to why executive dysfunction occurs in people with ADHD. The main cause has to deal with differences in the prefrontal cortex in the brain. The prefrontal cortex controls higher order of function like decision making and reasoning skills. People with ADHD tend to have differences in their prefrontal cortexes. This causes dysfunction in this area of the brain which results in executive dysfunction. 

Background

Failed Solutions 

As someone who struggles with ADHD, I have tried numerous solutions to help minimize my executive dysfunction. One of the biggest ways that I’ve tried was to create a structured daily routine that had a list of what I needed to get done that day, along with things like brushing my teeth and showering so I could remember to do those tasks. This failed tremendously. 

Firstly lists are hard to follow when you have ADHD. Creating a list of my daily activities and tasks requires me to not only be focused on creating the list, but remember everything that needs to be done, which are things I struggle with. I have several unfinished lists and planners in my drawers because of this and even more digital calendars that go over all of my class assignments in a semester with due dates that I have never fully finished because I lost the motivation to. Another problem with lists is that they are not rewarding enough. Since my brain runs on dopamine and subsequently chasing it, if a task is not rewarding enough, I physically can’t do it, which activates executive dysfunction making it even harder to force myself to do. Because of this, I can never finish a list before my brain decides the task is not rewarding enough and then executive dysfunction kicks in, ironically making the tasks that were supposed to help my executive dysfunction impossible because of executive dysfunction.

Workarounds

Others who suffer with executive dysfunction caused by ADHD, have tried similar activities and have failed as well. The one constant thing that seemed to work for various people is a tactic for productivity called body doubling. Body doubling involves having another person present while completing tasks that are otherwise hard to complete. In body doubling people will use the presence of others to motivate them to work through their executive dysfunction. This can look like having a friend on your phone while you complete your homework, or even going to a busy cafe while working. 

Impediments

The most sighted impediment for solving executive dysfunction is the lack of reward when facing executive dysfunction. As mentioned, ADHD works on a reward system which means if the reward of finishing something does not outweigh the problem of finishing it, the task won’t get done. In this way solving executive dysfunction issues needs to be rewarding enough for the individual to complete while also being stimulating while doing so as to not waiver the interest of the person.

Knowledge Gaps

The biggest knowledge gap that occurs is that people with ADHD, myself included, do not know why executive dysfunction affects their brain the way that it does even on a relatively good day. We do not understand why the feeling of dread is so profound even when the task that needs to be done is normally an enjoyable one. 

The Relevant Population

Many people can suffer from executive dysfunction. However, I will be researching a solution for executive dysfunction in people with ADHD. I’ve decided on this group of people because I know many peers with ADHD who struggle with executive dysfunction as well as myself. This will give me a better perspective on what solutions will work effectively versus not. This also gives me a varied pool of participants to form data around.

Learning from the Relevant Population

I will learn from the relevant population by interviewing them on their struggles with executive dysfunction, as well as their practices that help them with managing executive dysfunction. I will then ask them to participate in the solutions I have come up with and then rate them on their effectiveness based on a scale. With this data I will average the ratings then the solution with the highest rating will be the solution I will report.