ADHD Explained
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a relatively common mental health condition that is marked frequently by the significant challenge of starting or maintaining focus, working memory, organization, impulse control, planning, emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and/or self-monitoring. ADHD may look different for each individual with some seeing impacts in many areas of executive functioning, while others may see impacts in few areas.
What are executive functions?
There are considered to be eight pillars of executive functioning. They include:
Working Memory
Refers to the ability to retain information and sort through it in order to remember crucial information and discard unimportant information.
Planning
Refers to the skills needed in order to prioritize tasks, plan ahead, and account for variables that may arise.
Emotional Regulation
Refers to how well we are able to control our emotions. For example, maintaining calm during a stressful moment or period of time.
Organization
Refers to strategies used to keep track of and maintain personal belongings.
Cognitive Flexibility
Refers to the ability to switch from one task to another with the goal of efficiency and prioritization. In essence, adapting to current demands of a situation
Impulse Control
Refers to thinking about the results of our actions prior to engaging in a given behaviour.
Self-Monitoring
Refers to the ability to self-evaluate our behaviour and identify when different behaviour may be more appropriate.
Task Initiation
Refers to the motivation to start and follow through with tasks.
How can therapy help?
Therapy provides a place to learn practical tools to improve the executive functions that are impacted by ADHD. Whether it is for parents of children that are looking to get support on how to navigate daily living with a child with ADHD or an adult looking for support for themselves. Therapy is a great place to learn more about yourself, your strengths, and how they can be incorporated into the skills that support your executive functioning. Therapy provides a space to ask questions without worry of judgement and connect more deeply with yourself.
Are you looking for a formal ADHD Assessment?
Innerlogue has several assessment psychologists that would be happy to have a free consultation with you to discuss! ADHD assessments are available for children and adults at both our Kensington and Midnapore locations.
How do you know if you require an assessment and what are the benefits of getting assessed?
If you feel your daily life is impacted by challenges in the realms of any of the executive functions or if you find yourself questioning why it feels so challenging to function, then you may benefit from an assessment. Assessments not only provide insight into what may be happening, they can also be used to support academic or workplace accommodations.