Over the last decade, the term executive functioning has become synonymous with ADHD.   Our executive functioning abilities determine how we regulate our behavior, our emotions and our attention.   Our executive functioning is also involved in how we plan, problem-solve, inhibit behavior, self-monitor our behavior and engage in self-directed private speech (often referred to as our working memory).   Will power and self-discipline are executive functions. Research has demonstrated that individuals with ADHD are 30% behind their peers with the development of their executive functions. The executive functions are not fully developed until we 30 years old.

Individuals with ADHD often fail to finish things, they struggle with not responding to the irrelevant and they have a hard time inhibiting strong emotions once they have been provoked.   They also have a hard time holding information in mind (working memory). Further, it is not uncommon for individuals with ADHD to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. These are all related to our executive functions. Our executive functions take what you know and apply it to the future. They are related to persistence and engaging in goal-directed behavior.  However, as Russell Barkley points out, ADHD can also be considered an “intention deficit” (not paying attention to what is coming next).   Hindsight and foresight are often impaired in individuals with ADHD because of the difficulty with holding information in mind.   What needs to be done, how it should be done, and when something should be done all require effective executive functioning.