Could Your Child Have an Executive Function Deficit?

The following information was shared on the ADDitude website regarding 

executive function disorder. 

Source: ADDitude Magazine: Executive Dysfunction, Explained! 

The seven executive functions (self-awareness, inhibition, non-verbal working memory, verbal working memory, emotional self-regulation, self-motivation, and planning and problem solving) develop consecutively over time. Self-awareness starts to develop around age 2; by age 30, planning and problem solving are fully developed in a neurotypical brain. Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD), however, generally lag 30 to 40 percent behind their peers in developing one executive function, and then the next.

Executive Function Disorder is often difficult to ignore during the transitions to 6th or 9th grade, when school structure and schedules change dramatically, and academic expectations increase. Parents and teachers often don’t get why kids can’t work independently on an assignment, and assume they'll "pick up" the necessary skills. It's important to start helping kids with ADHD / EFD early, and acknowledge the problems those disorders cause so that kids don't feel stupid or lazy.

If your child has trouble getting started, can only remember two or three things at a time, struggles with problem solving, or feels overwhelmed at school, he or she might have an executive function deficit. Complete this test for a clearer picture.

This screening test is designed to determine whether your child shows symptoms similar to those of an executive function disorder. Only a trained healthcare professional can make a diagnosis through clinical evaluation. This screener is for personal use only.

Source: ADDitude  magazine

30 Great Accommodations for Children with ADHD

 

Webinar Wednesday: Apps, Extensions, and Tech Tools for ADHD Brains: A Learning Guide

In this hour-long-webinar-on-demand, learn the most popular and effective technology tools for students with ADHD, with Janet DeSenzo.

Students don’t learn material that fails to engage them. Kids, especially those with unreliable attention and focus, lose interest quickly if the curriculum feels inaccessible and intangible. Many schools today are responding by using technology tools and the Universal Design for Learning approach.

Here, learn about the most popular and effective technology tools for students with ADHD and learning disabilities. Geared for educators, parents, and clinical professionals, this webinar will explain how to maximize students’ learning through the use of apps and tools for Chromebooks, iPads, Windows, and Macs. Teachers will also pick up lesson plans and strategies for incorporating technology into their UDL classrooms, and learn why educators are shifting the focus from accommodating students with ADHD to creating a more accessible, engaging curriculum.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

• Great Chrome apps and extensions for helping differently wired students
• iPads apps designed to maximize your child’s learning, plus the many tools built into the iOS operating system
• Tools offered by Microsoft that can assist with organization and productivity
• How to set up a Universal Design for Learning classroom, and how it supports all types of learners

Play this free webinar and download the slide presentation of "Apps, Extensions, and Tech Tools for ADHD Brains: A Learning Guide," plus get more strategies from ADDitude via email.

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Janet DeSenzo has been working in the field of assistive technology for more than 15 years. She started working with college students at the university level, assisting students with disabilities as the coordinator of Disability Services at a state university in New Jersey. From there, she started her own educational consulting company, JanTech Educational Services, which she still owns and operates. Janet is currently an assistive technology specialist and technology integration specialist in the Vernon Township School District of NJ. There, she helps find technology solutions for students with special needs and assists teachers with integrating technology into their everyday lessons.

ADHD and Dyslexia: Why Do They So Often Co-Occur?

Source: Understood

Signs, Symptoms and Strategies for Learning Differences

Source: Halstrom Academy

Understanding the Struggles of the ADHD & Dyslexic Child

Frequently the conditions AD/HD and dyslexia exist co-morbidly. As stated on the IDA website: "AD/HD is one of the most common developmental problems, affecting 3–5% of the school population. It is characterized by inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsivity. It is estimated that 30% of those with dyslexia have coexisting AD/HD. Coexisting means the two conditions, AD/HD and dyslexia,can occur together, but they do not cause each other. Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability characterized by difficulties with accurate and fluent word recognition, spelling,and reading decoding. People with dyslexia have problems discriminating sounds within a word or phonemes, a key factor in their reading and spelling difficulties." As a parent or educator, have you ever wondered how a child with learning and attention issues experiences the world? Understood.org gives you a glimpse into how difficult it can be to read when your brain scrambles the letters. Follow the link below to try to accomplish a simple task when distractions drown out your instructions. Understanding these daily struggles is one of the best ways to help your child. Share your experience in the comments section below too...

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Dear Teacher...

Kids with a formal diagnosis, such as autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder -- along those who just need to move while learning--often find it challenging to shine in a traditional classroom. The kids who collaborated to write and star in this "Dear Teacher" video represent such students. Their mission was to share with educators how their brain works and offer simple ways teachers can help. Please enjoy! 

Source: Brain Highways

Pokémon Go and ADHD: 7 Things to Know for Kids with ADHD

With Pokémon Go being all the rage these day, many conversations have developed regarding the pros and cons of this app. Parents of children with disabilities, have much to consider before allowing their children to use the app. Assistive Technology expert, Jaime Martin, shares the benefits and risks of Pokémon Go for children with ADHD.

Pokémon Go and ADHD: 

7 Things to Know for Kids with ADHD