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Myths & Misconceptions
Myths & Misconceptions
There are many harmful misconceptions about Executive Dysfunction (ED).
There are many harmful misconceptions about Executive Dysfunction (ED).
Executive Dysfunction isn’t a real thing. It’s just a fancy name for a group of personality flaws including laziness, lack of discipline, rudeness, and immaturity.
Executive function deficits are real, and are linked to delays and differences in brain development. Executive Dysfunction can make it challenging to initiate, plan, and complete tasks. Poor impulse control can make it difficult to converse without interrupting, and time blindness can lead to always running late. Limited self-awareness can make it hard to notice and correct socially unacceptable behaviors.
Kids with Executive Dysfunction will grow out of it.
Executive Dysfunction persists into adulthood, where it impacts daily life, work, and relationships. In fact, Executive Function deficits often become *more* noticeable as responsibilities and expectations increase with age.
Executive Dysfunction isn’t a real thing. It’s just a fancy name for a group of personality flaws including laziness, lack of discipline, rudeness, and immaturity.
Executive function deficits are real, and are linked to delays and differences in brain development. Executive Dysfunction can make it challenging to initiate, plan, and complete tasks. Poor impulse control can make it difficult to converse without interrupting, and time blindness can lead to always running late. Limited self-awareness can make it hard to notice and correct socially unacceptable behaviors.
Kids with Executive Dysfunction will grow out of it.
Executive Dysfunction persists into adulthood, where it impacts daily life, work, and relationships. In fact, Executive Function deficits often become *more* noticeable as responsibilities and expectations increase with age.
It really hurts to be called rude or lazy when I actually care a lot and I'm working so hard only to be told I'm not meeting expectations.
Right, EF skills and deficits are linked to differences in how our brains develop and work. Executive Dysfunction is a disability, not a choice or a personality flaw.
It really hurts to be called rude or lazy when I actually care a lot and I'm working so hard only to be told I'm not meeting expectations.
Right, EF skills and deficits are linked to differences in how our brains develop and work. Executive Dysfunction is a disability, not a choice or a personality flaw.
Executive Dysfunction challenges can be eliminated with lifestyle changes.
There is no magical lifestyle change to eliminate ED. Some medications can temporarily increase motivation, focus, and impulse control, but generally wear off within hours and are not a substitute for EF skills. Organizational and planning strategies or “life hacks” can be helpful. However, what works for one person may not work for another, often multiple strategies must be attempted in order to find one that works, and a strategy that worked in the past may stop working.
Given enough time and willpower, Executive Dysfunction can be cured.
ED is a permanent disability, and is linked to physical differences in brain development, mainly in the prefrontal cortex. Just as you would not expect someone who needs glasses to gain perfect vision if they tried hard enough to see, overcoming ED challenges isn’t a matter of effort or willpower.
Expecting people with ED to act as if they have strong EF skills is ableist and harmful. However, strategies, accommodations, understanding, and empathy can help to lessen the negative impacts of ED.
Executive Dysfunction challenges can be eliminated with lifestyle changes.
There is no magical lifestyle change to eliminate ED. Some medications can temporarily increase motivation, focus, and impulse control, but generally wear off within hours and are not a substitute for EF skills. Organizational and planning strategies or “life hacks” can be helpful. However, what works for one person may not work for another, often multiple strategies must be attempted in order to find one that works, and a strategy that worked in the past may stop working.
Given enough time and willpower, Executive Dysfunction can be cured.
ED is a permanent disability, and is linked to physical differences in brain development, mainly in the prefrontal cortex. Just as you would not expect someone who needs glasses to gain perfect vision if they tried hard enough to see, overcoming ED challenges isn’t a matter of effort or willpower. Expecting people with ED to act as if they have strong EF skills is ableist and harmful. However, strategies, accommodations, understanding, and empathy can help to lessen the negative impacts of ED.
Dysregulated emotions are a sign of immaturity or of being “too sensitive”.
Someone who has EF deficits in working memory, focus, and attention can very quickly become overwhelmed. Hypersensitivity to external stimuli is common, as are sensory processing issues. Sensory overload, along with impulsivity and low frustration tolerance, can lead to difficulty controlling emotions, outbursts, meltdowns, and shutdowns.
Those with ED often experience anxiety and distress from constant feelings of failure and the awareness they are not meeting expectations.
People with Executive Dysfunction are less intelligent than those with strong Executive Function skills.
EF deficits can exist at all intellectual levels, including above average or high IQ. In fact, scientific studies have found links between ED and creativity. Divergent thinking—the ability to create many ideas from a single starting point—is considered an indispensable part of the creative process. Recent research shows that not only are adults with ED excellent at divergent thinking, they’re also better at conceptual expansion and overcoming knowledge constraints than peers with high EF skills.
Dysregulated emotions are a sign of immaturity or of being “too sensitive”.
Someone who has EF deficits in working memory, focus, and attention can very quickly become overwhelmed. Hypersensitivity to external stimuli is common, as are sensory processing issues. Sensory overload, along with impulsivity and low frustration tolerance, can lead to difficulty controlling emotions, outbursts, meltdowns, and shutdowns.
Those with ED often experience anxiety and distress from constant feelings of failure and the awareness they are not meeting expectations.
People with Executive Dysfunction are less intelligent than those with strong Executive Function skills.
EF deficits can exist at all intellectual levels, including above average or high IQ. In fact, scientific studies have found links between ED and creativity. Divergent thinking—the ability to create many ideas from a single starting point—is considered an indispensable part of the creative process. Recent research shows that not only are adults with ED excellent at divergent thinking, they’re also better at conceptual expansion and overcoming knowledge constraints than peers with high EF skills.
That makes sense Edie, you're full of creativity! Now I'm wondering how I can help you and others with ED?
I've got some ideas!
That makes sense Edie, you're full of creativity! Now I'm wondering how I can help you and others with ED?
I've got some ideas!
