ADHD Executive Functions Series: Working Memory

ADHD – what is it and what is it not?

For many people, they don’t really understand ADHD. We hear mainstream explanations of ADHD as an inability to focus, too much energy or hyperactivity and a propensity to act impulsively. If you have a child, a spouse or other family member with ADHD, you most likely understand, at least on some level, that ADHD is so much more than this!

I started a series several weeks ago to begin to explain ADHD and it’s fundamental elements because I am passionate about getting the word out about what ADHD is and what it isn’t so that the people I know and love who have ADHD don’t continue to suffer from ignorance, judgement and impatience by those around them at school, at work and in their daily lives.

If you know or love someone with ADHD, you can’t begin to understand them and how their brain works until you understand Executive Functions!

My model of Executive Functions is a combination of Dr Russell Barkley’s and Dr Thomas Brown’s descriptions of executive functions as well as some additional separation of things that were formerly grouped together for a deeper understanding.

Depending on who you talk to and how they group these brain processes, there are between 8 and 12 Executive Functions. See “Executive Functions according to Judy” figure below.

There’s several foundational things to understand when talking about executive functions:

• Executive Functions are brain processes that develop over time – for individuals with ADHD, their develop of these processes is often delayed
• Each area of your brain is responsible for different functions – those areas of the brain that are impacted by ADHD are the same areas of the brain that are responsible for these executive functions – the areas responsible for self-control and self-management. 
• Executive functions begin to develop at birth and continue to develop as the brain develops to full maturity around 27 years of age (give or take a few years depending on the individual)
• Although we talk about these Executive Functions individually so we can understand them better, Executive Functions are not independent.  As they develop, they start to stack and pile on to each other.  They do not work independently, they are very interrelated and interdependent.  So, as we discuss them, we have to understand how they work together.  A deficiency in one area can impact many other areas depending on how the Executive Functions (EF’s) are related.

So let’s start with one of the foundational Executive Functions that begins to develop almost immediately at birth – Working Memory.

Working Memory is also called Short Term Memory.  This function is foundational in how we receive information, how we process it in our brains, how we store information into memory and then how we retrieve that information when needed.

Many people with ADHD struggle with Working Memory and this is one of the earliest signs that ADHD may be a factor.  When we are looking at children struggling with Executive Functions, we often ask if the child is able to follow 3-step requests.  This is asking about their Working Memory and often a child with EF impairments cannot remember what is being asked and is often distracted by other things before they get those tasks done.

Working memory helps get information into your brain and get it filed for easy recall.  Many individuals with ADHD struggle with their internal brain “filing system” and that impacts their ability to recall information easily and efficiently.  One client I had called her brain the “library of congress with no Dewey Decimal Aystem”!  She had a very difficult time filing information in her brain and recalling it when needed.

Working Memory and recall are foundational brain functions necessary for planning and organization, understanding and preparing for transitions, starting new tasks and so many others.   Almost every Executive Function relies on this foundational process. And it impacts many areas that are not immediately obvious – like time management and managing anxiety.

For more information on whether ADHD and Executive Functions are impacting you and what to do about it, reach out to me and we can start the conversation.  I can help identify those Executive Functions impacting your success and help you implement effective tools to manage those deficiencies so you can let all of those other amazing gifts and talents shine through!

Judy Richardson-Mahre, MA, ADHD-CCSP
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
ADHD Expert & Coach
Parent Coach
Educator
612.930.3903