FAQs

Q:  What are the Cognitive Symptoms of Executive Functioning Impairment?

A: Cognition generally refers to what or how much a person knows or does.  Executive functioning skills describe how or whether the person goes about doing something.

• Impaired memory                                      

• Slowed thinking

• Difficulty organizing                                   

• Oversensitivity to ‘overload’

• Confusion                                                  

• Impulsivity

• Difficulty with judgment and reasoning     

• Difficulty with new situations

• Difficulty with language and words             

• Inflexibility of thought

• Concrete thinking                                      

• Attention and concentration

• Lack of initiation                                        

• Denial of disability

Q: What are Executive Functioning Skills?

A: Awareness – Insight of strengths and weaknesses.  Ability to see how the deficits impact on daily life.

Goal Setting – Realistically develop and structure both long and short-term goals appropriate to ability level.

Planning – Structured and non-spontaneous approach to both familiar and new tasks.

Initiation – Start activities and conversations spontaneously, without questions, assistance or prompting.

Inhibition – Independently behave socially-appropriate to changing situations without cueing or being distracted.

Self -Monitoring – Ability to assess behaviors and responses and then make positive corrections during changing situations.

Ability To Change Set – Demonstrate ability to vary behaviors and solutions to problems without relying on past experiences or cues.

Strategic Behavior – Ability to create functional, useful strategies on own by incorporating prior suggestions.