How Can Speech Therapy Help Improve Executive Function Skills?
What is Executive Function in Speech therapy?
The term “executive function” refers to a set of essential cognitive skills. These skills include the ability and capacity for advanced planning, meeting goals, using self-control, and following multi-step directions while remaining focused if interrupted.
Executive functions are abilities and processes that are used every day to learn, communicate, and navigate the tasks of daily life. Executive functioning is often referred to as the brain’s management system, which is controlled by the frontal lobe. Children develop and implement these skills at a very young age to learn new abilities, socialize, and participate in daily activities. As we grow and get older, more complex skills are learned, including the ability to manage time and initiate tasks. These skills make it possible to set goals, plan and organize, accomplish tasks, manage and express emotions, follow directions, focus on specific things, and more.
Executive functions play an important role in communication abilities, as we rely on these skills to effectively understand language, communicate, read and write, interact in social situations, and express our thoughts and feelings. Executive function disorder can cause one to struggle with related tasks. Speech therapy can be highly beneficial in addressing executive function disorder and helping individuals overcome communication challenges. If you think you might benefit from speech therapy and want to learn more, schedule your free introductory call today!
What Are the Types of Executive Functions?
There are four primary skills connected with executive functioning.
Attention: Focus and attention skills develop during infancy as babies learn to pay attention to and focus on people and objects in their environment. As these skills develop, it becomes possible to maintain focus and attention for longer periods of time. Once adulthood is reached, most individuals are able to complete more involved tasks without losing their focus, even in the presence of distractions.
Working Memory: Working memory refers to the ability to retain and recall information on demand, which dictates how we process and understand information within our environment and store it in our memory.
Inhibition: Inhibition refers to the ability to control our behavior and avoid harming ourselves or others. Impulse control is an important part of inhibition that begins to develop in young children and improves throughout childhood and into adulthood.
Planning & Organization: Planning and organization involve identifying tasks or processes that need to be completed and setting goals to accomplish them. This means clearly identifying the specific steps required for the tasks and completing them one by one.
How Does ADHD Affect Executive Function?
It is common for individuals with ADHD to have difficulties with organization, comprehending and following instructions, maintaining focus, and completing certain tasks. These challenges indicate executive dysfunction or executive function disorder, which causes the brain to struggle with memory, attention, and self-regulation.
If you or a loved one is struggling to communicate effectively or could simply use more support, help is available. Connect with one of our experienced speech therapists by scheduling your free introductory call today!
What is the Executive Function Test for Speech Language?
The Executive Function Test is a standardized test used to evaluate language skills that affect executive functions such as working memory, problem-solving, predicting outcomes, and transitioning between tasks. This test was developed to allow speech and language pathologists to identify weaknesses in the following:
- Vocabulary and use
- Memory
- Prolonged Attention
- Inferencing
- Problem-Solving
- Information Retention and Recall
- Self-Regulation and Impulse Control
- Social Pragmatic Skills
- Categorization
This test helps to measure executive functioning abilities in children and adults and identify specific areas of difficulty, helping speech and language pathologists to develop effective and appropriate treatment plans.
Can Executive Dysfunction Affect Speech?
Speech and language skills require a high degree of cognitive input, and executive functioning is a foundational aspect of this cognition. Difficulty with executive function skills can negatively affect speech and language in the following ways:
Impulse Control & Self-Monitoring: It is difficult for individuals with executive dysfunction to pause and prepare before speaking, which results in poor articulation and speech that isn’t always understood by others.
Reduced Emotional Control: Emotional outbursts are more common in individuals with executive dysfunction due to their inability to appropriately express their emotions through speech and language.
Poor Planning: Identifying the necessary steps to achieve a communication goal and deciding where to place their focus is often challenging for those with executive dysfunction.
Reduced Cognitive Flexibility: Individuals with executive dysfunction are often unable to solve problems or communication breakdowns because of challenges relating to revising plans and changing strategies when necessary.
Working Memory & Organization: Many individuals with executive dysfunction find it difficult to communicate effectively, as maintaining the required focus is often challenging. The ability to create and maintain mental systems to retain the information being communicated is also challenging.
How Can Speech Therapy Help with Executive Function?
The benefits of focusing on executive function skills during speech therapy are significant and often include:
- Enhanced Communication Skills
- Academic Success
- Broader Life Skills
- Improved Pragmatic Skills
- Increased Confidence
- Improved Attention Span and Focus
Targeting executive function skills in speech therapy sessions is essential for individuals of all ages and abilities but can be particularly beneficial for those who live with ADHD. Overall, addressing executive functions within speech therapy treatment means the individual receives more holistic care and achieves better communication outcomes. Speech and language pathologists are acutely aware of the importance of executive functioning in communication skills and offer innovative treatment approaches that offer major benefits in developing communication abilities and daily living skills. If you want to learn more about how speech therapy might benefit you or a loved one, connect with us by scheduling your free introductory call today!