# Executive Function/Attention

- Link: https://www.alquimedez.com/executive-function-or-attention
- Published: 2021-09-10T07:56:06+00:00
- Author: alquimedezhemo

Henry Montero, LMHC, CASAC-2, CTTS

**Alquimedez Mental Health Counseling**
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Executive functions are defined as a set of processes that enable an individual 
to manage themselves effectively. The brain governs the person’s action and how 
they go about managing is their executive function.

Executive function is essentially an umbrella term for mental health issues involving
neurological based skills and self-regulation. Also called cognitive control, executive
function is responsible for an individual setting and achieving an objective.

**Types of Executive Functions**
 There are several executive functions, and we 
will discuss each of these below:

 1. **Impulse Control**
     This is what gives a child the capability to think before 
    they act or look before they leap if you will. If a child has poor control and 
    cannot contain his impulses, then he may simply blurt inappropriate things at the
    worst possible time. Such children also have a greater inclination to take risks.
 2. **Emotional Control**
     Emotional control is known as the ability to keep emotions
    in check. A child not being in full ascendancy of this executive function may tend
    to overreact. He may be unable to process aspects of life such as criticism as 
    a result.
 3. **Flexible Thinking**
     This enables a child to adjust in scenarios where they are
    facing unexpected circumstances. In this instance, children who are rigid or are
    not able to acclimatize well enough to a new situation may become difficult and
    agitated as a result.
 4. **Working Memory**
     Working memory serves a child in remembering important details.
    Therefore, if a child has a weaker memory, he will naturally struggle to memorize
    information. Even recognizing directions will pose trouble for him. In some cases,
    also if he has been exposed to the details before and has noted them down, he may
    still struggle to remember regardless.
 5. **Self-Monitoring**
     At number five, we have self-monitoring. This allows children
    to assess how well or poorly they are faring. Hence, a child who is not well equipped
    with this specific executive function will be unable to come to terms with failure.
    So, a bad grade in a school exam may cause him quite a bit of stress. Another example
    could be an instance where they are given negative feedback, and they experience
    a lot of distress as a result.
 6. Planning and Prioritizing
     This function means the child can determine a goal and
    then set out to accomplish it. Kids who have lackluster planning and prioritizing
    skills may struggle to ascertain which parts of their task take precedence and 
    how they should proceed further.
 7. **Task Initiation**
     The penultimate executive function we will discuss is called
    task initiation. This means a child can act and start a given task. Those with 
    weaker task initiation may experience being frozen and not do what is necessary.
 8. **Organization**
     The final executive function we will specify is organization.
    A child with excellent organizational skills will be able to track things both 
    physically and mentally. Conversely, a child who does not possess this quality 
    will always lose focus and not have clarity in his train of thoughts.