Executive functioning refers to a set of skills necessary to regulate behaviors and organize information. Young children are not expected to have well-developed executive functioning skills. As children get older, their executive functioning skills mature and they become more independent in managing and organizing their own behaviors. Executive functioning is one of the last set of skills to develop and many children need support when learning these skills. However, some children and adolescents need more support than is typically necessary. Executive functioning deficits are not an independent diagnosis; however, these deficits are often seen in children with ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
Your child may be experiencing executive functioning difficulties if they struggle to:
- Inhibit inappropriate responses
- Shift attention between tasks
- Organize information
- Plan and complete multiple-step tasks
- Monitor and adapt behaviors
- Regulate emotional responses
- Manage time
- Initiate and complete tasks
If you have concerns about your child’s executive functioning difficulties, please call CNC at 
847-272-2484 to schedule a consultation and/or assessment. It is important to understand your child’s specific executive functioning strengths and weaknesses in order to provide effective intervention. Many children with executive functioning deficits benefit from tutoring. Our psychologists are also available to attend a school meeting and work with treatment providers to share the results and recommendations from the evaluation.