executive function?

Since I am newly diagnosed with ADHD, I have had many questions about executive function. The prefrontal cortex has a lot to do with ADHD and executive function. Are there tests for executive functioning? Does anyone have any information or experience with this?

I am truly wondering if my executive functioning is messed up as I was a low birth weight baby and also my mother smoked and drank during her pregnancy with me. I was also a pre- term baby at about 31 to 32 weeks. I was a slow learner in school and also a slow processor at times. I am as smart as the smartest but I do make extremely poor decisions and have had a lot of mess ups in my life.

Any help would be appreciated.

SB

ADHD
MDD
GAD

I am not familiar with this terminology, but maybe someone else will come along who is.

Pre-term babies are known to be more likely to have learning disorders, etc. Drinking and smoking are related to pre-term births. And too much drinking can lead to what's called fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause all sorts of problems with the baby.

I've recently done day-long testing for learning disabilities. The only executive function I can see for sure that was tested is working memory. There might be others that are executive functions but I'm just not sure. It was done by someone pretty specialized, so if you are wanting testing to be done you would likely have to do some traveling unless you're lucky enough to have someone in your city who can do it.

If I get tested for it and I do have working memory issues and other learning problems, I wonder at my age of 56, what could be done to improve my life. I am not in school anymore but I do make poor decisions and seem to not be able to remember consequences sometimes. Sometimes I am in the... so here and now.... that I make decisions based on a present situation and I am unable to see far ahead and what those decisions will mean in the future. I seem to have a problem with present and past memory. I am not sure what could be done to remedy this.

SB

MDD
ADHD
GAD

There is a quite simple computerized test to take they sometimes offer, and I have taken it. I somehow question the results of my test as I use computers a lot and have a faster response rate than people who don't use computers. But it could tell you some basic things.

Test of Variables of Attention - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I had tons of commission errors. I hate that because I'm not the impulsive type. I think at least!

My pdoc said I could test for this but did not specify a test.

I just wonder what use it would be to know now in my life.

One thing I notice that I do...I edit my sentences a lot.

Ex: I just wonder what use it would be in my life to know now.

Does this Ex: sentence make as much sense as the first one? Is one a grammatical error?

I love to write but I use up so much time trying to be grammatically correct. It is frustrating.

Thanks for the info and the link!

Just a thought...is the Conners space bar test a T O V A type of test?



MDD
ADHD
GAD

I don't know.

sideBlinded,

Welcome to the club of older adults dx'd with ADD. I am 43 and although I had the dx as a child, I did not have services or treatment. It wasn't until two years ago that I began seeing a pdoc and after reviewing my childhood records, he came to the conclusion that my ADD never went away.
Anyhow, as long as you are alive and involved in life you have a reason to understand your diagnosis better and seek ways to improve your life. I've heard a lot of good things about a brain training site called Lumosity. Their site focuses on improving memory and attention. They do charge but from what I've heard it's well worth it. I'm sure there are other sites similar to them that don't charge. If computer brain training doesn't appeal to you maybe doing things at home such as card games, puzzles, or two player games to keep the brain juices flowing and improve memory and concentration.
What ever you decide, just know that you have many years to go. Make them good ones.

Thank you most kindly yellowfrog268

I am not only finding that my working memory is bad but that I make horrible decisions and I am very interested in knowing if this has to do with the prefrontal cortex (executive functioning) deficits. I will discuss this with my pdoc and see if there is a way to test for this.

Yeah, I agree that being DX'd later in life puts us in our own club as to how to handle this new finding. The only good thing I think is not being in school and having to study with ADHD or ADD. It was bad enough without knowing I had ADHD. I feel for the ones who are still not diagnosed and who are having trouble in school. Then as an adult a whole new set of problems awaits them. Do I have regrets, yes... yes I do.

Take care

MDD
ADHD
GAD