Glossary

Executive dysfunction

Executive dysfunction is an informal description of ongoing trouble with executive function skills: getting organised, starting tasks, keeping track of time or switching between activities. It is not a diagnosis on its own. It is often discussed alongside ADHD, though it is not specific to ADHD.

What the research found

A meta-analysis of 83 studies compared groups with and without ADHD on executive function tests. On average the ADHD groups scored lower, with moderate differences, but the authors concluded that these weaknesses are neither necessary nor sufficient to explain all cases of ADHD (Willcutt and colleagues). In other words, some people with ADHD show no difficulty on these tests, and some people without ADHD do.

How it can show up

The NHS lists finding it hard to organise your time, and to follow instructions or finish tasks, among the symptoms of ADHD in adults (NHS). In a working week that might look like this:

  • Messages that need a reply pile up, each one small, together overwhelming.
  • A plan made on Monday is forgotten by Wednesday.
  • Appointments are missed despite good intentions.
  • Switching from one project to another takes most of the morning.

If difficulties like these affect work or daily life, a doctor or psychologist is the person to assess them. A planner cannot.

What people try

People tend to rely on structure outside themselves: one place for every loose item, routines that settle recurring decisions, reminders tied to times rather than to memory, and a short daily review of what is left.

How Flowo handles this

Flowo is not a treatment and cannot assess executive function. It can hold the plan: Brain Dump keeps loose items without asking for a folder or a date, and the scheduler places tasks around what cannot move. See what each part of Flowo does.

Sources