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(Unit 8) Topic 4: Executive Function 

2 Clock Hours of Early Childhood Education

How is EFD Diagnosed

​Topic 4 Page 13

Executive Function Disorder is a condition that can change over time with therapies, practice, support and more. Some people suffer from mild symptoms and other have extreme ones. What’s more is that nearly everyone suffers from some type of executive function challenge. Children with EFD are assessed by professionals using various methods. Depending upon the child, symptoms, medical professional, and goals, there are different assessments that are utilized to determine a child’s executive function level. All of these assessments have fancy acronyms and modes of interpretation that medical and neuroscience professionals are skilled at delivering and reporting on. 

Some EFD assessments task children with recognizing and recalling information after being exposed for short amounts of time. Often these include drawing a shape or combination of strange shapes after the alotted period of time is up. Other assessments gain perspective from teachers and parents to design a new assessment specific to the child. Still, others may ask children to perform certain tasks that measure various attributes of executive function. EFD diagnoses do not stem from one specific assessment that works for each person. This is just one of the many reasons that a medical professional must diagnose a person.  

Here are some links about EFD to explore:

• Evaluating Your Child for EFD By Marcia Eckerd, Ph.D. 
• Simple Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test by Archimedes’ Library ​
• Assessment of executive functions: Review of instruments and identification of critical issues, Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Volume 23, Issue 2, March 2008, Pages 201-216, 
• Children and Adolescents with Weaknesses in Executive Function, Manhattan Psychology Group, PC

​Children like Rodney have been formally diagnosed with EFD. Not all children with EFD symptoms or signs will be diagnosed. Some will unfortunately show these signs and symptoms and struggle immensely with little formal intervention. This does not mean that their teachers or other caring adults cannot still support them with many of the previously mentioned accommodations. Surely, educators cannot make a diagnosis, but by getting to know the child and truly understanding them you can make things work in their favor with the best kind of support that they need. 

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