In this presentation Drs. Glanzman and Nissley-Tsiopinis provide an overview of what executive functions are, how they are measured, and how they are related to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). They also describe how executive functions relate to the “daily life” or “endpoint” skills that children need to be successful in school, particularly regarding the organization of materials, time management, and planning skills. Next, they review psychosocial treatments, including child/teen skills training and how parents and caregivers can effectively set their child up for success. Then, they describe research evidence for interventions that focus on improving brain function directly, including medication and complementary interventions (e.g., exercise, mindfulness meditation, brain training programs, neurofeedback and dietary treatments). Finally, they discuss a developmental approach to intervention over time.

These presentations were made possible by a generous donation to the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at CHOP by Janet Zolot, Judy Nissenbaum, and Lisa Maslow through the Yetta Deitch Novotny Charitable Trust. We thank our board and our team for their work on the materials.

Improving Executive Functioning in Children With ADHD

Learn what executive functioning is and how ADHD affects it; how to set up children for success at home and school; and what research says about interventions like medication and mindfulness meditation.

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Supplemental materials:

1. References from the executive functioning presentations for professionals and parents/caregivers
   This supplemental handout provides citations for the references cited in the executive functioning presentations.
2. Resource List: Books and program manuals
   This supplemental handout compiles a list of current research-based resources that parents and caregivers can reference for further information.
3. What is ADHD?
   This supplemental handout provides information on the characteristics and diagnosis of ADHD. 
4. How is ADHD treated?
   This supplemental handout provides information on current evidence-based treatments for ADHD.
5. What are executive functions and how are they related to ADHD?
   This supplemental handout provides an overview of executive functioning, what skills are considered executive functions, and how EFs are related to ADHD.
6. How does medication affect EFs?
   This supplemental handout provides an overview of available information about how medication may affect executive functioning.
7. Research-based intervention teaching organization, time management and planning (OTMP) skills: Parent-focused strategies
   This supplemental handout provides an overview of behavioral parent training interventions that are effective for children with ADHD and provides insights on how these interventions can be used by parents to address the executive functioning challenges shown by children and teens with ADHD. It also provides guidance on how to find a treatment provider and how to effectively collaborate with schools.
8. Research-based interventions teaching OTMP skills: Child-focused strategies
   This supplemental handout provides a summary of strategies used in child skills training interventions for executive functioning which have been tested and found to be effective for children and teens with ADHD.  It also provides guidance on how to find a treatment provider and how to effectively collaborate with schools.
9. Adapting executive function interventions for the digital age
   This supplemental handout provides suggestions for adapting the research-based interventions to digital systems that track homework assignment and completion.
10. Updates on brain-focused interventions for treating ADHD and executive functioning challenges
    This supplemental handout provides more information on  what we know about brain-focused interventions and ADHD in relation to executive functioning. The interventions reviewed include medication, exercise, mindfulness meditation, neurofeedback, brain training and dietary treatments.