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Executive Function Checklist

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rashmitha ramesh
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9 views3 pages

Executive Function Checklist

Uploaded by

rashmitha ramesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The Executive Functioning Checklist

Response inhibition (aka impulse control)

 Makes careless mistakes just to get work ‘done’


 Gives up as soon as they encounter a problem or challenge
 Blurts out answers instead of raising hand
 Does all the fun parts of an assignment first to avoid the hard parts
 Starts work before teacher finishes giving directions
 Engages in ‘risky’ behavior
 Avoids or doesn’t complete homework
 Struggles to take turns
 Interrupts others while they’re talking
 Touches others bodies or possessions without permission

Planning & Prioritizing

 Can’t chunk larger assignments into smaller pieces


 Doesn’t know where to start on a project or assignment
 Gets ‘stuck’ easily
 Often turns in assignments late because they underestimated complexity
 Prefers multiple choice questions to open-ended responses
 Struggles to take notes since everything seems equally important
 Has difficulty making decisions
 Struggles with strategizing and/or multi-step problem solving

Executive Functioning Checklist: Mental flexibility

 Can become fixated on aspects of a routine (wants to sit in the same place, eat the
same food, wear the same clothes, etc)
 Struggles with transitions: between classes, activities, home/school,
weekend/weekday, etc
 Copes poorly when schedules or routines change
 Can become ‘hyper focused’ on one topic, idea, activity, etc
 Struggles to switch gears

Working Memory

 Really struggles to take notes from lectures (writing and listening at the same time)
 Experiences ‘information overload’ easily when too much is presented too quickly
 Finds mental math especially challenging
 Struggles to remember multi-step directions and follow them out
 May frequently forget what they were planning to say after raising hand or starting
to speak
 Might need to read text passages (especially dense or long-winded ones) over and
over to fully comprehend meaning
 Struggles with tracking the flow of conversations and participating appropriately

Emotional Control

 Can have angry outbursts at slight provocations


 Quick to call things ‘unfair’
 Struggle to persevere through difficulties in homework
 Overreacts to negative situations (when disciplined, getting a bad grade, losing a
game)
 May unexpectedly laugh hysterically or burst into tears
 Seems to have rapid mood changes
 Appears not to care about others’ feelings

Executive Functioning Checklist: Task Initiation

 Doesn’t know where to start on an assignment or project, even if directions were


just given
 Has trouble focusing again after a break
 Procrastinates starting work until the last minute
 Finds other things to do instead of work (frequently going to the bathroom,
sharpening pencil, being on phone, etc)
 Frequently seen with their head down during work time
 Asks for help all the time, even when you know they understand the material and
are capable of the work
Self-Monitoring

 Unaware of how much effort they do or don’t put into their work
 Think of grades somewhat magically, and confused/surprised by poor grades
 Doesn’t recognize when their behavior negatively affects others
 Talks too loudly or quickly
 Might need to be told to sit down, stop touching that, put that down, etc, multiple
times
 Doesn’t think to check around them to gauge appropriate social behavior
 Might unknowingly exhibit “annoying” repetitive behaviors like pencil tapping,
knee-bouncing, or the like, even when others complain.

Organization

 Frequently loses assignments, supplies, library books, important messages, etc


 Doesn’t change behaviors, even if they seem to want to/see consequences for
disorganization
 Doesn’t use planners, even if given one
 Has a disastrous-looking backpack, bedroom, and/or work space and has trouble
finding anything
 Loses electronic files/emails because they can’t remember where they stored them,
or under what file name

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