“From my own learning and experience, I see executive dysfunction in ADHD as a self-regulation issue and not a deficit or inability to execute these skills,” says Edwards. Dopamine levels may be low among those with ADHD. She notes that everyone has executive functioning strengths and challenges, which is why some people can be skilled at some things and not others.īut executive functioning challenges can be more severe and impactful for people with ADHD.ĭopamine levels in the brain play a key role as well.ĭopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward, helps regulate our emotions and impulses, two main components of executive functioning. “Executive dysfunction describes the scope of different cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges that can result from a specific disorder, brain injury, or history of trauma ( PTSD or C-PTSD),” Edwards explains. “Executive functions are cognitive and mental abilities that help us take and direct actions, control our behavior, and motivate us to achieve our goals,” Edwards says.Įxamples of executive functioning skills include:Įxecutive dysfunction (or executive functioning disorder) may have a unique effect on people with ADHD. “What other people never see is that those behaviors are usually the result of the internal experiences and symptoms that are the larger part of the iceberg that’s underneath the surface,” she explains. For ADHD, it’s usually the hyperactivity, impulsivity, or distractibility, which can present in fidgeting, interrupting others, constantly moving, etc.,” Edwards says. “What other people tend to see are behaviors. constantly losing items (e.g., phone, keys, wallet, etc.).anger outbursts (e.g., road rage or meltdowns).getting easily distracted by external stimuli.body-focused repetitive behaviors (e.g., skin picking, nail picking or biting, hair pulling or twirling, leg bouncing).If you’re looking for a way to have meaningful conversations about ADHD that is easy to understand and relatable, this metaphor is a great place to start.The presentation of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults will depend on which type of ADHD they have.Īccording to Edwards, common visible ADHD symptoms include: The prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among people in the. Using the ADHD Iceberg concept can be a powerful way to explain ADHD to friends, loved ones, and co-workers in a straight forward way. ADHD & Criminal Justice: Understanding the Iceberg. It can also help to normalize ADHD, as it shows that it is a real and very complex condition and not an excuse for "bad" behavior. It puts into visual terms what can often seem like an abstract condition, helping to bridge the gap between understanding an individual’s experience of ADHD and the general public’s perception of it.īy illustrating that ADHD is more than just an outward behavior, colleagues, friends and family members can better appreciate how an individual is affected, enabling them to be more empathetic and understanding. The main benefit of the ADHD Iceberg concept is to shift the focus from the few visible symptoms to the many other affected areas of life – because there is so much more to ADHD than meets the eye. The ADHD Iceberg concept is a visual representation of the condition, which illustrates how the visible “tip of the iceberg” of ADHD - the hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity - is just the outward manifestation of a much greater, invisible set of challenges.īeneath the surface, there are many underlying components to ADHD, such as mood swings and anxiety, sleeping problems, low self-esteem, difficulty with relationships, shame and frustration, and of course difficulty with executive functioning, that are not always visible. That’s why the ADHD Iceberg concept is a useful tool for explaining the condition to friends and loved ones in an empathetic way. If you’ve ever tried to explain what it is like to live with ADHD, you know that it can be difficult to convey the true extent of the condition to people who don’t experience it.
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