October 11, 2022; Volume 2

Oct 11, 2022

Did you know occupational therapist's around the world are incorporating executive function intervention into their everyday practices and probably not even recognizing it? With all of the buzz about promoting executive function skills, it seems that all too often people are just looking at the executive constructs that they want to improve, not the act of executing goal directed behaviors? Goal directed behaviors require the use of multiple constructs TOGETHER, as well as incorporating environmental factors. If we just isolate constructs, sure we can build them up, but will we be developing them to generalize? On the other hand, if we look at the whole person and identify their daily occupations and implement executive function intervention into those.....are you getting my drift?

A PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Recently I reached out to some fellow OT's in my facebook group to ask them why they do not feel as "competent" as they would like to when working on executive function intervention. One OT, Katie, brought up a great point. Through our conversation she recognized that the research is constantly changing their story as to what is "effective" treatment. She identified that in the past it was said that "brain games" are a great way to increase executive functions. Then sometime later that was debunked. Now in the current technological age there are so many calls to suggest that video games are a positive. Katie identified that it is so hard to keep up and recognize what research is right versus wrong. I concurred and even went so far as to give some information based on research I had studied. Most importantly we identified that when it comes down to it, it is so improtnat to make sure there is something purposeful to connect to the intervention. To have an understanding of why something is being done or how something is being done is more beneficial than just participating in regimented games that focus on specific construct development.

Now for the best part. A day later Katie wrote back and gave me a true OT win. She recognized that during a treatment session using one of the brain games that her company focuses on, she worked with her client to modify HOW they were completing the game. She suggested that they perform a memory recall game the same way they would have memorized things in school. For example, using mnemonics, visual cues, auditory cues, etc..he paired actual functional activities her client had experienced and gone through, and applied them to something repetitive and not motivating to the client and paired it with purposeful activity, and guess what, her client made immediate gains! Amazing what can happen when a professional can expand upon a goal and relate it to real world applications. Way to be an EFfective, competent OT Katie!!!!

Each Newsletter I will attempt to highlight a professional or something within our profession that demonstrates our effectiveness in the executive function realm. If you have something you have seen or experienced that you would like to submit, please feel free to reach out to [email protected].

CONSTRUCT CORNER

When we talk about executive functions, constructs are such a big piece of the conversation, and rightfully so. But as I mentioned above, it often gets "lost in the sauce" that the constructs, while considered the integral mechanisms of executive function, are just that.....mechanisms.

Look at executive function as an orchestra: Our brain is the conductor, directing the necessary sequences and pace necessary to the different sections in hopes they will work together. Just as an orchestra has the string sections, the brass section, the woodwind section and the percussion section, executive functioning has its own sections that need to be directed. From self awareness to working memory to inhibition, we rely on these primary constructs to play a part in goal directed activity. Beyond that, each section in an orchestra goes on to have an array of instruments in them (brass; trumpets trombones, tuba; strings; violin, viola, cello....you get the drift). This is similar to constructs. Those primary constructs have other constructs developed within them. Constructs like organization, recall, sustained attention, etc are derived from some of those primary constructs. Make sense? Now the most important part! When given a task, we rely on these constructs to work together to help us achieve! So in closing, let's help teach our students / clients how to conduct their own orchestra and succeed in the achievements they want to make!

READ WITH ME

This edition's "Read With Me" is brought to you by Russell A. Barkley, a psychologist with, in my opinion, genius related to ADHD and executive functions. When I first became interested in Executive Functions I read everything I could about the subject, but just did not feel connected to it as a professional, until I came across: Executive Functions; What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Evolved. If, as an OT, you ever wanted to truly understand executive functioning from a functional, whole person perspective, then let me present to you this opportunity. Open this book, but be ready to take notes because it is chock full of information. Descriptive, developmental, and purposeful, Barkely takes you on an expedition through his model of executive function from a phenotype perspective. It connects theory and perspective to the evolving person and brings together an understanding of the importance of recognizing strengths and weaknesses in ourselves in order to promote goal achievement. I promise you, if you are an EF nerd as I feel I am, the pages between the covers of this book will give you an opportunity to understand a perspective of executive functions that go hand in hand with the delivery of occupational therapy.

Each newsletter, I will bring forth a new piece of literature, research, or something published that relates to us as occupational therapists and executive function interventionists, because I believe we have to share with each other in order to promote each other forward.

Thank you for taking the time to read "The Other Half". I hope that you found it purposeful and helpful on your journey to developing your executive function knowledge. If you are looking for more information on the topics above, please don't hesitate to look at my store of current offerings or to reach out to me personally. From self paced online courses, to mentoring opportunities, to live webinars I am constantly trying to develop more ways for my followers to become proficient, confident therapists in relation to all things executive functioning. Until next time, keep being EFfective, keep giving your best EFfort and know that each and every one of you OT's are EFfing AWESOME! :) Best to you all!