The human brain is divided into three basic parts: the reptilian brain, the mammalian brain and the neocortex. The reptilian brain is where motor functions and instinctive behaviors are controlled. The mammalian brain is responsible for emotions and sensory processing. The neocortex is responsible for conscious thought and language processing. When you have a stroke or a traumatic brain injury it can affect any of these areas of your brain, depending on where the damage occurs.
Your speech therapist should be able to help you with any issues related to language processing if your neocortex was affected by your stroke. If you are having trouble with executive function, though, you will need to work with someone who specializes in helping patients recover from a trauma to their mammalian brains. Executive function happens in your prefrontal cortex, which is part of your mammalian brain. This is the area that controls things like self-discipline, problem solving, decision making and memory.
If you are an adult or teen with a speech-language disorder, you may be able to benefit from executive function speech therapy. This type of therapy has been shown to help with a number of issues that speech-language pathologists commonly see in their patients.
One of the biggest benefits of executive function speech therapy is that it can improve your communication skills. The goal is to help you improve your ability to communicate with others and make decisions. In addition, it can increase your ability to make plans and organize yourself.
It can also help you learn how to use language effectively. This means that you will be able to express yourself more clearly and accurately and understand what others are saying to you. It also helps you learn how to read people’s facial expressions and body language so that you have better interactions with them.
Another benefit of executive function speech therapy is that it helps you develop better social skills. If you are not comfortable talking to other people, this type of therapy can help you feel more confident in your interactions with them. You may be able to be more outgoing or even find a new hobby.
Executive function is a broad term that encompasses many different skills. It is the ability to manage time, tasks, and priorities in order to complete desired goals. This specific skill can encapsulate abilities such as planning, organizing, prioritizing goals, and managing time.
Often times this skill is developed through childhood and into adulthood. But sometimes, it is not fully developed due to external factors in an individual’s life, or an injury. Injuries such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or a brain tumor can cause damage to the area of the brain that controls executive function.
Executive Function, or EF, is the management system of all other cognitive processes. It includes the ability to organize, plan and manage time, working memory and self-awareness (metacognition). We know that EF exists as a complex network of brain functions. Current research indicates that EFs are closely related to parts of the frontal lobe, but we also know that other areas of the brain such as the parietal and temporal lobes are involved.
EF gives us the ability to control our thinking, emotions and behavior in order to complete complex tasks. When functioning properly, EF allows us to maintain a goal in mind while filtering distractions from our environment. For people with executive function disorder (EFD), this can be extremely challenging. Difficulties with executive function can impact daily living skills such as planning and organizing for a specific task or event (i.e. getting ready for school), job performance (i.e. meeting deadlines), social relations (i.e. making plans), and ability to cope with stress effectively in daily life situations (i.e., responding appropriately when angry).