THE BROWN MODEL OF ADD
Thomas Brown of the Yale University School of Medicine is one of the leading thinkers about ADHD. His 2005 book, Attention Deficit Disorder: The Unfocused Mind in Children and Adults in a "must-read." In the book, Dr. Brown enumerated the six executive functions that are impacted by ADHD.
What is executive function? The executive functions of the brain are those located in the cerebral cortex. These are the functions that allow us to manage our thinking (cognition) and behavior. Brown’s theory assumes that ADD consists of impairments in a broad range of cognitive functions in addition to problems with attention, concentration and hyperactivity. The six executive functions are listed below.
Organize, Prioritize and Activate for Task
Focus and Sustain Attention to Task
Sustain Alertness, Effort, Processing Speed
Manage Frustration and Modulate Affect
Utilize Working Memory, Access Recall
Regulate Verbal and Motoric Action
Organize, Prioritize and Activate for Task
The ADHD individual who experiences difficulty in this area procrastinates, needs pressure to get started on a task, is unrealistic with estimating time and money, has difficulties setting priorities and has poor follow up on plans and intentions.
Focus and Sustain Attention to Task
These individuals are preoccupied with their own thoughts, easily distracted both internally and externally, lose focus when reading and/or listening, need reminders to stay on task, and switch tasks frequently, getting easily sidetracked.
Sustain Alertness, Effort, Processing Speed
ADHD individuals have an arousal problem. They are excessive daydreamers, appear unmotivated and apathetic, effort fades quickly, and processing speed slows. All this leads to very inconsistent productivity. How many times have we said about our ADHD kids, “But he was able to do it last week.”
Manage Frustration and Modulate Affect
Difficulties in this area include: becoming easily frustrated, overly sensitive to criticism, having a short fuse, excessive irritability, worrying excessively, perfectionistic, often sad, unhappy and discouraged.
Utilize Working Memory, Access Recall
Working memory is the ability to hold information in one’s head while applying it to a problem. Problems include: forgetting intended words and actions, losing track of papers, belongings, learning things and then not being able to retrieve them, difficulty following sequences directions, and quickly losing thoughts put ‘on hold.’
Regulate Verbal and Motoric Action
Inability to regulated actions leads to impulsive behavior, fidgetiness, motoric restlessness, and being overly quick to jump to conclusions. These individuals act before they think.
If parents and kids can be knowledgeable about what their impairments are, they are in a better position to seek accommodations and modifications at work or at school. Proper identification can also lead to appropriate treatment.
What is executive function? The executive functions of the brain are those located in the cerebral cortex. These are the functions that allow us to manage our thinking (cognition) and behavior. Brown’s theory assumes that ADD consists of impairments in a broad range of cognitive functions in addition to problems with attention, concentration and hyperactivity. The six executive functions are listed below.
Organize, Prioritize and Activate for Task
Focus and Sustain Attention to Task
Sustain Alertness, Effort, Processing Speed
Manage Frustration and Modulate Affect
Utilize Working Memory, Access Recall
Regulate Verbal and Motoric Action
Organize, Prioritize and Activate for Task
The ADHD individual who experiences difficulty in this area procrastinates, needs pressure to get started on a task, is unrealistic with estimating time and money, has difficulties setting priorities and has poor follow up on plans and intentions.
Focus and Sustain Attention to Task
These individuals are preoccupied with their own thoughts, easily distracted both internally and externally, lose focus when reading and/or listening, need reminders to stay on task, and switch tasks frequently, getting easily sidetracked.
Sustain Alertness, Effort, Processing Speed
ADHD individuals have an arousal problem. They are excessive daydreamers, appear unmotivated and apathetic, effort fades quickly, and processing speed slows. All this leads to very inconsistent productivity. How many times have we said about our ADHD kids, “But he was able to do it last week.”
Manage Frustration and Modulate Affect
Difficulties in this area include: becoming easily frustrated, overly sensitive to criticism, having a short fuse, excessive irritability, worrying excessively, perfectionistic, often sad, unhappy and discouraged.
Utilize Working Memory, Access Recall
Working memory is the ability to hold information in one’s head while applying it to a problem. Problems include: forgetting intended words and actions, losing track of papers, belongings, learning things and then not being able to retrieve them, difficulty following sequences directions, and quickly losing thoughts put ‘on hold.’
Regulate Verbal and Motoric Action
Inability to regulated actions leads to impulsive behavior, fidgetiness, motoric restlessness, and being overly quick to jump to conclusions. These individuals act before they think.
If parents and kids can be knowledgeable about what their impairments are, they are in a better position to seek accommodations and modifications at work or at school. Proper identification can also lead to appropriate treatment.
