John Laing, Provisional Psychologist

Kristy McConnell, Registered Psychologist

*High level cognitive processes required to plan & direct activities

*Task initiation

*Follow through

*Sustained attention

*Performance monitoring

*Inhibition of impulses

*Goal directed persistence

Brain development and neuroplasticity

Behavioural Changes

ADHD is associated with impairment in Executive Functioning

Difficulty with inhibition &/or self-discipline

The impact of alcohol:

*Brain injury-

*Communication

*Memory

*Adaptive function

*Academics- Math

*Executive functions

*Attention and self-regulation

*Intelligence Diagnostic criteria: Growth, face, brain, alcohol history

*Planning

*Organization

*Problem solving

*Time blindness

*Task Initiation

*Goal Directed Persistence

*Flexibility

*Inhibition*Delay of gratification*Emotions*Reward and

punishment stimuli

*Working memory*Coping *Novelty

*Time management*Time Blindness

*Identify the lagging skills

*Knowledge of & ability to assess executive skills

*Specific interventions targeted at particular executive or cognitive weakness(es)

* Remediate underlying cognitive factors* General learning ability* Slower pace of instruction* Active learning* Touch, talk, experiment

*Working memory* Small pieces of info* Rhymes/songs* Cues* Repetition/practice* Time for recall

* Visual-spatial skills* Tactile objects/manipulatives* Guide visual attention* Add structure to paper* Vertical number line

* Visual Motor/Graphomotor Skills*Metacognition

*30% Rule

*Point of performance

*Self-esteem

*Attention interventions*Modify environment

* Clear from auditory and visual distractions

*Minimize visual clutter

* Clear desks and workspaces

*Visually highlighting important aspects of an activity

*Nonverbal cues

*Short tasks; specific one instruction at a time

*Providing cues when there is a shift in an activity

*Russell Barkley: http://russellbarkley.org/*Sam Goldstein:

http://samgoldstein.com/cms/index.php/articles/*Books:

* Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents: A Practical Guide Assessment and Intervention (2nd. Ed.) by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare

* Coaching Students with Executive Skills Deficits by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare

*Peg Dawson Workshop, April 30th: http://workshops.jackhirose.com/JHA_Workshop.php?id=131

*Archived video sessions related to educating students with FASD: http://www.fasd-cmc.alberta.ca/education-training/archived-sessions/categories/educators/

*FASD Strategies Not Solutions: http://www.acbr.com/fas/strategies_not_solutions.pdf