Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in Canada, affecting 4-6% of adults and 5-7% of children, or approximately 1.8 million Canadians. In other words, 1 of every 21 people in the country has the disorder.

-Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada (CADDAC)

Executive function is a set of cognitive processes that regulate, control, and manage other cognitive abilities and behaviours. These include planning, working memory, attention, problem-solving, verbal reasoning, inhibition, mental flexibility, task switching, and the initiation and monitoring of actions. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is closely linked to deficits in executive function. Individuals with ADHD often experience challenges in these areas, which can affect their ability to organize, prioritize, and execute tasks, manage time effectively, and regulate emotions. This connection highlights the importance of addressing executive function in the treatment and management of ADHD.

The term “neurodivergent” describes people whose brain differences affect how their brains work, including individuals with ADHD. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don’t have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions. Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term. Instead, it’s a way to describe people using words other than “normal” and “abnormal.”

The term “neurodivergent” came from the related term “neurodiversity.” Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist, coined the word “neurodiversity” in 1998 to recognize that everyone’s brain develops in a unique way. 

-Cleveland Clinic