Executive function issues due to extreme anxiety?

[Anonymous]

Extensive family history of both ADHD and ASD. We were concerned about our five year old due to some behaviors we see so got a neuropsych eval on the recommendation of our ped. That found no ADHD or ASD but a language delay so we started speech therapy. The speech therapist is very well regarded and experienced and just told us she thinks this is actually just anxiety, causing both language issues and executive function challenges.

Has anyone experienced this with their kid? What helped? Thank you.

[Anonymous]

What executive function issues? This is a five year old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What executive function issues? This is a five year old.

I am relaying what the two experts with lots of degrees told me. I didn't wake up today and decide my child has executive function problems because he won't put on his socks.

[Anonymous]

Ok but what do you see?
Anybody could get some kind of diagnosis. When I am anxious I dither, fumble, make mistakes, lose stuff on my desk, recheck frantically, lose track of time. That's nerves not something to treat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What executive function issues? This is a five year old.

I am relaying what the two experts with lots of degrees told me. I didn't wake up today and decide my child has executive function problems because he won't put on his socks.

OP. Please describe the behaviors, language issues and EF challenges.

[Anonymous]

Pathological Demand Avoidance is not a DSM diagnosis, but it does encompass a cluster of symptoms like you describe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathological Demand Avoidance is not a DSM diagnosis, but it does encompass a cluster of symptoms like you describe.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

My teen's executive function issues are definitely connected to anxiety. It's a terrible cycle. Because of EF challenges, she isn't sure how to start a project/assignment. Not knowing how to start increases her anxiety. Her anxiety then causes her to freeze, making it more difficult to figure out how to start. And around we go.

Getting anti anxiety meds was more helpful than ADHD meds (although she takes both).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pathological Demand Avoidance is not a DSM diagnosis, but it does encompass a cluster of symptoms like you describe.

Huh?

Did your google break? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathological_demand_avoidance

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pathological Demand Avoidance is not a DSM diagnosis, but it does encompass a cluster of symptoms like you describe.

Huh?

Did your google break? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathological_demand_avoidance

OP didn’t remotely describe anything like that.

[Anonymous]

Usually poor comms and poor exec functioning lead to anxiety. And the former are due to asd and/or adhd

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Extensive family history of both ADHD and ASD. We were concerned about our five year old due to some behaviors we see so got a neuropsych eval on the recommendation of our ped. That found no ADHD or ASD but a language delay so we started speech therapy. The speech therapist is very well regarded and experienced and just told us she thinks this is actually just anxiety, causing both language issues and executive function challenges.

Has anyone experienced this with their kid? What helped? Thank you.

Adhd Dx won’t happen until the school chimes in not just home life

Asd Dx usually come later, after the adhd dx, once homework ramps up and rotating classes, tests, managing time demands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What executive function issues? This is a five year old.

Can they follow multi step verbal directions?

Can they remember, on their own, to brush their teeth every morning?

Do they lose or misplace an excessive amount of daily needed things (coat, water bottle, shoes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pathological Demand Avoidance is not a DSM diagnosis, but it does encompass a cluster of symptoms like you describe.

Only in America

[Anonymous]

I’d get a second opinion.