I had the neurologist appointment on Monday, and he diagnosed me with "Executive Dysfunction Syndrome" that he thinks stemmed from some sort of damage to my left frontal lobe during/after my surgery (that was where my 3 AVMs were), contributing to my seeming inability to prioritize and focus on "important things" (aka: schoolwork for now), but being able to be hyper focused in other things (researching mental disorders or rare kinds of birth defects, for example), especially after my Keppra dosage was decreased back in April.
Does anyone... have any information/know anything about this...? It's kind of like ADHD, but as my neurologist put it, "It's not Attention Deficit. It's Intention Deficit." As in, I have problems with my motivation and intentions.
There seems to be few different names for this online...
(I'm assuming they are all pointing to the same thing.)
It was just so out of the blue and I'd never heard of anything like this, despite my background in psychology and special education, so it'll be great if anyone that knows anything about this could offer some information?
Hi, Hiro, both of my kids have this condition, though not from AVM. We are still working out how to deal with it, as they are about to enter high school. I am trying to transition from being their executive function (taking over) to supporting them as they improve their own executive functioning.
If you have the motivation to train your executive functioning, there are a number of cognitive training programs you can try. You can also use a coach or advisor to help you get back on track; check with your college's disability office. You can also use technology to help you with organization -- like Evernote.
It's possible that devoting a semester to getting on top of this while reducing your course load may serve you better than continuing straight through with a full load. Another way to deal with this is to base your career on something you naturally hyperfocus on, turning a disability into an asset. If you look for ADHD college listserves/online support groups, they will have dozens of tips on communicating with professors and getting accommodations that will also apply to you. Fortunately colleges are one of the best places to get accommodations, if you have documented disability. Your neurologist's report should be adequate documentation.
Hi Hiro. The doctors say it isn’t ADD but it sure can feel like it. I used to tease my husband and son for having ADD. Well God got me back because having a brain injury is a lot like having ADD? I am easily distracted by noise. I get impatient when waiting in line. I get impatient with using technology (IPad,IPod, TV remote). It’s been a year since my bleed, although it has gotten better but I still notice notice it.
Thank you for your comment! I had never heard of this before, so I was very confused, but I'm glad it's not just something that "exists only in name/textbook" kind of thing.
My "procrastination" (which is what I've always assumed it was... the symptoms are what "every college kid goes through" so it's still difficult for me to digest that it's a legitimate "difference") isn't THAT bad (though I have been having to get a lot of extensions, which I've never done before, because I find myself at 3am without enough written to turn anything in or have hopes of being able to have it be finished by the morning), but I think using some technology will help me. I use things like Listography (just a "list" site, but I put my homeworks and "to-dos" on there so I can have it wherever I'm going and keep track of what I need to do) and LeechBlock (Firefox add-on that blocks certain sites for certain periods of time) in efforts to try to get things done, but I think I need to keep on looking for more ways to organize myself.
I wish I could have had this figured out at the beginning of the semester (this past semester was my "recovery" semester that I just took random history classes and psychology class, away from my major after my brain surgery in December), so that this could have been addressed, but now that I am already a year behind, I don't really think I can afford to take another year off. My major (special education) is extremely rigid in curriculum, and courses are semester blocked, so if I miss one in one semester, I have to wait another year until I can take them again (which is what happened last year as I had to drop 2 courses because the student teaching and workloads were too high while having seizures).
I'm a little afraid of putting myself in the ADHD communities and looking at support groups devoted to people with ADHD, because I don't have ADHD and I don't want people in the communities to be upset that I'm "appropriating" resources meant for them.... Or something... I'm not sure. I guess I just don't think the conditions I am having are "enough of a big deal" for me to be entitled to services meant for people with ADHD or other disabilities.
I've always had "ADHD like symptoms" (not being able to concentrate, getting easily distracted, etc.), but I knew I didn't have ADHD because let's face it, all students go through "I don't want to do this homework.... Let's put it off until the last night!" So I didn't think much of it this time around either (except noticing that when I couldn't finish something... I LEGITIMATELY couldn't finish it, unlike the previous 10 years when even if I put it off to the last minute, I would at least finish it, and more than likely get an A on it).
But yes- it's so like ADHD it's ridiculous! I am so easily irritated, my mood swings are so often, and I burst into tears at the smallest of things. I'm wondering if this is part of the syndrome, or if it has to do with the fact that I'm not on mood stabilizers... But either way, I'm going to have to find a way to work around it so I can move on with my life.
I'm glad your symptoms have gotten better! I just hate being so snappy and easily irritable; it's draining, and it's not pleasant for people around me either. I hope by being able to address it as a problem and figure out what I can do to work around it, I'll be able to get better as you are.
(See how much I can write for comments? I have a 6 page paper that was due last week but it's lovely how well that's been going on! My attention and focus is so selective... My "intent" is there but not the "drive" that gets things done, apparently.)
I've never heard a term for it but I sure as heck have that exact thing! Worry every day now that my job is in jeopardy because of it and I used to be great! I was hoping it would get better after my DAVF is treated (embo coming up soon). I was just searching for a therapist today to see if maybe one could help me.
I just looked at your profile to see how long it has been since your AVM was obliterated. Btw, I graduated from University of Maryland(as did my husband) but I am living in the mid-west now. The physchiatrist that diagnosed my son with ADD explained that it is easier to concentrate on things that interest you. That is why You are able to focus on the website yet ignore the paper that is due. Another interesting thing is that a friend of my daughter’s has been diagnosed with ADD from having too many concussions. I find these interesting because it’s sort of the same thing…brain injury.
@Wendy- Wow! Alumnis! (Are you getting their desperate e-mails for donations...? My roommates were kidding around that they will finally feel like they've graduated when they started getting the e-mails and phone calls...)
That was the sense I was getting from my talking with my friends with ADD/ADHD too. They have easier time concentrating on things that are interesting than others (and most other people, in much milder senses). But I don't have ADHD, so I'm not sure what to think about it (still in the stage where I'm tempted to write it off as "a 'normal' thing doctors put a name on," but if it's something that's going to legitimately be a problem, I want to address it so it does not further bother my work ethics (it already is- with my final project being a week late, regardless of the fact that it is summer break). I just get so frustrated so easily these days!
But yes- it's amazing how all these different kinds of things can come from something so simply stated as "brain injury"...
It took U of Maryland while to find me but unfortunately they did. I think my husband ratted me out. He gives money to get better tickets to football games(men!!!). He is not donating this year because football interferes with his sailing weekends. We give most of our money to University of Missouri since my son just graduate from there and my daughter is a senior. I give a sorry sum to the Business school at Maryland and a more substantial amount to Mizzou for giving free rides to students so they don’t drive drunk. I do have my priorities in order. Ha ha
Lives are pretty good priorities! I wish people would donate to the education department though... The Special Education department is no longer since last year... Now we're part of some other larger thing that's linked with things like child protection or something... 8I But alas, teachers do not make enough to donate...