Reading success depends not only on decoding and oral language, but also on executive function (EF) processes. This session will share current models of EF and highlight how EF supports reading tasks, from sounding out words to understanding text. We will discuss how EF challenges are framed in clinical and educational settings, and how ADHD and EF challenges compare. Our focus will be on how EF differences and/or ADHD can contribute to reading difficulties such as in dyslexia. The talk will also review current evidence on EF related interventions and implications for reading instruction. We will draw on insights from cognitive neuroscience, clinical, and education contexts to offer an integrated perspective on EF and reading.
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Explore types of executive function (EF)
- Define characteristics of ADHD
- Differentiate contributions of ADHD and EF to reading outcomes
- Synthesize research differentiating the impact of EF and ADHD on reading performance and reading brain systems
- Identify current insights about how EF training can impact reading skills, especially for struggling readers
