Assessment and Remediation of Executive Dysfunction in Autism and Asperger Syndrome

Abstract

This chapter begins by providing a definition of executive function and current hypotheses about the neural substrate of these cognitive processes. The term executive function encompasses a wide range of abilities, including planning, organization, goal-selection, flexibility, self-regulation, inhibition, and set maintenance. What all executive processes appear to have in common is that they are goal-directed and future-oriented. This is followed by a review of the research literature on executive dysfunction in autism and AS (Asperger syndrome). The second half of the chapter discusses strategies for assessment and remediation of such problems. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)(chapter)