Executive functions in adults with dyslexia

The executive functions constitute a range of high-order cognitive abilities which permit an individual to plan, control and monitor their behaviour. There is considerable evidence of executive functioning deficits in children with dyslexia. Given that dyslexia is a lifelong condition, it continues to have a documented impact on executive functioning in adulthood. The current chapter reviews this literature, addressing a range of executive functions studied under controlled laboratory conditions (inhibition, set shifting, fluency, planning and problem solving, and dual-task performance). In addition to understanding optimal performance in a controlled environment, it is important to understand the everyday impact of executive functioning deficits on adults with dyslexia. To this end, the current chapter also considers how the typical, day-to-day use of executive functions is affected by dyslexia. Several means by which executive functioning problems can be ameliorated are then considered. The chapter concludes by highlighting the challenge to theoretical accounts to deal adequately with executive functioning deficits within their explanatory frameworks and makes some suggestions for future research.