Why Executive Functions Matter in Language Therapy and Educational Therapy

Jerlyn Tong
14 minutes ago
3 min read

When we think about language therapy, most people immediately think about vocabulary, pronunciation, or grammar.

But what if the real struggle isn’t just language? What if the challenge lies in the brain skills that support language?

This is where executive functions come in.

Important Links:

What Are Executive Functions?
The Hidden Link Between Executive Functions and Language Development
Executive Functions and Language Comprehension
Executive Functions and Emotional Regulation in Communication
The Bigger Picture

What Are Executive Functions?

Executive functions are the brain’s “management system.” They include skills such as:

Working memory
Attention control
Cognitive flexibility
Planning and organisation
Impulse control
Emotional regulation

These skills help children manage information, stay focused, shift between ideas, and organise their thoughts- all of which are essential for language development and language comprehension.

Without strong executive functions, language learning becomes significantly harder.

The Hidden Link Between Executive Functions and Language Development

Language is not just about knowing words. It requires the brain to:

Hold information in mind (working memory)
Filter distractions (attention control)
Organise thoughts into sentences (planning)
Shift between ideas in conversation (cognitive flexibility)
Regulate emotions when communication breaks down

For example:

A child may know the vocabulary needed to answer a question, but struggle to organise their thoughts.
A child may understand a story but forget key details before they can retell it.
A child may become frustrated and shut down during conversation due to weak self-regulation.

In these cases, traditional language drills alone may not be enough.

Executive Functions and Language Comprehension

Strong language comprehension requires:

Holding multiple pieces of information in mind
Connecting ideas across sentences
Making inferences
Monitoring understanding

If a child has difficulty with working memory or cognitive flexibility, they may:

Miss key details in a story
Struggle with “how” and “why” questions
Have difficulty following multi-step instructions
Find it hard to infer meaning

Improving executive functions strengthens the foundation upon which comprehension is built. In Educational therapy, we do not just target academic skills in isolation. We look at how attention, regulation, memory, and thinking skills interact with learning.

A child who struggles with reading comprehension may not only need phonics support- they may need help with:

Organising ideas
Sustaining attention
Managing cognitive load
Developing flexible thinking

By strengthening executive functioning skills alongside language therapy, children develop deeper, more sustainable progress.

Executive Functions and Emotional Regulation in Communication

Language is social.

Children need executive functions to:

Wait for their turn in conversation
Read social cues
Adjust tone and volume
Repair misunderstandings
Tolerate communication breakdowns

When executive functions are weak, children may appear:

Impulsive
Easily frustrated
Inflexible in conversation
Overwhelmed during academic tasks

Supporting executive functioning helps children feel more regulated, confident, and competent communicators.

At Total Communication, we integrate executive function support into both language therapy and educational therapy.

This may include:

Visual scaffolds to reduce cognitive load
Structured routines to support the organisation
Explicit teaching of thinking strategies
Regulation strategies to support focus
Guided practice in flexible thinking

When we strengthen the brain systems that support language, children don’t just memorise skills - they build independence.

The Bigger Picture

Language growth is not only about what a child knows. It is about how their brain manages, organizes, and uses that knowledge.

By targeting executive functions alongside language development, we create meaningful, lasting change - not just better worksheets, but better thinking.

If you would like to find out how executive functioning may be impacting your child’s language comprehension, academic performance, or emotional regulation, reach out to learn more about our integrated language and educational therapy approach.