Developed by Dr. Thomas Brown, these scales are a comprehensive inventory of real-world executive function challenges. Unlike older tools that just looked for 'hyperactivity,' the Brown EF/A looks at clusters of cognitive functions like activation, focus, effort, emotion, memory, and action. It's one of the most nuanced tools we have.
A Rebel's Guide to a
Flawed but Useful Tool.
The Brown EF/A Scales are a brilliant map of executive function.
But in the pathology paradigm, they're just a way to prove you're broken.
Deep Respect for the Tool.
Zero Respect for the System.
Let's be clear: we have a deep respect for the work of Dr. Thomas Brown. His model of executive functions was revolutionary. It moved beyond the simplistic "inattention" model of ADHD and gave us rich, nuanced language to describe the real-world challenges of a neurodivergent brain.
The problem isn't the tool. The problem is the pathology paradigm → it is used within.
In the traditional system, the Brown EF/A is used to generate a score, quantify a deficit, and hand you a report that says, with the cold authority of data, "Here is the objective proof that you are broken."
This is a violent misuse of a wonderful tool. At Enlitens, we rescue it.
It's a Checklist,
Not a Test.
The Score is Irrelevant
The numerical score is a useless data point for insurance companies. It tells you nothing about the human being. To focus on the score is to miss the entire point.
Framework for Inquiry
The genius of the tool is that it's a comprehensive "laundry list" of real-world challenges. It ensures we don't miss any critical areas of inquiry in your life.
Deficits are Doorways
Every highly-rated item isn't evidence of brokenness—it's a flashing neon sign that says "Aha! Here is a friction point. Let's investigate the neuroscience behind this."
The Enlitens Method:
From Checklist to Intel.
Step 1: The Mission Briefing
We begin by stripping away the test anxiety. "This is not a test. It's a comprehensive checklist of common challenges. We're going to use it as a map to identify the specific strengths and friction points in your brain's operating system."
Step 2: The Collaborative Inquiry
When you rate an item as a challenge—like "difficulty getting started"—that is our cue to launch a Cognitive Walk-Through →. We ask: "Can you think of a specific task you've been avoiding? Let's do a play-by-play. You sit at your desk... what happens next?"
Step 3: The Debrief
We connect the patterns to the science. "You rated 'getting started' high but 'organizing complex ideas' low. This isn't a deficit; this is a classic profile of a dopamine-interest nervous system. You have a brilliant executive team that runs on a very specific fuel."
The Neuroscience of
Executive Function.
Part of: The Clinical Model Hub | Explore the Full Enlitens Interview Model
Common Questions
Because in the traditional system, the score is just a threshold for diagnosis. If you score high enough, you get a label. But a number doesn't tell us how to help you. We care about the patterns. Identifying that you struggle with 'Activation' but excel at 'Memory' gives us a specific blueprint for your support strategies. The score is for insurance companies; the pattern is for you.
Absolutely not. It is impossible to fail a topographical survey. We are simply mapping the terrain of your brain. Every 'deficit' identified on the scale is actually a data point that reveals a friction point in your daily life. Finding these friction points is the first step to removing them.
We use the high-scoring items as cues for a Cognitive Walk-Through. If you rate 'difficulty getting started' as high, we don't just note it—we investigate it. We dissect the specific moments where that happens to understand the underlying block (is it sensory? is it perfectionism? is it dopamine?) and build a custom workaround.
No. The best preparation is just to show up with your honest, unmasked self. The more accurate the data you give us about your real-world struggles, the more accurate and useful your user manual will be.
