Does Your Partner Fail the ‘Bird Test’?

Key points

The bird test may reflect issues with executive function more than it does connection.

Partners who have trouble with attention may also struggle in conversations.

Executive dysfunction may impact your relationship without necessarily indicating a lack of connection.

Working together on systems and ways to communicate can boost your relationship and mutual understanding.

My husband is gesturing wildly but quietly for me to come to the front window.

“Hawk!” He says. “I think it caught something in its talons.”

We stare across the canyon to one of the red-tailed hawk’s favorite posts before deciding to get the binoculars and head outside.

“I saw a bird today,” he ribs me and passes the binoculars.

We don’t need to try the bird test; we’re both really into birds.

A red-ta