Research shows employees with ADHD can be more curious, creative, imaginative, innovative, and inventive. They tend to be out-of-the-box thinkers, with an approach that can be highly prized in the workplace. Your ADHD symptoms can work for you, when you learn more about them and have proper treatment.
People with ADHD report being energetic, creative, courageous, and resilient. Learning how to lean into these strengths while controlling symptoms can help you reach your full potential, despite ADHD.
"Although many adults with ADHD have very successful careers, others struggle with a variety of challenges, including poor communication skills, distractibility, poor memory, time management issues, lack of interpersonal skills, procrastination, hyperactivity and difficulty managing complex projects."
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.
All types of ADHD may include weaknesses in executive functioning. Thus, children with ADHD are more likely to have problems getting started on things, and have difficulty with planning, problem-solving, and time management.
ADHD: a disabling condition
It is recognized as a disability under the 1992 Disability Discrimination Act.
Poor time management, difficulty setting priorities, and other job-related difficulties bedevil workers with ADHD. These problems all have to do with executive functioning, a set of cognitive abilities arising within the brain's prefrontal lobe. “This is the part of the brain that does self-monitoring,” says Nadeau.
At work, the attention deficit symptoms of ADHD mean that people can find it difficult to perform their required tasks and duties. They may struggle to get their work done efficiently or have problems getting on with their managers and colleagues. Attendance is sometimes poor and lateness can be an ADHD trait.
Channing Tatum is one of the most widely recognized celebrities. He also happens to be an actor who has publicly shared his struggles with ADHD during his childhood and how his struggles at school affected him. In fact, he continues to work through related difficulties as an adult.
People with ADHD feel emotions more intensely than others do. When they feel happiness and excitement, it makes them more interesting and engaging. But strong emotion has its downside as well. People with ADHD are impulsive.
Many people with ADHD work brilliantly under pressure. We pull rabbits out of our hats — producing magic at the last minute to the amazement (and annoyance) of our teachers, bosses, peers, or family members. We delay beginning or completing tasks, even entire projects, until the night before a deadline.
People with ADHD thrive on adrenaline rushes. They may do their best work against a tight deadline. Many adults with ADHD thrive in high-pressure, fast-paced jobs, such as those in emergency services, healthcare, entertainment, and high tech.
It's easy for someone with ADHD to become bored at work or find sudden interest in a major career change. When this happens, you may engage in what's called ADHD job-hopping. An individual with ADHD is more likely to quit their job impulsively and be more likely to be fired.
People living with ADHD work in a wide range of job roles and industries. Some find that highly structured roles with a clear schedule helps them stay focused and in control. Others thrive in fast-paced, high intensity roles where they can use their skills of fast thinking and adaptability.
Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to focus and prioritize, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social plans. The inability to control impulses can range from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and outbursts of anger. Adult ADHD symptoms may include: Impulsiveness.
ADHD may be covered by the NDIS if you meet the eligibility and disability requirements. In addition to general criteria such as age, you must be able to prove that you have a disability causing an impairment that: Is permanent or likely to be permanent.
How NDIS Responds to ADHD. Since you can treat and manage ADHD with medication and psychotherapy, the organisation doesn't list this disorder as a disability. Currently, the National Disability Insurance Scheme doesn't consider ADHD a permanent disability or impairment.
Timing: You are not obligated to disclose your diagnosis during any part of the hiring process, including when you are applying for a job or during an interview. Knowledge: You may want to keep the disclose private to your manager, or you may want to also tell your co-workers.
“The hardest thing about ADHD is that it's 'invisible' to outsiders. It's not like other conditions that people can clearly see. People just assume that we are not being good parents and that our child is a brat, when they don't have an idea how exhausted we truly are.” —Sara C.
You can inherit genes that boost risk for ADHD from your mother, from your father or from both parents. In a recent Norwegian study, inherited risk was somewhat higher when a child's mother had ADHD compared to their father, but researchers weren't certain why that would be.