Neurodiversity

What is ADHD?

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.

ADHD in Adults

ADHD can last into adulthood. Some adults have ADHD but have never been diagnosed. The symptoms can cause difficulty at work, at home, or with relationships. Symptoms may look different at older ages, for example, hyperactivity may appear as extreme restlessness. Symptoms can become more severe when the demands of adulthood increase.

For more information, please see What is ADHD

Tips to Help Adults with ADHD Stay Organized

A professional counselor or therapist can help an adult with ADHD learn how to organize their life with tools such as:

• Keeping routines.
• Making lists for different tasks and activities.
• Using a calendar for scheduling events.
• Using reminder notes.
• Assigning a special place for keys, bills, and paperwork.
• Breaking down large tasks into more manageable, smaller steps so that completing each part of the task provides a sense of accomplishment.

For more information, please see Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

A Visual Guide to ADHD in Adults

Most people think of children when they hear the term attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, 30%-70% of kids with ADHD continue having symptoms when they grow up.

Learn more about ADHD in Adults.

Individuals with AD/HD are often perfectionists and are hard on themselves.  They have trouble setting personal boundaries like knowing when to stop working, and they set unrealistic expectations for themselves.  Someone who takes work home or stays late to finish work is often given more responsibility or a heavier workload because they appear to be able to get their work done.

Key Accommodations:

Hyperactivity/ Impulsivity: For individuals with AD/HD, accommodations for hyperactivity/impulsivity might be beneficial.

• Provide structured breaks as a physical outlet 
• Utilize a job coach to teach/reinforce techniques 
• Allow the employee to work from home 
• Review conduct policy with the employee 
• Adjust the method of supervision 
• Provide private workspace 

Focus/Concentration: For individuals with AD/HD, accommodations minimizing distractions might improve performance.

•  Provide a quiet workspace
•  Allow the use of noise cancellation 
•  Work from home if no effective accommodations in the office environment
•  Uninterrupted work time
•  Taking allotted breaks as needed
•  Minimizing marginal functions to allow focus on essential job duties

Time management: For individuals with AD/HD, accommodations assisting with staying on task are often helpful.

•  Assign a mentor
•  Provide to-do lists
•  Meetings to discuss expectations
•  Assistance with prioritization
•  Assistive technology (timers, apps, calendars, etc)

For more information, please see ADHD Job Accommodations

APA Citation:

Steele, L. M., Pindek, S., & Margalit, O. (2021). The Advantage of Disadvantage: Is ADHD Associated with Idea Generation at Work? Creativity Research Journal, 33(3), 275–283. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2021.1916368

A Phenomenological Inquiry into the Lived Experience of Adults Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Employed by NHS

APA Citation:

Rowe, K. J., Bailey, S., Teague, B., Mattless, K., & Notley, C. (2021). A phenomenological inquiry into the lived experience of adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) employed by the NHS. A Life in the Day, 25(2), 159–170. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-11-2020-0075

APA Citation: 

Antshel, K. M. (2018). Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Entrepreneurship. Academy of Management Perspectives, 32(2), 243–265. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2016.0144

CHADD is an organization that believes in improving the lives of people affected by ADHD by providing education, advocacy, and support.

The symptoms of ADHD can create challenges for adults in the workplace, just as they do for children in school. Some adults with ADHD have very successful careers. Others may struggle with a variety of challenges, including poor communication skills, distractibility, procrastination, and difficulty managing complex projects. Seeking assistance from a career counselor, psychologist, social worker, or other health care worker with career counseling training can be helpful in understanding and coping with ADHD on the job. Each individual with ADHD has a different set of challenges. Therefore, it is important to consider your unique picture, as you go about designing strategies, accommodations, and modifications for the workplace. 

For more information, please see ADHD & Workplace Issues

Edge is the organization with the most experience and verified success in coaching people with ADHD and other learning challenges to optimize their potential, increase self-esteem, and give them an edge in life.

For more information, please see Edge Foundation