Monday, October 4, 2021

Wired to Work Differently: ADHD

Our understanding of neurodiverse people is growing, as well as our understanding of how to help these exceptional individuals thrive at work

Guide Magazine

In the ancient hunter-gatherer society, a good hunter was characterized by swift movement, quick response to stimuli, and the ability to pay attention to more than one stimulus simultaneously. In today’s fast-paced and complex society, those same characteristics could be interpreted as hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity—classic traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

There’s a growing understanding of neurodiversity—an umbrella term used to describe a variety of cognitive conditions such as autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and ADHD—and how neurodivergent people’s differences should be seen as strengths and assets rather than a disorder they suffer from.

According to the American National Symposium on Neurodiversity (2011) held at Syracuse University, neurodiversity is “not a word about autism alone. It is a word that embraces all neurological uniqueness, all rhythms of neurodevelopment, and all the forms by which humans can express themselves and contribute to their world. Different people think differently—not just because of differences in culture or life experience, but because their brains are ‘wired’ to work differently.”

Journalist Harvey Blume agrees: “Neurodiversity may be every bit as crucial for the human race as biodiversity is for life in general. Who can say what form of wiring will prove best at any given moment? Cybernetics and computer culture, for example, may favour a somewhat autistic cast of mind.”

Despite the remarkable inroads being made in psychology and the increased acceptance of neurodivergent behaviours, the modern working world has yet to keep up. The vast majority of neurodivergent individuals are chronically unemployed or underemployed—many HR departments are hesitant to hire anyone who looks, acts, or communicates in a nontypical way.

Once in the workplace, they often face misperceptions, misunderstandings, and discrimination. Some neurotypical traits such as procrastination, challenges following through, and difficulty deciding how to prioritize tasks can be misconstrued as laziness and a lack of motivation—when it’s a cognitive process, not a character flaw.

So just how common are neurodivergent individuals? And how can they support themselves, and be supported, in the workplace?

Neurodiversity includes but is not limited to: ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dyscalculia, and Dyslexia.

ADHD

Definition

Characterized by inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. There are three presentations of ADHD depending on which of the three core symptoms (inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity) is present:

1. Predominately inattentive (previously referred to as ADD)
2. Predominately hyperactive (very rare)
3. Combined (most prevalent)

5% children worldwide

4% adults worldwide

3x more males are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD than females. But ADHD in women is complicated by gender role expectations—women have historically been expected to manage themselves as well as their homes, families, and career, requiring great levels of executive function.

Research shows that women are highly motivated to hide their ADHD symptoms and compensate for them. The symptoms that are observable are often anxiety or mood-related, which can lead to misdiagnosis.

Workplace Strengths
• Hyperfocus
• Creativity
• Enthusiasm
• Out-of-the box thinking

Workplace Challenges
• Difficulty staying focussed on tasks
• Disorganization
• Taking on multiple tasks and not finishing them
• Failure to meet deadlines
• Difficulty paying attention in long meetings
• Missing important details in conversations
• Boredom
• Forgetfulness

5 Workplace Tips
1. Chunk it. When your workload feels overwhelming, procrastination can take over. Break your daily tasks into small, manageable chunks. Write them down on a piece of paper or in the notes app on your phone.
2. Time it. Set a timer on your phone. Work 30 minutes, then take a break—walk somewhere else on your site and take a breather. You’ll be amazed at how productive you can be if you know you can switch gears in just 30 minutes.
3. Fidget. If you’re having trouble concentrating in a meeting, resist the urge to scroll on your phone. Instead, keep your hands busy with a fidget spinner, stress ball, or push-pop fidget.
4. Talk it. To keep your mind on what a coworker or supervisor is telling you, paraphrase it back to them to keep your mind from wandering.
5. Write it. Make use of calendars, planners, and daily checklists to keep track of important information, appointments, and tasks.

Famous Folks
• Albert Einstein
• Sir Richard Branson
• Simone Biles
• Walt Disney
• Dave Grohl

Wired to Work Differently: ADHD

ADHD

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