ADHD in adults can affect productivity at work, but also safety. Here’s what employers need to watch out for and understand how to support their teams.
A wide spectrum of mental health conditions can affect employees’ productivity, their ability to focus and stay safe at work. One that is not often discussed in the workers’ comp space is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, a neurological disorder that is more commonly associated with children than adults.
ADHD is often characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that affects work and home life. An estimated 4.4% of US adults have been diagnosed with ADHD. However, many still struggle because they have not been diagnosed or diagnosed.
That means the likelihood that any organization will have employees struggling with its effects is significant.
Obstacles at work include poor attention to detail, inability to focus, start or finish tasks, forgetfulness, poor time management and difficulty following instructions. It is easy to see how such manifestations of ADHD can limit employees’ ability to succeed in the workplace, as well as can contribute to unsafe practices or behaviors.
“When ADHD is not well controlled, it’s associated with major injuries, traffic accidents, things like that,” said Sara Hathaway, director of behavioral health at AxiomMedical, which provides occupational health services for employees of clients and work in the workforce. ‘ compensation, disability case management and OSHA-mandated medical programs.
Hathaway was one of several mental health experts who recently participated in a webinar hosted by Axiom titled “7 Signs for Identifying and Effectively Managing ADHD in the Workplace.”
The webinar covers the seven symptoms of adult ADHD, how it affects workers and what employers can do to address it and help their employees develop coping strategies.
“ADHD has long been one of the most common mental disorders of childhood and adolescence that can persist into adulthood,” said Scott Cherry, chief medical officer. “Inattention is a sign of this disease, but it also appears as hyperactivity, which may be more visible in children.”
The panel outlined seven ways in which ADHD can be observed in the workplace including:
- Difficulty concentrating on work tasks
- Dislikes or avoids long-term tasks, such as creating reports
- lapse
- It’s easy to get distracted
- Poor time management skills
- Difficulty listening to others
- Difficulty following instructions
While many people may recognize some of these behaviors in themselves, Cherry said it’s not considered ADHD until it has a significant impact on a person’s daily activities and day-to-day life. living in such a situation as at work or school or affecting their relationships.
Shawna Stone, psychiatric case manager at Axiom, said a diagnosis of ADHD for a person 17 years of age or older requires at least five symptoms that have persisted for at least six months in two or more areas. in one’s life such as work, school, home or relationships.
“Just because someone might fall into some of these criteria sometimes doesn’t mean they meet the criteria for a diagnosis,” Stone said.
Hathaway said it’s important for anyone who suspects they have ADHD to get tested and get an accurate diagnosis. He also noted that some of the symptoms of ADHD are also symptoms of other conditions such as anxiety or depression. Any medical doctor or a mental health professional in most fields can diagnose ADHD, he said.
“But my recommendation, if possible, is to go to a psychologist who will be the best individual to fully evaluate for ADHD because they can do the cognitive test and that will help you get the most accurate that diagnosis,” Hathaway said.
Cherry said undiagnosed ADHD can increase stress and exacerbate employee problems in the workplace.
“Because of the inability to take care of important things, prioritize or stay relatively calm in certain situations, it adds more and more severe stress to that person,” he said.
People with ADHD may also engage in other behaviors that have a negative impact on their health such as overeating or substance abuse.
Treatments include cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, which must be prescribed by a doctor and require a diagnosis, and holistic/alternative options.
Cognitive therapy is a short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that helps a person with ADHD change their negative thought patterns, such as thinking ‘I’ll never meet this deadline’ ‘ or ‘I always make mistakes’ and turn it into something positive. thoughts that strengthen their self-esteem.
Employees Need to Feel Safe
A company that is open about mental health, and having other people in the workplace who can act as sounding boards for someone suffering from ADHD, can also help.
Autumn Brennan, communications director, Axiom
“That’s the beauty of psychologically safe groups in the workplace,” says Autumn Brennan, director of communications at Axiom. “A person can say ‘Hey. I’m really struggling with this deadline. Am I overthinking this? Am I imagining it?’ Can you help me?”
Brennan cites an example from her own work life where she helped a former employee with ADHD develop coping strategies.
The employee confided in Brennan that she was feeling overwhelmed and struggling to tackle tasks with a long to-do list. Brennan bought a white board and wrote three daily tasks on it for her to accomplish, which made her feel better about her abilities and succeed.
Workplace accommodations, such as the abbreviated task list, must be tailored to the particular needs of each individual.
Brennan said another strategy is to start recording how long it takes to complete a task.
“You start tracking how long things take and then you can start blocking your calendar accordingly,” he says.
Other holistic or alternative approaches to managing ADHD include determining what your distractions are, such as your phone, and removing them from your environment.
He also advises eating well, getting enough sleep and practicing meditation for a few minutes at the start and end of the day.
Brennan said research shows that meditation can improve the brain’s neuroplasticity, which is defined as the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience.
“Meditation is medically proven and it’s fun to do,” says Brennan.
As part of its focus on mental health for employees, Cherry said his company focuses on the resilience of employees.
“Having a way to look at the strength of your employees at a population level is very important to your human capital,” he says.
He said making a mental health program comprehensive rather than piecemeal is the best approach, but piecemeal is better than nothing.
Dara Wheeler, chief marketing officer for Axiom, said it’s also important to know that ADHD can also be beneficial in certain situations.
“Some of the most creative, interesting people in the world have been diagnosed with ADHD,” he said. “You have to learn to live with it and deal with it. There may be a combination of different things available to you and you will need to work with your providers on how to resolve them. ” &
