While it's true that the hyperactive component lessens over time, the other symptoms of impulsivity, distractibility and short attention span remain for most of these children into adulthood. When ADD is left untreated it significantly affects relationships, self-esteem and work. In this column I want to explore the impact of ADD on the workplace. It cost employers millions of dollars every year in decreased productivity, absenteeism and employee conflicts. Yet is remains vastly underdiagnosed.
ADD can be positive and negative in the work-place.
On the positive side, people with ADD often are high in energy, enthusiastic, full of ideas and creative. If they surround themselves with people who organize them and manage the details they can be very successful., Unfortunately too many people with ADD are not that lucky and they often have serious problems at work. Research has shown that the more these people try to concentrate, the worse it gets for them. Their brain actually turns off, when it's supposed to run on. When a supervisor puts pressure on them to perform, they often fall off in their work.