People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a lot to offer employers who know how to use their talents. However, there are many myths about the condition which hold us back.
MYTH: ADHD means you can never concentrate
ADHD is not a difficulty with paying attention. It is a difficulty regulating attention which can make it difficult to pay attention to the right thing at the right time or switch our attention when we need to. People with ADHD are often able to concentrate exceptionally hard on something interesting, an ability known as hyperfocus, which helps us excel at work and be creative.
MYTH: Children grow out of ADHD
Many people aren’t diagnosed until adulthood when they reach a point where the challenges of ADHD outweigh the benefits and make it difficult to juggle the demands of adult life. Adults are often diagnosed in higher education, or during their thirties, when there’s a lot of social pressure to be successful and reach milestones. It’s common for parents to be diagnosed when their child is diagnosed. Many people with dyslexia, dyspraxia or autism also have ADHD, which may not have been recognised or supported previously.
MYTH: ADHD is a male thing
More men and boys are diagnosed with ADHD, but women and girls are thought to be underdiagnosed because they often present differently and are less hyperactive, or their hyperactivity may look different. This is the result of social conditioning in society, where girls are taught to be compliant and well-behaved, and boys are expected to be more outwardly expressive. Therefore, boys are more likely to be picked up on as they may be more disruptive and their behaviour is more likely to affect other people, whereas girls are more likely to internalise, mask, and be missed.
Another link between neurodiversity and gender is that a higher proportion of non-binary and transgender people are neurodiverse, including ADHD, compared to the general population. As with many trans issues, much more research is needed as there are fewer studies of trans individuals. The research that has been done does indicate a much higher prevalence of ADHD in trans people.
MYTH: ADHD is a White thing
A similar issue exists regarding race. White people are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, and BIPOC are more likely to be underdiagnosed. Due to societal prejudice and racism, ADHD is less likely to be picked up on in Black children, and symptoms can be dismissed as disruptive behaviour due to racial bias.
An American report shows an almost 60% lower diagnosis for Black boys than for White boys in similar circumstances, even though “research suggests the prevalence of the condition is likely the same”. This can be life-threatening; for example, young Black men who are preyed on by institutionally racist police.
MYTH: ADHD means you’re loud, can’t sit still and bounce off walls
Adults with ADHD tend to be less hyperactive than children with hyperactivity. Whereas a child might run around and be disruptive, an adult is more likely to seem intense and full of energy. People with the predominantly inattentive type of ADHD, which is more common in women and girls, are more likely to be seen as quiet or dreamy. Some appear quiet and calm because they are consumed by thoughts or find it difficult to organise their thoughts, and are afraid of saying the wrong thing. The same feelings can also lead to anxiety.
MYTH: ADHD is being lazy or badly behaved
Many people with ADHD are people pleasers who have worked hard and put a lot of effort into appearing capable. Others may have underachieved because less was expected of them and can do much more in the right environment with the right encouragement. Read more about supporting Neurodiversity in the workplace.
MYTH: Taking medication takes away your personality
Medication helps with concentration and hyperactivity. For many it also helps with short-term memory and managing emotions. It doesn’t work for everyone and there can be some physical side effects, such as loss of appetite, especially at first. But it doesn’t make you less creative, or turn you into a robot. Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD have had their personalities shaped by their challenges, and being able to remove some of these with treatment comes as a great relief, not a loss.
MYTH: Being diagnosed with ADHD is a trend
With the right support, people with ADHD can thrive. Without this support, it can be debilitating and far from trendy. ADHD isn’t new; our understanding of it is. With a wider understanding of how ADHD can present in different individuals, more adults are recognising this in themselves and seeking a diagnosis.
MYTH: ADHD is caused by smartphones and technology
While modern technology can increase distractions for people with ADHD, it doesn’t cause ADHD and can also make life much easier for us by helping us remember things, create things, or communicate with others who are like us. We may rely on apps to helps us live the lives we want to, and lots of us thrive in technical jobs.
by Maxine Roper, Genuine Copy
Do you want to know how to better support your staff with ADHD? Find out more about our CPD-accredited training, including Neurodiversity training.
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