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Test your HR knowledge: Employees with AD/HD

by February 18, 2010 13 Comments

Some estimates place the number of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder at eight million. That means there’s a likelihood that at some point, you’ll be encounter someone with AD/HD. To test your knowledge of it and how to deal with workers who verify they have it, answer True or False to the following:

(Answers at the bottom.)

True or False:

1. AD/HD is a recognized disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

2. Workers who suffer from AD/HD can demand that you omit deadlines from their job requirements.

3. If an adult employee was diagnosed with AD/HD as a child, that’s all the verification that person needs to be classified as an AD/HD sufferer.

Answers:

1. True. The ADA recognizes AD/HD as a valid disability. Of course, that also means that a person who claims to suffer from AD/HD and seeks ADA protections must also provide verification from a qualified healthcare provider.

2. False. An employee with AD/HD isn’t exempt from meeting any job requirements, including deadlines. The employee can request an accommodation – such as a quieter place to work and fewer distractions.

3. False. Children do outgrow AD/HD. In fact, some studies show that as much as 70% of children diagnosed with AD/HD don’t suffer from it as adults. So, while just about every adult who has the problem also had it as a child, not every child carries it into adulthood. To be classified as an adult AD/HD sufferer, the person must show current symptoms.

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  • HR in AZ

    “…70% of children diagnosed with AD/HD don’t suffer from it as adults.” That’s because 90% of those kids probably never really had AD/HD to begin with. Their parents were just looking for something to “label” their kids with to explain away the kids’ bad behavior. We all know that this is an overused incorrect diagnosis.

  • HR in TX

    I agree somewhat with HR in AZ. I had a very active son who loved going to school and had a very high energy level. In the 2nd grade, the school administrators insisted we put him on Ritalin.

    We held our ground and said “No – we learned how to channel his energy and enthusiasm constructively at home – you are the professionals that should already know how to do the same…”

    Glad we did – he is the most successful (academic-wise) of our 3 and as a senior at college, has been accepted to study abroad. ADD? You tell me…

    Ritalin zombied out a sister of mine in her childhood and she never did well academically…

  • HR in IL

    I too agree somewhat to HR is AS and in TX. As a child, I was very hyper, but I also put that energy to use by playing outdoors and using my imagination. Too many children these days consume sugary foods, highly caffeinated beverages and in general junk food. They sit in front of computers and TVs, they do not play outside therefore and do not use there imaginations. Parents do not encourage them to go skate, go ride a bike, go play a game. I think that it is an over used statement and that people are too quick to “label” people with disorders.
    HR in AZ-good for you standing your ground!!! We need more people like you. Congrats~

  • Sam

    My wife taught for 30 years. The majority of those children on Ritalin in her classes were helped immensely. It sometimes took a little time for the doctor to get the dose correct. But rarely, if ever, were kids zombied out.

    She claims that Ritalin took the edge off and enabled the children to work to their potential. She also claims that the children were by far happier on Ritalin when properly dosed than if they did not get it for some reason.

    She never once suggested to a parent that their child should be on Ritalin. That decision was dealt with at the parent doctor level.

  • Heather

    As a 45+ year old adult diagnosed with ADD @ age 42, I will tell you that the challenges are different from what they are for children. Successful productive adults with ADD already use many of the coping mechanisms that children are now taught, and sometime the addition of a pharmaceutical helps us not feel as overwhelmed and emotional in addition to assisting with helping us focus.
    Adults or children that are “zombies” as a result of the pharmaceutical could be over medicated, on the wrong medication, or not have ADD,

  • Diane In MN

    Unfortunately-it is just that type of comment that helps to perpetuate the ignorance surrounding this diagnosis. ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity. There are a lot of characteristics that factor into a diagnosis. As a former school district employee who has spent over 20 years working with children and a parent of a child with ADHD, I can tell you that your comment of “90% of those kids probably never had ADHD to begin with”, is way off base.
    I can tell you that the majority of parents that I dealt with were not comfortable medicating their children for it and wanted different ways to deal with this issue. Many parents went with the medication as a final resort after trying special ed methods alone. You would be amazed at the difference it can make in a child’s self esteem to realize that they are not stupid or a bad kid, they just are unable to focus. Most of those kids who are acting out truly are unable to keep their bodies still and focus their brains in a classroom setting.
    My child was not a behavior issue, but she was a very bright little girl who was failing in school. Through assessments from both the school district and a medical facility that specializes in testing for learning disabilities, she was diagnosed with ADHD/predominantly inattentive. I can’t tell you what a difference it has made in her life to have her on medication to help treat it. Instead of crying every morning before school, she looks forward to going and comes home excited about what she has learned.
    Yes-in the past, kids were medicated incorrectly. These days it may take 7 or 8 tries before you get the right medication at the right doseage for your child. Back then they didn’t have that many medicinal options and didn’t try to vary the doseage like they do today.
    Please don’t stigmatize these people/kids with ignorant comments about ADHD being synonymous with children with bad behavior-because that is not the case!

  • Sandy

    People who have never delt with the illness and have never educated themselves through books or going to school to learn about it are ignorant morons when they critisize others with the problem.

    These same people say the depression is not a medical illness and that it is all in their heads.

    If you are not a doctor, and you have not delt with a mental illness, then you cannot speak with knowledge. So keep your mouths shut.

    You know what goes around comes around and someday your speaking out of turn might come back to bit you in the buttox.

  • Renee

    As an HR professional and a parent of an ADHD child, it is not about the hyperactivity that concerns parents. We as parents can handle a hyoer child. The problem is the inattention and inability to focus that causes the problems. I do beleive that tooo many chidren have been improperly diagnosed with ADHD in the past and that is why people say that children outgrow it. That is a falsity. They cannot outgrow it, they learn coping skills or are medicated to help them focus and concentrate, but a child with ADHD will never be rid of ADHD just like a child with juvenile diabetes. Would you say a child with juvenile diabetes will outgrow it as adults, I don’t think so. So the same holds true for children with ADHD. I truley beleive that if a child becomes a zombie on the medication, they shouldn’t be on it. My child has been on medication for 4 years now and it is a lifesaver. She has never acted like a zombie while on the medication and I have to say she is just as hyper with the medication at times but the main goal is to stay focused and without the medication I believe my child would be failing, so I am extremely gratefulf for the medication.

  • HR in IL

    To reply to some people, speaking for myself, I am not saying these children/adults are stupid or bad people. I am saying that I feel too many times, people are quick to say someone has this illness and in actuality, they don’t. They “self-diagnose” it.
    Sandy, this seems to really be a hot button for you by reading your post here. Suggestion, check your spelling before hitting submit. You are angry about people making judgement, but you did the same thing in your statement. I suffer depression and in no way was I indicating that ADHD is “in the heads”. I was merely stating that I feel that sometimes people do not have a clinical diagnosis they just assume that is what is wrong. I hope that you can find peace for all that anger.
    Dianne, I agree with you, I have a friend who was very uncomfortable medicating her son. We used to tell her that it is ok, if he were diabetic she would medicate him so this is no different. But she struggled for years with that exact issues. I can only imagine as a parent with a child suffereing from this illness, it is difficult knowing that you have to medicate your child.
    I do think that this illness is misdiagnosed or “missed” in general. There are so many illnesses out there now that years ago no one knew anything about. The advances in the medical field are huge and that is why these illnesses are so prominant, they now are recognized; they have a name.
    I stick to my guns on how parents do not deal with children but sit them in front of TVs and computers and let them feed on junk food and sugary drinks. I think that there are children that are just hyper, but do not have ADHD, that are not dealt with properly… like getting them outdoors and getting physical. But we cannot lay judgements on people that we do not know. We are only sharing opinions here and of course, we won’t all agree.
    To all you parents with children diagnosed with this illness, kudos to you for getting your child the help they deserve. That is what parenting is all about. Your children will be successful in life because you did what was best for him or her, and you gave them support.

  • Gerry

    HR in IL – you are be very diplomatic about this – you seem to agree partly with everyone. I think HR in AZ is way off. Yes I’m sure there are people that have been misdiagnosed with ADHD but 90% misdiagnosed!!!! Come on! My son had ADD (he didn’t have the hyeractivity – just attention defecit). He was diagnosed in 2nd grade. I refused to put him on the medication. The school was wonderful and they worked with him. When he got to middle school we finally decided to put him on
    Ritalin since he would be dealing with more teachers – he was put on a very low dose and it helped him greatly. He was only on the medication while in school (Ritalin lasted for only 4 hours so he was given a dose in the morning and then at noon). When he came home from school he was not on the medication. I figured I could deal with that and give him all of my attention to help him focus. How’s that for “bad” parenting!

  • AS

    Maybe a child as they grow into an adult learn to deal with their emotions in a more postive and constuctibe manner. Out grow or incorrect diagnosis guess we can’t be sure.

    I don’t know any parent that would use this to have an excuse for why their child is bad.

    The funny thing is not one person has said I know someone who was incorrectly diagnosed.

    This article is not even about children! It is about adults in the workforce. Does anyone have any good stories about that?

  • HR in IL

    Gerry,
    It sounds like you found a happy medium and that is great. I have a nephew that many (not physicians) said had ADD but in actuality, he has a sensory disorder. I just think that people assume that is the problem without asking a professional, especially people who are outsiders looking in.
    There is no bad parenting if you are helping your child. I think that teachers are more educated in dealing with different illnesses too, it’s the public that needs more educating. I think the 90% figure is exagerrated, but that isn’t the point. The point is that children and adults need the correct medical attention for their illness and that their familys and friends support them, no matter what.

    HR in AZ doesn’t state where he gets his figures. It would be interesting to know where he got his “facts” to back up his statement.

  • Heather

    I don’ think any of us will resolve the issue for other people’s children.
    But what do you think about dealing with this in the work place? Now that these children are in the work place and the work place is a much busier, chaotic place than it was when I first started working. The increased use of technology has increased the distractions. Personally, because I don’t have the HD component of the condition and have been very successful in my career, the few people I have told of my diagnosis are amazed. When you have someone on staff that is bright but misses deadlines and has difficulty initiating projects and it is worth considering helping them with coping mechanism that help those of us with ADD and ADHA. Frankly they are good practices for most people.