Adults who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who don't receive treatment can display many signs of the disorder in the workplace. This disorder can impact an individual's ability to get a promotion and keep a steady job. The symptoms of ADHD--including inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness--can be destructive in a work environment.
Inattention
Teens and adults who suffer from this mental health disorder have a hard time focusing on projects that they're not excited about. This means that someone with this disorder may not complete projects on time or at all depending on the person's level of enthusiasm. If the person suffering from ADHD is enjoying the work that she's doing, she might be able to concentrate on it for hours. For instance, a writer with ADHD may be able to finish 10 well-written, well-researched articles in one day if she is passionate about the topics. However, if she doesn't enjoy the topics, she might only be able to get two articles, with spelling and grammar mistakes, written in the same amount of time.
Also, inattention leads to issues with organization. A person with this disorder might forget to write down important meetings in her calendar or lose her calendar. People with this disorder struggle with time management, so they might frequently get to work late or arrive late for meetings.
Hyperactivity
Teens and adults with ADHD usually suffer from pent up energy. However, they can't deal with their energy the way that children do. A child might run around the classroom or bounce around in his seat, but an adult is expected to sit still and concentrate. This can lead to the adult having mood swings and being irritable which can cause issues with his supervisor and coworkers. He might snap at his coworkers or become argumentative in a staff meeting.
Impulsivity
The third main category of symptoms of teens and adults struggling with ADHD is impulsiveness. In the workplace, adults who make impulsive decisions or talk without thinking can put their jobs at risk. Sometimes employees don't agree with their bosses. Someone who doesn't struggle with ADHD is more likely to be able to deal with the discrepancy and move on. However, someone with ADHD might argue with his boss and say things that are inappropriate.
Communication problems occur with people who are diagnosed with ADHD. They often interrupt others, change conversations topics and appear self-centered. This can also cause problems among coworkers and with one's supervisor.
