The IAA One Minute Blog

Summer is just around the corner and you may feel yourself becoming distracted thinking about summer plans. For people with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), becoming distracted occurs on a daily basis.

Symptoms of Adult ADHD

ADHD is thought to be an imbalance in neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that relay signals in the brain, particularly in the frontal cortex that governs planning and impulse control. In adults attention deficit disorder often looks quite different than it does in children. Signs and symptoms of adult ADHD are:

• Angry outbursts: ADHD often leads to problems with controlling emotions. Adults with ADHD may become easily flustered and have hypersensitivity to criticism.
• Extremely distractible: People with adult ADHD may “zone out” without realizing it, even in the middle of a conversation.
• Hyperfocusing:  Adults with ADHD have a tendency to become absorbed in tasks that are stimulating and rewarding. This paradoxical symptom is called hyperfocus. It is actually a coping mechanism for distraction. It can be so strong that you become oblivious to everything around you.
• Impulsivity: Those with adult ADHD may frequently interrupt others or talk over them. They may also have addictive tendencies. They can act recklessly or spontaneously, without regard for consequences.  
• Lateness: People with ADHD tend to underestimate how much time it takes to finish a task, whether it’s going to an event or simple home repairs. 
• Poor listening skills: Problems with attention result in poor listening skills in many adults with ADHD, leading to a lot of missed appointments and misunderstandings.
• Prioritizing issues: Often people with ADHD mis-prioritize, failing to meet big deadlines, while spending countless hours on something insignificant. 
• Restlessness: While many children with ADHD are hyperactive, this ADHD symptom appears differently in adults. Rather than bouncing off the walls, adults with ADHD are more likely to be restless or find they can’t relax.
• Trouble getting organized: The responsibilities of adulthood (bills, jobs, etc.) can make problems with organization more obvious and more problematic.
• Trouble starting a task: Adults with ADHD often drag their feet when starting tasks that require a lot of attention.

About 4.4 percent of adults in the United States, some 10 million people, have ADHD and less than one quarter are aware of it. This is because while ADHD always starts in childhood, many adults with the disorder went undiagnosed when they were young.   

Help Control Your Symptoms

There is a lot you can do yourself to help control your symptoms:

• Exercise and eat right: Exercise vigorously and regularly. It helps to work off any excess energy and aggression in a positive way and soothes the body. Eat a variety of healthy foods and limit sugary foods in order to even out mood swings.
• Get plenty of sleep: When you’re tired, it is even more difficult to focus, manage stress, stay productive, and keep on top of your responsibilities. Support yourself by getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night.
• Practice better time management: Set deadlines for everything, even seemingly small tasks.  

If you are an employer who has an employee with ADHD here are a few tips on how to work alongside them:

• Office configurations: Because of the ease of distractibility, open office arrangements with few walls or dividers to filter out conversations and other noises, may lead to problems.
• Team dynamics: These types of employees tend to be more effective in an individual contributor role, rather than team leader roles.
• Time management: More frequent check-ins from managers or computer-based reminders can help keep a project moving at the desired pace.

Employees who have ADHD can have the most innovative ideas; they just need an environment that can work with their unique needs.

What IAA has to Say

Insurance Administrator of America understands that living with adult ADHD can be difficult. Today’s world is full of distractions, but it is possible to succeed. IAA knows that adults with ADHD can be successful! Remember, with IAA one call does it all.

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