ADHD on the job

BBC:

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder do 22 fewer days of work per year than people who do not have the condition, a study says.

The research, which looked at 7,000 workers in 10 countries, found an average of 3.5% had ADHD.

Writing in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the Dutch team said workplace screening should be used to pick up people with the problem.

A UK expert backed the idea, but warned they should not be stigmatised.

People who have ADHD find it difficult to concentrate because they may be hyperactive, easily distracted, forgetful or impulsive.

It is commonly thought of as a childhood disorder, often picked up because of problems at school.

However, there are estimates that around two-thirds of those affected in childhood are still experiencing symptoms in adulthood.

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I think it depends on the job. In my reading on the subject, people with ADHD excel in high stress jobs like the military, police and fire fighting. When in a high stress operation it is like the rest of the world catches up with their speed of thinking and acting. People who have ADHD tend to be hyper active to stay awake. If you made them sit in one spot and not move or have any stimulation they will likely fall asleep. That is why most of the medication for them is a form of speed like Ritalin. It allows them to be alert without the need for activity to stay awake.

I have a theory that several great leaders may have had ADHD. They tend to be very effective wartime leaders and much less effective during peace time. U.S. Grant is an obvious example. He was pretty much a failure before the Civil War, and a pretty poor president after the war, but he was clearly one of the best generals during the war. George Patton showed similar traits and I think Winston Churchill did too. They tend to be mediocre students who accomplish great things under stress.

They are also tend to be risk takers and like Grant sometimes seek stimulation for a bottle or pills.