06.10.2025 Gabriele Strasser 58492

The imperfect employee - AD(H)S in adults

Adults with AD(H)S or ADD tick differently at work. Expert Sabina Pahlke shows what special features they have and how managers can provide them with the best possible support and promote their potential.

Show host Eckart von Hirschhausen inspires with his wit and temperament. What many people don't know: He has AD(H)S. In his original profession as a doctor, this was a problem. On stage, however, his creativity, flexibility and impulsiveness are the basis of his success.

For systemic consultant and AD(H)S expert Sabine Pahlke, this is a positive example: "But not all adults with AD(H)S find their niche in which their disposition is not a problem. Many don't know why they are often unfocused and unstructured or offend with their impulsive behavior".
 

Always on reception: the brain does not filter

David M. has AD(H)S. He sums up what is special about it: "What is normally filtered by the brain, I get unfiltered. For example, when I'm sitting in a café, I find it very difficult to have a conversation with the person opposite me. I can hear everything that's going on around me: cars driving past, conversations with other customers, the clatter of dishes, music."

Very few adults over the age of 40 were diagnosed as children. This was also the case for David M. The now 40-year-old IT system administrator already suspected that he was different when he was at school. "You have the music you last heard in your head all day long. You tap along to the beat of a song - and of course disrupt the lessons". But he didn't just have bad grades, he also had A grades. "Some teachers and content had the power to grab me. Maybe physics kept me busy all day, but Latin was off the agenda".

David M. didn't find a good doctor who diagnosed him with AD(H)S until he was in his early 30s. "It was a huge relief for me to be heard and to know exactly what was different about me," he says.

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AD(H)S does not grow out of control

Most people think of children when they think of AD(H)S. For a long time, the doctrine was that the disorder would fade away in adulthood. However, according to the website of the ADHD Deutschland e.V . association, recent studies show that 30 to 50 percent of affected children also show symptoms in adulthood that significantly affect their lives. 

"Adults with undiagnosed AD(H)S have often painfully learned to deal with the symptoms and have developed compensation strategies for everyday life," says Sabina Pahlke. In the meantime, it has also been discovered that undiagnosed AD(H)S often leads to serious problems. For example Burnout patients often have previously untreated AD(H)S.

In the right place with your own talents

If the disposition is known, Sabina Pahlke advises taking it into account when choosing a career: "Adults with AD(H)S can hardly stand boredom and avoid anything repetitive and unstimulating. Organizing themselves takes a lot of energy. It is worth taking a close look at your own talents and abilities and considering which professions and industries are most likely to be in demand. This can reduce the number of unloved tasks". You can also listen to our podcast "Does my child have AD(H)S" with Sabina Pahlke.

Hypoactive people, i.e. people with ADHD, are less noticeable: "They tend to make an unmotivated and often tired impression. Clear structures, delineated task packages and assignments and an attentive and supportive environment can help in everyday working life. They are also creative, but more inward-looking," says Sabina Pahlke.

David M. can confirm this: "I have to concentrate very hard on completing my tasks, not forgetting anything and not getting distracted. In an IT job, you constantly have the internet in front of you. Not drifting off here is a big challenge. Paradoxically, I always look for jobs with as many projects and areas of responsibility as possible to avoid long periods of monotonous work.

People with AD(H)S also have great potential off the stage, as in the example mentioned at the beginning. "They often score particularly well with their creativity. They also like to be there for others and are extremely helpful," says Sabina Pahlke. David M. also has strengths that put him in exactly the right place in his job as a system administrator: "I miss very little because I grasp all aspects unfiltered. That's why I'm very good at error analysis, for example. And my attentiveness and curiosity help me in my dealings with colleagues and customers.

From a shortcoming for children to a plus for adults

In people with AD(H)S, the symptoms often change as they develop from a child into an adult. What is perceived as very stressful in children can then become a strength. Sabina Pahlke knows examples: "Stubbornness sometimes grows into amazing perseverance. If something is important, you stick with it. The willingness to discuss, which is often unpopular with parents, promotes language skills and often turns into a strength in adulthood. The urge to talk and "produce" has brought many a person onto the stage.

Good treatment and support possible

"Adult sufferers can also be treated and supported well," says Sabina Pahlke. "A coach or therapist who is familiar with the symptoms can develop compensation strategies with those affected , work out a structure and support them in their search for further help. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, there are good alternative treatment options, including traditional medication. The first step, however, is self-awareness and subsequent disclosure in the immediate environment.

David M. has decided against medication: "Although tablets help, they force me to tick differently. After a day at work with tablets, I'm very exhausted and feel like all my energy for the day has been squeezed out of me," he says. The side effects of the medication, such as loss of appetite and numbness, also hinder his private life. "The tablets help me to function. That may be good for a day at work or a long car journey, but not for a successful evening with my child," says David M. He has decided to be who he is: "The best thing is to allow myself periods of rest and to surround myself with people who accept me and are happy to help me.

Managers can be contact persons

For Sabina Pahlke, in addition to therapists and topic-specific coaches, managers can also support those affected, provided they are open about their symptoms. "Together, employees and managers can identify a suitable area of responsibility based on strengths and weaknesses. They can also make specific agreements if the employee displays unhelpful behavior. Based on their own observations alone, the manager may get the impression that the employee is demotivated or lacks motivation. Here, specific questions help to get to the bottom of the issue.

According to Sabina Pahlke, seminars that focus on the people behind the work force and offers for mental and physical health are also helpful. 

David M. has not yet revealed himself to his employer, but says: "If I were to inform my employer, I would want to be judged on my work like everyone else and be given the tasks for which I was hired - and for my manager to talk to me if she is not satisfied with my work".

Sources: ADHS Deutschland e.V.