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TikTok thinks I have ADHD, or at least that I care about ADHD. My feed is full of ADHD content: people talking about the fact they have it, how it impacts their life, and what sounds and music can help calm the ADHD brain. And I can\u2019t count the number of times, when visiting friends and family, that conversation has turned to ADHD and whether someone has it. <\/span><\/p>\n Struggles with focus, organization, emotional regulation\u2013we\u2019re all feeling it to varying degrees. In some cases, a friend has actually been diagnosed with ADHD. This isn\u2019t just a coincidence; it\u2019s a reflection of a real and growing trend. More and more people are being diagnosed later in life, and it\u2019s changing how we understand the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n For decades, ADHD was seen almost exclusively as a childhood disorder. Many people thought that children would \u2018grow out of it\u2019. And many do. But we now know that the majority of cases persist into adulthood. In fact, it affects approximately 5% to 9% of children and adolescents and 3% to 5% of adults.1<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The adult diagnosis boom<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ADHD diagnosis as an adult can be a moment of profound revelation and validation, an explanation for some of the struggles of life: the frequent job changes, unfinished projects, chaotic living spaces, the feeling of being \u2018lazy\u2019 or \u2018unmotivated\u2019 despite immense effort, or the constant internal battle to keep up with the demands of everyday life.<\/span><\/p>\n Different reasons may drive someone to seek assessment for ADHD. For example:1<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n ADHD isn\u2019t one size fits all: the gender divide<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n ADHD can present in three different ways:1<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n People with ADHD display differences in brain structure and function.2<\/span><\/sup><\/a> As a result, they can struggle to:<\/span><\/p>\n Men with ADHD are more likely to exhibit the traditional, more externalized symptoms that are easily spotted by parents and teachers.3<\/span><\/sup><\/a> These include:<\/span><\/p>\n Because men\u2019s symptoms are often disruptive to others, they tend to be noticed more and lead to earlier referrals for evaluation.<\/span><\/p>\n Women with ADHD, on the other hand, are more likely to present with less obvious symptoms,3<\/sup> including:<\/span><\/p>\n These struggles often go unnoticed. A girl who is quiet and a good student but constantly feels overwhelmed, forgets deadlines, and feels like a fraud may be praised for her quiet nature rather than flagged for an underlying issue. Society\u2019s expectations of women to be \u201cwell-behaved\u201d can lead them to develop sophisticated coping mechanisms that mask their symptoms. It\u2019s no surprise that women are often diagnosed in their 30s or 40s after years of burnout, anxiety and depression.<\/a>4<\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n The rising cost of treatment<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s positive that more adults are seeking treatment; however, there is an important cost to our employee benefit plans. We\u2019re seeing more plan members submitting claims for ADHD medications. From data provided by Express Scripts Canada, drugs that treat ADHD made up approximately 5% of all drug claims that Empire Life paid in 2024.<\/span><\/p>\n Since 2020, we\u2019ve seen a 27% increase for adults aged 25-34 and a 33% for those aged 35-44.5<\/span><\/sup><\/a> It\u2019s likely not a coincidence that this timing coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people were working from home for the first time. The lack of structure or increased stressors may have impacted their ability to focus or triggered other symptoms of ADHD. This is also when the updated Canadian ADHD practice guidelines were released.<\/span><\/p>\n Employees with ADHD may see higher costs as well, including out of pocket costs related to drug claims, and mental health practitioner costs once they have exhausted their paramedical benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n What employers can do: Top 5 strategies for an inclusive workplace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Many people with ADHD have incredible strengths in areas like creativity, hyperfocus, energy, and problem-solving. As a leader, you can create a workplace environment where these talents shine. This isn’t about giving special treatment; it’s about making small, smart adjustments that benefit everyone, but particularly help employees with ADHD manage common challenges like organization, attention, and executive functions.6<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Here are the top 5 practical steps you can take:<\/span><\/p>\n Takeaways and resources for everyone<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Whether you have been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you may have ADHD, manage someone with ADHD, and\/or have a family member or friend with ADHD, awareness can help all of us recognize ADHD and support those living with it by creating access to care and accommodations.<\/span><\/p>\n The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance has a helpful guide on how to talk about ADHD<\/a>. While I encourage reading the whole guide, a few of the takeaways I found helpful are:<\/span><\/p>\n For those with employee benefits, it\u2019s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the resources that can help. Empire Life plan members with Extended Health Benefits have access to Mental Health Navigator<\/a>, for example. The drug benefit<\/a> and clinical psychologist paramedical coverage<\/a> can also help cover the cost of medications and care. If the benefit plan includes our AssistNow\u00ae<\/em> Employee Assistance Program<\/a> (EAP), resources and professionals in that service can also help.<\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/sup><\/a> Canadian ADHD practice guidelines, 4.1 edition. Jan 2021<\/span><\/p>\n 2<\/sup><\/a> Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance. ADHD Language Guide Infographic. Dec 2021<\/span><\/p>\n 3<\/sup><\/a> Berkeley Psychiatrists Consultant Psychiatry Services. What are the differences between female and male ADHD? June 2024<\/span><\/p>\n 4<\/a><\/span><\/sup> National Institute of Mental Health. ADHD in Adults: 4 Things to Know<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 5<\/sup><\/a> <\/sup>Express Scripts Canada. 2025 Drug Trend Report.<\/span><\/p>\n 6<\/sup><\/a> Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada. ADHD in the Workplace. Creating a Neurodiverse Environment<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 7<\/sup><\/a> Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada. ADHD Symptoms, Impairments and Accommodations in the Work Environment<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n
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<\/strong>For people with ADHD, long and unstructured meetings and emails can be mentally exhausting and hard to track.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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<\/sup>A noisy office environment can be a nightmare for sensory processing and attention. Flexibility allows individuals to manage their focus needs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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<\/sup>Traditional time tracking can punish employees with ADHD who may experience time blindness, where they have difficulty accurately judging how long a task takes, or have an internal clock that doesn\u2019t align with a typical workday. Where possible:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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<\/sup>Executive function, the brain\u2019s internal management system that handles planning, organizing and prioritizing, is a challenge for many with ADHD. You can help by providing an external system.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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<\/sup>The fear of being judged for simple mistakes, disorganization, or imperfect work can be crippling and prevent employees from asking for accommodations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
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