Highlights
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and a common mental health condition.
- ADHD’s core presentations include poor attention, high energy, and low impulse control.
- ADHD ranges from mild to severe, depending on the number and impact of these symptoms on the person’s functioning.
- ADHD may qualify as a developmental disability, but only if it is severe and causes significant dysfunction in everyday life activities such as learning or earning income.
You’ve recently been diagnosed with ADHD and have been battling with your tasks at work or not coping well with your part-time studies. Now, you are wondering if this ADHD diagnosis qualifies you for any benefits or special considerations at work or college. This article will answer those questions, and more, in detail.
What Is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health condition, also known as a neurodevelopmental disorder. This is because it’s present from before the age of 12, although sometimes, it is not diagnosed until much later in life.
Worldwide, 9 to 15% of children have ADHD, and the condition usually persists throughout the lifetime, affecting between
Symptoms
The three classic or common ADHD symptoms are:
- Low attention
- High energy, presenting as hyperactivity
- Low impulse control, causing impulsive behavior
Some inattention symptoms include being forgetful, getting distracted easily, not meeting deadlines, difficulty focusing, or losing essential things.
People with ADHD who have hyperactive-impulsive symptoms may have difficulty waiting, feel restless, interrupt conversations, always be ‘on the go,’ or be overbearing and loud.
ADHD Types
Depending on how many symptoms from each category a person has, a healthcare provider who confirms the ADHD diagnosis will classify it as a:
Severity
As you can see from the symptoms above, there is a possibility that, in some people, ADHD affects daily functioning and major life activities, such as working and learning.
A healthcare provider diagnosing ADHD will also decide on
- Mild ADHD: There are just enough symptoms to make the diagnosis, and work and social life are not seriously affected.
- Severe ADHD: The person has many more symptoms than the minimum required for the diagnosis, or they are overwhelmed by ongoing trouble and dysfunction in their work and home life.
- Moderate ADHD: Is somewhere in between.
So, taking all of this information into account, let’s take a look at whether ADHD is considered a disability.
Is ADHD Considered a Disability?
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says a person has a disability if they have a condition that causes physical or mental impairment, meaning weakness or loss of function, that makes it hard to do important daily tasks.
The ADA doesn’t list all conditions or impairments that count as disabilities. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists types of medical disabilities that affect different areas of health and life, from vision or movement to learning and social relationships. Each type can have physical and mental health causes.
The CDC
- Impairment = Loss or abnormality in a body structure or function.
- Activity limitation = Difficulty performing activities affecting the individual.
- Participation restriction = Difficulty in engaging in life roles (e.g., employment).
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), ADHD is considered a developmental disability depending on its severity and degree of impairment in day-to-day functioning.
Let’s take a closer look at some examples of mental health conditions and see where ADHD might fit in.
|
Disability Type |
Meaning |
Examples |
Possible ADHD Status |
|
Congenital |
Present at birth |
|
While not considered ‘congenital,’ ADHD has a strong genetic link |
|
Developmental |
Impacts brain development and appears in childhood |
|
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder |
|
Injury-related |
Caused by trauma or accidents |
|
— |
|
Chronic |
Life-long |
Some mental health disorders:
|
ADHD is a mental health condition |
|
Progressive |
Gets worse over time |
|
— |
|
Intermittent |
Comes and goes, with periods of normal functioning |
Some mental health disorders:
|
ADHD is a mental health condition where symptom presentation may vary in certain circumstances |
So, you can see that ADHD may qualify as a disability; but only if it causes severe functional limitations in daily life.
ADHD and Disability Benefits
Applying for disability benefits is handled through the Social Security Administration (SSA), and there are two types available.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, a person with a disability must have been employed and paid Social Security taxes.
- The payout is proportional to their salary.
- Their ADHD also needs to be severe enough to cause dysfunction for at least 12 months.
- There is often a five-month waiting period before SSDI benefits payment begins.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only, may not reflect all current requirements or exceptions, and should not be considered legal advice. For precise eligibility criteria or application support, contact the Social Security Administration or a qualified professional.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Unlike the SSDI, this federal government program pays cash monthly to individuals with disabilities who have limited financial resources.
- There is no requirement for an employment or tax history.
- The aim is to provide basic needs, for example, a place to live, clothing, and food.
The Process of Applying for ADHD Disability Benefits
- Confirming ADHD Diagnosis
The first step in being able to apply for a disability will be to have an official ADHD diagnosis made by a licensed healthcare professional.
- Proving Disability
- A healthcare provider needs to:
- Prove a severe ADHD disability
- Note previous and current treatments
- Note the extent of the dysfunction and limitations
- Exclude other medical conditions that might have the same symptoms
- Providing Documentation
- Next, gather the necessary records. These might include:
- Detailed medical records
- Personal identification
- Employment history for up to 15 years, if applicable
- Tax documents, if applicable
- Applying to the SSA
The application can be done online, by phone, or in person.
- Review of the Application
- The SSA will verify personal identity and work history
- Usually, SSA requires a medical evaluation to confirm the disability and whether to consider the ADHD for short-term or permanent disability benefits.
- The process can take between three and six months.
Disability benefits for ADHD are possible but require strong medical documentation and proof of severe impairment.
Legal Protections for People with ADHD
There are many laws in place to protect people with ADHD; let’s take a look at some of them.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Requires workplaces and public spaces to make justifiable and fair accommodations that prevent discrimination against people with disabilities.
Workplace Protections
Requires employers to make appropriate adjustments in work environments to enable employees with disabilities to perform their jobs and protect them from discrimination.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Ensures that students with disabilities receive appropriate concessions, allowing equal opportunities in learning programs
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Ensures free and appropriate public education for individuals whose disabilities impact their learning.
Next, we’ll look at these laws in action.
Accommodations for ADHD
What accommodations can adults with an ADHD disability expect in their work and learning environments?
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Workplace |
Education |
|
|
Surroundings |
|
|
|
Time Considerations |
|
|
|
Organization |
|
|
|
Human Support |
|
|
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Tech Support |
|
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Common Myths and Misconceptions
Myth: ADHD is a learning disability
Truth: Although both are neurodevelopmental disorders, they are separate conditions. In ADHD, poor attention and hyperactivity interfere with learning, whereas the brain of a person with
Myth: Everyone with ADHD qualifies for disability benefits
Truth: For a person with ADHD to receive disability benefits, they need to be dysfunctional and not be able to earn an income; this means that only people with severe ADHD usually qualify.
Myth: ADHD only affects children
Truth: It’s true that ADHD starts and is more commonly diagnosed in childhood. However, it often persists into adulthood, and sometimes, it is only diagnosed late in life.
Myth: ADHD is caused by poor parenting
Truth: ADHD has a strong hereditary component as well as possible genetic and non-genetic risk factors, a few of which may be brain injury, mothers smoking or drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and exposure to toxins. The ‘poor parenting theory’
Living With ADHD: Support and Management
- Stimulant medications, such as amphetamines and methylphenidates, are usually first-line options and work well in
7 out of 10 people with ADHD[8] . There are also non-stimulant options for individuals who cannot tolerate the stimulants. - Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps to change behavior by changing thought patterns.
- ADHD coaching, often offered by occupational therapists, helps people with ADHD formulate and implement self-management strategies to achieve short- and long-term goals. Examples of this would be:
- Listing concerns and responsibilities
- Learning to prioritize
- Using diaries and planners to schedule time to deal with the list
- Review progress and adapt the plan as necessary
Now you have all this information and would like to:
- Find out more about your ADHD diagnosis and possible disability benefits
- Review of your current ADHD treatment plan
- Explore a diagnosis of ADHD
To get started, book a video appointment to see a healthcare provider at MEDvidi from the comfort of your home.
