Is ADHD a Disability?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It a Developmental Disability?Is It a Learning Disability?Legal Rights and Accommodations at SchoolLegal Rights at WorkDisability Benefits and How to ApplyGetting Diagnosed

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Is It a Developmental Disability?

Is It a Learning Disability?

Legal Rights and Accommodations at School

Legal Rights at Work

Disability Benefits and How to Apply

Getting Diagnosed

Severeattention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)is considered a developmental disability under theAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In these cases, the attention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity challenges ADHD causes make it difficult for someone to do daily activities and function effectively in a school or work environment.

This legal context aside, not everyone personally defines ADHD as a disability. This can sometimes make the association of these terms contentious.

This article discusses ADHD as a potential disability, how to get diagnosed, and possible federal disability benefits that you might qualify for with ADHD. It also covers possible accommodations at school and work—such as extra time to complete work, taking frequent breaks, and assistance with organizational skills.

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Is ADHD a Developmental Disability?

ADHD is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder—a condition that affects the brain as it is developing.Symptoms of ADHD typically appear in childhood and continue into adulthood.

Symptoms of ADHD in children can include:

Adults with ADHD may have some of the same symptoms as children, but symptoms can also look different at older ages. For example, hyperactivity in adults may appear as extreme restlessness or wearing others out with their activity.

If a person’s symptoms of ADHD are severe enough to interfere with their function at school or in the workplace, ADHD can be considered a developmental disability.

A developmental disability is any condition that occurs during child development that negatively impacts daily function. These conditions can affect behavior, learning, motor skills, or language development.

Is ADHD a Learning Disability?

ADHD is not a learning disability, but many children who are diagnosed with ADHD also have learning disabilities.In addition, ADHD can have a big impact on a child’s ability to learn—difficulty paying attention, inability to sit still for long periods of time, and impulsivity have negative effects on education.

Although ADHD is not a learning disability, it is a recognized disability that can qualify a student for accommodations at school, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Accommodations for students with ADHD can include:

Federal law protects students from disability discrimination and students with ADHD may be entitled to special education or related aids or services from their school district.

Legal Rights and Accommodations in the Workplace

ADHD is a diagnosis that frequently continues into adulthood, and often causes issues in the workplace. One of the main symptoms of ADHD that affects people in the work environment is difficulty paying attention.

TheAmericans with Disabilities Act (ADA)is a law that helps protect people with disabilities from discrimination in the workplace. This law requires employers with 15 or more employees to make “reasonable accommodations” for people with disabilities to help them be successful in the workplace.

As an adult, if your ADHD symptoms impair your ability to do your job effectively, you might consider discussing your diagnosis with your employer or the person in the human resources department to see if accommodations can be made.

Accommodations in the workplace for adults with ADHD may include:

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities.

In some cases, children with ADHD might qualify forfederal disability benefits—Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Social Security Administration. However, there are strict requirements for qualification—the child’s condition must cause “marked and severe functional limitations” and symptoms must have lasted for at least one year.

Similar requirements are in place for an adult with ADHD to receive federal benefits—the condition must cause an inability to do any “substantial gainful activity” and have lasted for at least a year.

The first step in receiving benefits is to get a diagnosis of ADHD. The next step is to apply for disability benefits to determine if you or your child qualify.

Diagnosing ADHD

Criteria for diagnosing ADHD are based on consistent demonstration of inattention and/or impulsivity or hyperactivity.

Symptoms of inattention can include:

Hyperactive/impulsive behavior can include:

Sometimes ADHD isn’t diagnosed until adulthood. The diagnosis criteria include experiencing at least five persistent symptoms of inattention and/or five persistent symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity.

These symptoms must be present in two or more settings (such as home, work, or school; with friends or relatives; in other activities) and interfere with, or reduce the quality of social, school, or work functioning.

What Is Combined Type ADHD?

Summary

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that is typically diagnosed in childhood, with symptoms that often continue into adulthood. These symptoms—such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior—can cause significant issues in school and work environments.

ADHD is considered a developmental disability, not a learning disability. Accommodations can often be made in the classroom or work environment to help people with ADHD be more successful.

The ADHD Brain vs. the Non-ADHD Brain

A Word From Verywell

If you suspect that your child might have ADHD, talk to their healthcare provider about an assessment and treatments that are available. The earlier these symptoms are recognized, the faster the interventions can be put in place to help your child succeed in school and at home.

Talk to your child’s school about accommodations that are available to help your child learn more effectively. This can significantly reduce frustration and negative behaviors that are impacting their ability to learn. Consider seeing a therapist for family therapy for tips on managing behaviors at home as well.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ADHD.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Developmental disability basics.Drechsler R, Brem S, Brandeis D, Grünblatt E, Berger G, Walitza S.ADHD: current concepts and treatments in children and adolescents.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(5):315-335. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1701658Department of Education.About IDEA.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ADHD in the classroom: Helping children succeed in school.Department of Education.Know your rights: students with ADHD.Fuermaier ABM, Tucha L, Butzbach M, Weisbrod M, Aschenbrenner S, Tucha O.ADHD at the workplace: ADHD symptoms, diagnostic status, and work-related functioning.J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021;128(7):1021-1031. doi:10.1007/s00702-021-02309-zDepartment of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.Employers and the ADA: myths and facts.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD at work.Social Security Administration.Supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility requirements.Visser SN, Zablotsky B, Holbrook JR, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH.Diagnostic experiences of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Natl Health Stat Report. 2015;(81).National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.Additional ReadingWolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ADHD.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Developmental disability basics.Drechsler R, Brem S, Brandeis D, Grünblatt E, Berger G, Walitza S.ADHD: current concepts and treatments in children and adolescents.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(5):315-335. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1701658Department of Education.About IDEA.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ADHD in the classroom: Helping children succeed in school.Department of Education.Know your rights: students with ADHD.Fuermaier ABM, Tucha L, Butzbach M, Weisbrod M, Aschenbrenner S, Tucha O.ADHD at the workplace: ADHD symptoms, diagnostic status, and work-related functioning.J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021;128(7):1021-1031. doi:10.1007/s00702-021-02309-zDepartment of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.Employers and the ADA: myths and facts.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD at work.Social Security Administration.Supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility requirements.Visser SN, Zablotsky B, Holbrook JR, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH.Diagnostic experiences of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Natl Health Stat Report. 2015;(81).National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.Additional ReadingWolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ADHD.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Developmental disability basics.Drechsler R, Brem S, Brandeis D, Grünblatt E, Berger G, Walitza S.ADHD: current concepts and treatments in children and adolescents.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(5):315-335. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1701658Department of Education.About IDEA.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ADHD in the classroom: Helping children succeed in school.Department of Education.Know your rights: students with ADHD.Fuermaier ABM, Tucha L, Butzbach M, Weisbrod M, Aschenbrenner S, Tucha O.ADHD at the workplace: ADHD symptoms, diagnostic status, and work-related functioning.J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021;128(7):1021-1031. doi:10.1007/s00702-021-02309-zDepartment of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.Employers and the ADA: myths and facts.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD at work.Social Security Administration.Supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility requirements.Visser SN, Zablotsky B, Holbrook JR, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH.Diagnostic experiences of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Natl Health Stat Report. 2015;(81).National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of ADHD.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Developmental disability basics.

Drechsler R, Brem S, Brandeis D, Grünblatt E, Berger G, Walitza S.ADHD: current concepts and treatments in children and adolescents.Neuropediatrics. 2020;51(5):315-335. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1701658

Department of Education.About IDEA.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.ADHD in the classroom: Helping children succeed in school.

Department of Education.Know your rights: students with ADHD.

Fuermaier ABM, Tucha L, Butzbach M, Weisbrod M, Aschenbrenner S, Tucha O.ADHD at the workplace: ADHD symptoms, diagnostic status, and work-related functioning.J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2021;128(7):1021-1031. doi:10.1007/s00702-021-02309-z

Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy.Employers and the ADA: myths and facts.

Attention Deficit Disorder Association.ADHD at work.

Social Security Administration.Supplemental security income (SSI) eligibility requirements.

Visser SN, Zablotsky B, Holbrook JR, Danielson ML, Bitsko RH.Diagnostic experiences of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Natl Health Stat Report. 2015;(81).

National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: what you need to know.

Wolraich ML, Hagan JF Jr, Allan C, et al.Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2019;144(4):e20192528. doi:10.1542/peds.2019-2528

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