ADHD and Knowledge Work: Exploring Strategies, Challenges and Opportunities for AI

While neurodiversity research in HCI has primarily focused on Autism Spectrum Disorder and children, other conditions (such as ADHD) and demographics remain underexplored. To address this gap, we conducted an online survey with 49 participants to investigate how individuals with ADHD manage their work. Findings reveal that while participants employ a range of strategies and tools, these still leave challenges around prioritisation, time estimation, and task switching. While AI-powered tools could be beneficial and some participants called for them, there was limited awareness and utilisation of them. However, those that did make use of AI tools found them very helpful in progressing with tasks. This study emphasises the need to raise awareness about existing tools for work management among individuals with ADHD. Co-designing inclusive tools and fostering support from managers and colleagues were also found to be crucial. Ultimately, we argue that we need to advance the discourse on inclusive productivity to account for the complex needs of neurodiverse individuals.