Hey, do pay attention to this

HEALTH

You think it might just be boardroom boredom that makes you fidgety and oblivious during meetings but it's time to take this seriously if your colleagues walk away with the praise and promotions and all you get is dirty looks. Your problem might not be incompetence but a deeper issue called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). In adults this is a common problem that often goes unnoticed until it starts playing havoc with one's professional, social and personal life.

Normally, ADD manifests itself in childhood, although it is usually not recognised at that time since most kids are able to compensate for the lack of attention by indulging in a variety of activities or by excelling in studies. The symptoms get more aggressive when one is faced with challenging tasks, mostly at work. Dr Anjali Chhabria, consultant psychiatrist, talks of a scenario where ADD becomes a challenge in the corporate world, especially in patients who find it so difficult to pay attention that they might even walk out of a meeting. "They find it extremely difficult to sustain interest in the meeting and often appear disinterested to other people," she explains. Since impulsiveness is a manifestation of ADD, even if one is aware of the repercussions of walking out of a meeting, they would do so involuntarily.

The attention span in ADD varies from person to person. Some people might be able to sustain attention in certain situations and might give in under others. The degree could be categorised into mild, medium and severe but the severity of ADD may not always progress with time. Typically, an ADD patient would make careless mistakes, be unable to sustain attention, would find it difficult to organise tasks and would appear inattentive and interruptive.

"Since the very cause is unknown," says psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh, "it is difficult to take any precautionary measures. However, it is imperative to recognise the problem and consult a psychiatrist." So, if you find yourself drifting away from a discussion, keep your meeting short and keep interrupting with relevant questions. Dr Chhabria also suggests sticking to a routine. Some medication has also been advised though it's efficacy varies.