7th Southern African Multidisciplinary ADHD Congress
Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can perform better in the workplace and have better quality of life through precision care focused on the individual and their ability to participate in life and work, rather than on medication and symptom reduction alone.
Approximately 60% to 70% of children with ADHD continue to experience symptoms into adulthood, affecting approximately 4% of South African adults, or up to 2 million people, and impacting their relationships, wellbeing, education and ability to perform at work.
“The scientific and clinical conversation around ADHD is increasingly moving beyond whether symptoms can be reduced with the right medication, towards the much more important question of whether the person is able to participate fully in the life they want to live”, says Prof Renata Schoeman, head of the MBA programme in Healthcare Leadership at Stellenbosch Business School.
This is among the key questions to be discussed at the virtual 7th Southern African Multidisciplinary ADHD Congress, themed “Beyond Symptoms: Precision, Equity and Real-World Outcomes in ADHD”, from 2-5 September.
Prof Schoeman, the conference convenor, said delegates including psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, researchers and patient advocates from across Africa, would explore the emerging science, practical clinical insights, policy and access challenges, and the real-world implications of ADHD in homes, schools, workplaces, and healthcare systems.
For adults struggling to cope with ADHD in the workplace – characterised by missing deadlines or appointments, inability to stay focused in meetings, appearing disorganised or unreliable – the barriers to making a positive contribution as an employee go beyond their individual ADHD-related difficulties.
A global review of studies of more than 68 000 adults with ADHD, across 22 countries found that the level of workplace support, appropriate accommodations and person–job fit also played a key role.
“Sometimes the difficulty is not located entirely within the employee, but also stems from the interaction between the person and the way work has been designed.
“We need better workplace-focused solutions and it is important for employers to understand that inclusion of neuro-diverse employees is not about lowering expectations; it is about removing unnecessary barriers to meeting them.
“Neuroinclusive work is about flexibility and person–environment fit, work design and accommodations based on individual needs, not a one-size-fits-all accommodation for everyone,” she said.
In terms of removing barriers, she said employers should ensure that expectations and deadlines are explicit, consider whether unnecessary interruptions were built into the working day, and whether every task required physical presence or real-time collaboration.
However, she said the evidence did not justify the suggestion that all people with ADHD work better from home.
“For some, autonomy and fewer interruptions, with more quiet deep-work time, may help, while others may need more external structure and social cues, or written rather than verbal instructions.
“The same principle applies to precision ADHD care, which is not simply about finding the right pill, but finding the right combination of treatment, support and environment for this person, at this stage of their life,” she said.
ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric conditions in the world is largely a genetic or inherited condition. “If left unidentified and untreated, ADHD can profoundly affect every area of a person’s life from childhood through adulthood but, with the right treatment, people with ADHD can also be very high functioning and highly successful, creative, innovative and entrepreneurial.”
“This is the aim of precision, patient-centred ADHD care, which is moving from correcting the person to improving the fit between the person and their treatment, environment and personal goals, achieving meaningful practical outcomes that matter to the patient’s ability to function in their everyday life,” she said.
About the Southern African Multidisciplinary ADHD Congress
Now in its seventh year, the Congress is the region’s leading forum on ADHD research, treatment and lived experience, aiming to advance understanding, collaboration, and impact in ADHD treatment. The 2026 theme encourages practitioners to look beyond traditional descriptions and treatment of ADHD and consider how to ensure that advances in care are accessible and equitable across diverse communities and settings, and deliver meaningful, real-world outcomes in patients’ everyday lives.
Visit www.adhdcongress.co.za
