4 ms·

Ask HN: Working with Programmers with Add

3 points by travisgriggs 6y ago

I work with a small team (4 ish) of programmers in a somewhat entrepreneurial group where none of us have the luxury of specializing in any one thing. We recently learned that one of our team members (who was struggling to integrate with the team well) has ADD. We like the individual and are interested in things working better for all of us, especially the particular individual. I'm interested in what experiences and advice others have with collaborating best with team members who have ADD. I'm interested in hearing from other programmers who have ADD and what has worked best for them to be productive and feel successful. Thanks for sharing, from either side of the spectrum.

sedeki 6y ago
Are you able to elaborate on the issues that you are experiencing more concretely? Or is it just the signature add symptoms, so to speak?
- travisgriggs 6y ago
  Couple different manifestations/symptoms in this case: * Some social "tuning out" behavior that causes others to think there's just not as much interest * In the context of "make it work, make it right, make it optimal", a willingness to stop at just "make it work", which is perceived as lack of follow through * Inability to self assign/self direct tasks -- needs to be directed what to do (I've come to call this "sled dog syndrome" -- wants to run, wants harness/reins to pull against) * Easily distracted into non-productive activity (e.g. netsurfing) when challenged with tasks that are beyond their ability * Great at responding quickly to concrete "do this, do that" tasks
  - travisgriggs 6y ago
    * Attaboys (needed dopamine) become more important than the success of the product/team as a whole (your code vs my code thinking)
ksaj 6y ago
You will probably have to be very careful with your choice of words. People with ADD often take things very literally and personally (rather like some forms of autism, apparently. It is technically very difficult to tell the difference a lot of the time since the symptoms can overlap so significantly). What that means is that snide off-hand or discouraging remarks can quickly shut them down, killing opportunities for what could have been an otherwise perfectly productive afternoon. When shut down, people with ADD can have a hard time getting back to whatever it was they were doing before that event. The fact that you don't individually specialize in a particular thing is probably good. People with ADD thrive on novelty, as long as it doesn't introduce chaos and confusion. If they get hyper-focused on something that needs to be done, do not get in the way, and let them at it. You'll get some seriously thorough work in that mode unless you distract them. I also recommend making sure any instructions are well understood. People with ADD will often think they understand what you want, but can unknowingly completely misinterpret what you've said. It's not related to intelligence -- It is usually a result of taking words so literally. You'd be surprised at how vague most people can be, even if they think they are speaking super clearly. People with ADD often counter this with repeating themselves verbatim to ensure that what they are saying is understood or at least acknowledged. You've probably noticed that.

3 points by travisgriggs 6y ago

sedeki 6y ago

Are you able to elaborate on the issues that you are experiencing more concretely? Or is it just the signature add symptoms, so to speak?

travisgriggs 6y ago
Couple different manifestations/symptoms in this case: * Some social "tuning out" behavior that causes others to think there's just not as much interest * In the context of "make it work, make it right, make it optimal", a willingness to stop at just "make it work", which is perceived as lack of follow through * Inability to self assign/self direct tasks -- needs to be directed what to do (I've come to call this "sled dog syndrome" -- wants to run, wants harness/reins to pull against) * Easily distracted into non-productive activity (e.g. netsurfing) when challenged with tasks that are beyond their ability * Great at responding quickly to concrete "do this, do that" tasks
- travisgriggs 6y ago
  * Attaboys (needed dopamine) become more important than the success of the product/team as a whole (your code vs my code thinking)

ksaj 6y ago

You will probably have to be very careful with your choice of words. People with ADD often take things very literally and personally (rather like some forms of autism, apparently. It is technically very difficult to tell the difference a lot of the time since the symptoms can overlap so significantly). What that means is that snide off-hand or discouraging remarks can quickly shut them down, killing opportunities for what could have been an otherwise perfectly productive afternoon. When shut down, people with ADD can have a hard time getting back to whatever it was they were doing before that event. The fact that you don't individually specialize in a particular thing is probably good. People with ADD thrive on novelty, as long as it doesn't introduce chaos and confusion. If they get hyper-focused on something that needs to be done, do not get in the way, and let them at it. You'll get some seriously thorough work in that mode unless you distract them. I also recommend making sure any instructions are well understood. People with ADD will often think they understand what you want, but can unknowingly completely misinterpret what you've said. It's not related to intelligence -- It is usually a result of taking words so literally. You'd be surprised at how vague most people can be, even if they think they are speaking super clearly. People with ADD often counter this with repeating themselves verbatim to ensure that what they are saying is understood or at least acknowledged. You've probably noticed that.