Understanding ADHD Productivity in Construction Work: Toward AI-enabled VR Interventions

2026-07-20

AI Summary

This study addresses the negative impact of ADHD traits among construction workers on their work efficiency, sustained attention, and situational awareness, as well as the current lack of targeted support mechanisms. Through semi-structured interviews with workers exhibiting ADHD traits, safety managers, and researchers, the study systematically identifies two overarching themes: workplace challenges and productivity-support strategies. Building on these insights, it proposes, for the first time, an AI-enhanced virtual reality (AI+VR) intervention framework tailored to this population. The framework emphasizes three core design requirements: adaptive attentional scaffolding, mediated social presence, and motivational support, thereby establishing a theoretical foundation and technical pathway for future development of assistive interventions in construction environments.

Abstract

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is identified as the most prevalent neurodivergent condition in the construction industry. While the construction industry may broaden employment opportunities, little is known about how ADHD traits shape workers' performance, sustained attention, and situational awareness in dynamic job-site environments. This work presents an exploratory interview study aimed at understanding how ADHD traits influence construction-specific productivity and how future interventions can reduce challenges while amplifying strengths. We conducted semi-structured interviews with construction workers with ADHD, safety managers, and ADHD researchers to capture their perspectives on attentional demands, task coordination, and workplace adaptation. As part of these discussions, participants also reflected on the potential of combining artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to support future ADHD workers. Our analysis identifies two overarching themes: (1) workplace challenges, capturing difficulties that arise from both the nature of construction work and the specific needs of ADHD workers, and (2) productivity support strategies, describing effective methods to sustain focus and task engagement. Further, we derive design requirements for AI and VR-enabled interventions that provide adaptive attentional scaffolding, mediated social presence, and motivational support. We conclude by discussing how these insights can inform the future development of ADHD productivity enhancement support.

Problem

• ADHD
• construction productivity
• sustained attention
• situational awareness
• neurodivergence

Innovation

• AI-enabled VR interventions
• adaptive attentional scaffolding
• neurodiversity in construction
• ADHD productivity
• mediated social presence