Let us find out the difference between ADHD and ADD, and also the different types of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder(ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder(ADHD) are terms used interchangeably in most cases, but in cases of ADD, the patient do not exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviors that are characteristics of ADHD.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the official term given by the American Psychiatric Association, and it includes hyperactive, impulsive, and/or inattentive behaviors. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) in fact includes three different types of ADHD: ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type, ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type and finally ADHD, Combined Type
Let us look at the three types of ADHD in detail
1. ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: most of the symptoms of people with ADHD who fall into Predominantly Inattentive Type are related to lack of paying attention. . The individual does not particularly show hyperactive/impulsive behaviors. So this ‘predominantly inattentive type of ADHD’ can also be called ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder. Here the individual has trouble paying attention, absorbing information, following direction and completing tasks. They tend to be forgetful, easily distracted, lose things and not organized in behavior.
People who have ADD or ‘predominately inattentive type of ADHD’ are not only ‘not hyperactive’, they tend to be slow and sluggish in processing information. They day-dream a lot, are shy, withdrawn and slow to respond. Their symptoms may just be diametrically opposite to the person with impulsive and hyperactive ADHD symptoms. However, most people confuse ADD or predominately inattentive type of ADHD with ADHD, ADHD, and Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type.
ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type is the proper ADHD, with typical ADHD symptoms mainly related to hyperactivity and impulsivity. So the people who are afflicted with ADHD are restless, fidgety, impulsive and overactive. They tend to act first and think later, they speak before gauging what is happening, they tend to blurt out and interrupt others. They cannot stay at one seat, talk a lot and cannot wait for their turns while speaking.
ADHD, Combined Type
People who have ‘ADHD Combined type’ are those who have both ADD (ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type) and ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type
