Is it ADD or ADHD?

Does my child have ADD? Or is it just ADHD? This is a common question from parents, and my answer is "Yes." It is just semantics. ADHD used to be referred to as ADD, and somehow people attached the hyperactive form to that term. However, ADD is not a medical term or an actual diagnosis. The official term that encompasses all types of ADHD is "ADHD." ADHD is short for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Under the umbrella of ADHD, there are 3 separate types. These subtypes are Inattentive ADHD, Hyperactive ADHD, and Combined type ADHD (both Inattentive and Hyperactive). These are the DSM-5 diagnostic terms, and each type comes with a set of specific symptoms associated with it.

The hyperactive form ADHD is a little harder to ignore as these children are the ones jumping off tables and climbing the walls. They are described as having an endless motor that never stops running, and their parents usually look tired. This inability to slow down makes it hard for them to sit still in the classroom and keep their hands to themselves resulting in an earlier diagnosis than the inattentive form.

The inattentive form tends to go under the radar because they are not causing a disruption in the classroom. These kids aren't hyperactive on the outside, but what's going on in their mind is a different story. They have multiple thought processes going all at the same time but struggle to focus on what is important at that moment. This makes it difficult for teachers and even parents to figure out that there is a struggle. The inattentive ADHD child doesn't know any different, and so usually can't communicate this problem until they are older. This form of ADHD can be very frustrating for parents and caregivers, and commonly is mistaken for laziness or lack of care.

The combined type of ADHD is usually the easiest to detect, and most of these kids are diagnosed at an early age. They not only struggle to sit still but they also have trouble paying attention, and so they are most likely to get in trouble in the classroom and fall behind on their school work.

One more thing to make all this even more complicated is that a person with ADHD can toggle between specific forms of ADHD over a life span. The environment and life experiences can cause a person with ADHD to respond differently over time. ADHD is an ever evolving process in an affected person's brain, and so it requires ongoing reassessment and adjustment in modes of treatment.