Understanding the Difference Between ADD and ADHD
In years past, professionals used to refer to ADD and ADHD as different disorders, despite their similarities. However, the mental health professional community now agrees that what was formerly called ADD is actually a type of ADHD. The three types of ADHD are now:
- Primarily Inattentive (formerly ADD)
- Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive (formerly the only kind of ADHD)
- Combination
Sith the new diagnostic standards, ADD is not a disorder. People who would have previously been diagnosed with ADD fall under the Primary Inattentive type of ADHD. Although many people associate ADD with hyperactivity, these patients do no show hyperactivity as a symptom.
People who would have been previously diagnosed with ADHD broadly now have the diagnosis of Primarily Hyperactivity-Impulsivity ADHD. People who have symptoms of both of those types of ADHD have combination ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a type of mental health disorder that impacts a person’s cognitive abilities. For example, it can change a patient’s ability to remember things or concentrate on tasks. This relatively common disorder affect about 11 percent of school-aged children in the United States. Although it is commonly thought of as a childhood illness, about 4.4 percent of adults in the United States live with the disorder as well.
ADHD can develop at any point in life, though it is often diagnosed in childhood. Some children with ADHD outgrow their symptoms by the time they become adults. Others live with symptoms of ADHD throughout their lives. Some adults never had symptoms as children but develop ADHD later in life.
Understandably, many parents worry that ADHD is over-diagnosed because the rate of diagnosis has risen substantially in recent years. It’s possible that environmental factors may be to blame; the research is still out on this. However, it’s equally possible that increased awareness about the disorder has caused the sudden spike in diagnosis. As more people understand that these symptoms indicate a disorder, they seek help.
Parents also worry about the potential stigma of having a child with ADHD. It’s vital to keep in mind that the child will have the symptoms and the disorder whether they get an official diagnosis or not. The difference is that a diagnosis allows families to access tools to help make life easier.
Symptoms of Adult ADHD
The exact signs of ADHD that adults show differ between patients, as is the case for most disorders. However, the following symptoms of ADHD are the most common:
Signs of Inattentive ADHD (Formerly Known as ADD)
- “Zoning out” often
- Difficulty paying attention to detail at work or school
- Being easily distracted, especially during dull tasks
- Having a shorter attention span than peers, even when doing activities they like
- Difficulty following instructions at work or school
- Trouble listening for long stretches of time
- Actively avoiding anything that requires much concentration
- Difficulty organizing thoughts or routines
- Often forgetting to complete basic tasks, even those that occur daily
Symptoms of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity ADHD
- Trouble dealing with delayed gratification
- Fidgeting during work or school
- Making decisions quickly and without much thought
- Feeling restless
- Talking more than more people, sometimes faster than most people
- Trouble relaxing the body and mind
When people have combination ADHD, they have at least a few symptoms from each of these lists. However, someone can have many signs from one list and only a few from the other.
As is the case with all mental health diagnoses, the signs of ADHD must be frequent and severe enough to impact a person’s ability to live a healthy life. Furthermore, adults must have symptoms for at least six months to qualify for a diagnosis. For example, occasionally feeling jittery does not mean someone has ADHD.
Signs of ADHD in Children
Children who live with ADHD often experience the same signs of ADHD as grown-ups with the disorder. However, children often have trouble knowing whether what they feel is “normal” or expressing their frustrations. As such, parents, teachers, and other loved ones need to look for outward-facing symptoms of ADHD.
Signs of Inattentive ADHD in children include:
- Making seemingly obvious mistakes on homework
- Making a habit out of losing important things, like glasses or backpacks
- Playing with one toy for only a moment before moving to the next thing
- Ademantely being against any activity which may require them to sit still, including church or school
Symptoms of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity ADHD in kids include:
- Constantly interrupting others to talk more
- Getting up during class when it’s inappropriate
- Talking a lot more than other their ages
- Fidgeting when told to listen for long periods
- Climbing on everything possible and playing loudly when inappropriate
- Seeming to have boundless energy
Testing for ADHD
Online tests, blogs, and patients with ADHD can only tell someone whether they may need evaluation for ADHD. However, only a qualified mental health professional who attends to a particular patient can determine whether that person has ADHD.
When professionals try to make this determination, they run a series of assessments to understand the patient’s symptoms. While adults respond to these questions by themselves, parents may help their children describe their symptoms.
The assessments are the first part of the diagnostic process. Professionals may also wish to talk to parents separately or ask particular follow-up questions. With this information, they can make accurate diagnoses.
Treatment Options for ADHD
ADHD is a chronic condition, which means there is no known cure. However, several treatments can help patients and their families manage symptoms. Medications, therapy, lifestyle changes, or combinations of these treatments can help.
Medication
Although it may seem odd at first, a class of medications called “stimulants” can help people with ADHD focus and be calm. Although these substances would make anyone else feel hyperactive, they do the opposite for people with ADHD. These medications are so effective that they work for up to 80 percent of children with ADHD.
Some other types of medications can help people with ADHD, and they have been on the market since 2003. These pills do not take effect as quickly as stimulants. However, they can be great options for patients who do not react well to stimulants.
Understandably, some people feel nervous about putting themselves or their children on medication for ADHD. We respect that decision. Anyone who feels this way can try therapy and lifestyle changes.
Behavioral Therapy
As is the case with many behavioral disorders, counseling can help people with ADHD. In these forms of therapy, counselors teach patients to reinforce positive behaviors and turn negative behaviors around. Therapists also help patients find what triggers them and discover other, healthier coping mechanisms.
When children have ADHD, counselors work closely with the parents. The parents learn how to reinforce what the children learned in therapy. This consistency helps with recovery and keeps kids on track.
Lifestyle Changes
A few lifestyle changes can also help patients with ADHD, including:
- Creating daily routines and habits
- Getting plenty of restful sleep
- Decreasing distractions at work or school
- Getting plenty of regular exercise
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet