Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsADD or ADHD?SubtypesSymptomsDiagnosisADHD in Adults
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
ADD or ADHD?
Subtypes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
ADHD in Adults
ADD and ADHD are terms used to describe the same disorder. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is an outdated term, while ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the officially used term.Some people, however, use the term ADD interchangeably with ADHD, and others consider ADD to be a subtype of ADHD.
People with ADHD don’t always have hyperactivity, but the diagnosis of ADHD still applies.
Verywell / Laura Porter
“ADHD” is the abbreviation for “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.” This is the current, official term used to describe a behavioral condition that causes hyperactivity and difficulty paying attention.
“Attention deficit disorder” or ADD is an older term for the condition. Up until 1987, a person would be diagnosed with ADD with or without hyperactivity, which was considered a subtype.The term ADD is still sometimes used unofficially.
ADHD Subtypes
Why is ADD no longer a diagnosis?The change from subtypes to presentations was made because people can experiencedifferent sets of symptomsas they develop, which fits more with a presentation than a subtype.For example, a child may experience symptoms ofhyperactivityand difficulty paying attention during childhood. Then, as a teen or adult, they may no longer experience overactivity.
Why is ADD no longer a diagnosis?
The change from subtypes to presentations was made because people can experiencedifferent sets of symptomsas they develop, which fits more with a presentation than a subtype.For example, a child may experience symptoms ofhyperactivityand difficulty paying attention during childhood. Then, as a teen or adult, they may no longer experience overactivity.
ADHD is diagnosed based on the presentations of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.These presentations have the same names as the former subtypes.
It is possible to experience symptoms of multiple presentation categories.
APA Classification of Symptoms
To understand the presentation of ADHD, symptoms are divided into those related to inattention and distractibility and those related to hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Inattentive/Distractible ADHD (ADD)Difficulty with paying attention to detailDifficulty maintaining attentionDifficulty listeningChallenges with finishing tasksOrganization and time management difficultiesAvoiding tasks involving attentionFrequently misplacing or losing objectsDistraction challengesForgetfulnessHyperactive/Impulsive ADHDFidgeting or squirmingDifficulty remaining seatedRestlessness, running, or climbing when inappropriateDifficulty remaining quietBeing overly active or difficulty remaining stillExcessive talkingSpeaking before listeningHaving challenges with waitingFrequently interrupting or intruding
Inattentive/Distractible ADHD (ADD)Difficulty with paying attention to detailDifficulty maintaining attentionDifficulty listeningChallenges with finishing tasksOrganization and time management difficultiesAvoiding tasks involving attentionFrequently misplacing or losing objectsDistraction challengesForgetfulness
Difficulty with paying attention to detail
Difficulty maintaining attention
Difficulty listening
Challenges with finishing tasks
Organization and time management difficulties
Avoiding tasks involving attention
Frequently misplacing or losing objects
Distraction challenges
Forgetfulness
Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHDFidgeting or squirmingDifficulty remaining seatedRestlessness, running, or climbing when inappropriateDifficulty remaining quietBeing overly active or difficulty remaining stillExcessive talkingSpeaking before listeningHaving challenges with waitingFrequently interrupting or intruding
Fidgeting or squirming
Difficulty remaining seated
Restlessness, running, or climbing when inappropriate
Difficulty remaining quiet
Being overly active or difficulty remaining still
Excessive talking
Speaking before listening
Having challenges with waiting
Frequently interrupting or intruding
How Do I know if I’m ADD or ADHD?
It is no longer possible to be diagnosed with “ADD” because the term has been replaced with ADHD. Some people may refer to the inattentive presentation of ADHD as ADD, but that is not an official term. ADHD cannot be diagnosed with medical testing.Instead, healthcare professionals such as pediatricians, psychiatrists, and psychologists assess the symptoms todiagnose ADHD.
Depending on the nature of the symptoms, it may be determined that there’s a presentation of:
Whendiagnosing ADHD, healthcare professionals may consider:
ADHD is often diagnosed in childhood. Some people outgrow the condition when they reach adulthood, but many don’t.
Like children with ADHD, adults with ADHD have trouble with focus, planning, and decision-making. If you have ADHD, you may struggle with inattention in the workplace, and you may make what other people describe as “careless” errors.
You may also have trouble listening to what other people are saying, which can lead to difficulty remembering instructions or completing a task correctly. You may have problems staying organized and may lose things like keys and important papers.
In adults with ADHD, hyperactivity is less obvious and can manifest as impulsivity. Adults with hyperactive presenting ADHD can be restless, excessively talkative, and have problems with self-control. Sometimes, they engage in risky behaviors such as fast driving, drug and alcohol use, and compulsive shopping.
Adult females who have ADHD are also more likely to be diagnosed with the inattentive type (sometimes unofficially called ADD).
Summary
ADHD and ADD are both terms used to describe attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADD is anoutdated termthat is no longer in official use. Unofficially, however, it is still sometimes used interchangeably with the term ADHD.
ADHD has several presentations: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive, and combined. Some people use the term ADD to describe the presentation of predominantly inattentive ADHD.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epstein JN, Loren REA.Changes in the definition of ADHD in DSM-5: Subtle but important.Neuropsychiatry (London). 2013;3(5):455-458. doi:10.2217/npy.13.59Romeo J.ADHD: The history of a diagnosis.JSTOR Daily.American Psychological Association.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).American Psychiatric Association.Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-IV to DSM-5 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comparison.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.Understanding ADHD.American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What you need to know.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What you need to know.Sibley MH, Arnold LE, Swanson JM, et al.Variable patterns of remission from adhd in the multimodal treatment study of ADHD.AJP. 2022;179(2):142-151. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032Davis C, Cohen A, Davids M, Rabindranath A.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in relation to addictive behaviors: A moderated-mediation analysis of personality-risk factors and sex.Front Psychiatry. 2015;6:47. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00047Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Epstein JN, Loren REA.Changes in the definition of ADHD in DSM-5: Subtle but important.Neuropsychiatry (London). 2013;3(5):455-458. doi:10.2217/npy.13.59Romeo J.ADHD: The history of a diagnosis.JSTOR Daily.American Psychological Association.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).American Psychiatric Association.Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-IV to DSM-5 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comparison.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.Understanding ADHD.American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What you need to know.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What you need to know.Sibley MH, Arnold LE, Swanson JM, et al.Variable patterns of remission from adhd in the multimodal treatment study of ADHD.AJP. 2022;179(2):142-151. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032Davis C, Cohen A, Davids M, Rabindranath A.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in relation to addictive behaviors: A moderated-mediation analysis of personality-risk factors and sex.Front Psychiatry. 2015;6:47. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00047Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Epstein JN, Loren REA.Changes in the definition of ADHD in DSM-5: Subtle but important.Neuropsychiatry (London). 2013;3(5):455-458. doi:10.2217/npy.13.59Romeo J.ADHD: The history of a diagnosis.JSTOR Daily.American Psychological Association.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).American Psychiatric Association.Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-IV to DSM-5 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comparison.Attention Deficit Disorder Association.Understanding ADHD.American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What you need to know.National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What you need to know.Sibley MH, Arnold LE, Swanson JM, et al.Variable patterns of remission from adhd in the multimodal treatment study of ADHD.AJP. 2022;179(2):142-151. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032Davis C, Cohen A, Davids M, Rabindranath A.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in relation to addictive behaviors: A moderated-mediation analysis of personality-risk factors and sex.Front Psychiatry. 2015;6:47. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00047Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596
Epstein JN, Loren REA.Changes in the definition of ADHD in DSM-5: Subtle but important.Neuropsychiatry (London). 2013;3(5):455-458. doi:10.2217/npy.13.59
Romeo J.ADHD: The history of a diagnosis.JSTOR Daily.
American Psychological Association.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
American Psychiatric Association.Highlights of changes from DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.DSM-IV to DSM-5 attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder comparison.
Attention Deficit Disorder Association.Understanding ADHD.
American Psychiatric Association.What is ADHD?
National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: What you need to know.
National Institute of Mental Health.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adults: What you need to know.
Sibley MH, Arnold LE, Swanson JM, et al.Variable patterns of remission from adhd in the multimodal treatment study of ADHD.AJP. 2022;179(2):142-151. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2021.21010032
Davis C, Cohen A, Davids M, Rabindranath A.Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in relation to addictive behaviors: A moderated-mediation analysis of personality-risk factors and sex.Front Psychiatry. 2015;6:47. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00047
Quinn PO, Madhoo M.A review of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in women and girls: Uncovering this hidden diagnosis.Prim Care Companion CNS Disord.2014;16(3). doi:10.4088/PCC.13r01596
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