Is There A Difference Between ADD and ADHD?

With all the media publicity that attention deficit disorders have received in recent years, many people in Foxboro and elsewhere may wonder about the difference between Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD—especially parents who are concerned that their child may have one of these disorders. Although ADD is still used colloquially, it is technically not a diagnostic term used by clinicians. Only ADHD is technically a diagnostic term, and it is divided into three subtypes: ADHD- Predominantly Inattentive, ADHD- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and ADHD- Combined Type. The designation ADD could perhaps best be applied to people with the Predominantly Inattentive subtype of ADHD, who often lack the hyperactive component commonly associated with the disorder.

Do Doctors Even Use The Term ADD?

Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD, is an older term that is sometimes still used by doctors, although not as a formal diagnosis. The terminology was officially changed in 1994 with the release of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, DSM-IV. Currently the formal designation for an attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity is ADHD-PI instead of ADD. Presumably, this convention reflects the fact that ADD and ADHD are subtypes of the same disorder rather than two distinct disorders.

ADHD- Predominantly Inattentive Type: “ADHD” Without the “H”

When most people think of ADHD, they picture that hyperactive, bouncing-off-the-walls child who can’t sit still long enough to pay attention in the classroom. However, not all people with ADHD are hyperactive. People in Foxboro, and throughout the nation, with ADHD-PI, the closest formal designation to what is usually meant by ADD, are often quite opposite. They tend to feel tired or lethargic much of the time, and may feel mentally sluggish or slow.

People with ADHD-PI do exhibit the inattentive symptoms of ADHD, including:

·         Failure to pay close attention to details

·         Tendency to make careless mistakes

·         Difficulty following instructions and keeping track of assignments

·         Difficulty concentrating on planning and executing tasks

·         Difficulty concentrating on conversations with others

·         A tendency to daydream when it is not appropriate to do so

·         Tendency to misplace objects

·         Inability to “multitask”

·         General forgetfulness

·         Difficulty remembering relevant information

Because children with non-hyperactive ADHD-PI do not tend to be as disruptive in the classroom environment as ADHD children, their difficulties are more likely to be overlooked. Like ADHD, ADHD-PI can severely impact academic performance, work performance, and self-esteem. People with lifelong ADHD-PI often fear structured or planned work activities due to their difficulty concentrating. Because their problems in school are often not recognized as an attention deficit disorder, they are often chastised because their behaviors are misattributed to laziness, carelessness, lack of effort, or lack of proficiency. As a result, they often develop a low self-concept and may underestimate their own capabilities, leading to academic and occupational underachievement relative to their actual intelligence and capabilities. They may also become more prone to depression or other mood disorders. For this reason, it is important that teachers and parents in Foxboro and elsewhere recognize the existence of ADHD without hyperactivity. Like ADHD, ADHD-PI responds well to stimulant medications and to neurofeedback therapy, a scientifically proven approach now available in Foxboro that does not produce any unwanted side effects.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR ADD & ADHD IN BOSTON