When chatting with clients or parents about ADHD, the term ADD may come tripping off my tongue, mainly because the three-letter abbreviation is easier to say than the longer ADHD. Unfortunately, this can cause some confusion for my clients, and I’ll need to correct myself: what I mean is ADHD. In this post, I’ll attempt to explain why there’s (almost) no such thing as ADD.
The term Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) was, at one time, used to describe Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) without the symptoms of hyperactivity. This differentiation was eliminated by the experts in the 1980s. However, confusion regarding the terms ADD versus ADHD has lingered.
Dr. Russell Barkley, well-known author, and clinical psychologist on ADHD, explains that the term “ADD” was originally coined to describe a subset of individuals who had predominantly symptoms of inattention without significant hyperactivity or impulsivity.
However, by the time the American Psychiatric Association (APA) published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV), research had shown that, with the exception of a small number of individuals (5%) with ADHD, the majority with inattention also exhibited hyperactive and impulsivity at some point in their development or in some contexts. This new understanding led to ADHD being recognised as a more comprehensive and accurate term to represent the full spectrum of symptoms associated with this neurological difference.
By 1994, the categories of ADD and ADHD had merged into a single disorder with three subtypes: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. This change was made to provide a standardised and comprehensive framework for diagnosing and treating individuals with ADHD.
People with predominantly hyperactive ADHD will feel compelled to be in constant motion and likely to squirm, fidget, act impulsively and run around excessively as if “driven by a motor”. Those with predominantly inattentive ADHD may have difficulty sustaining attention, getting organized and decision making. They are also more likely to appear lost in thought.
Doing away with the term ADD and gathering all subtypes under the ADHD umbrella recognizes the complexity of the condition while minimising confusion regarding the question, is it ADD or ADHD? The answer is: it’s ADHD.
Barkley, D. R. (2022, November 21). Are There Really 3 Types of ADHD? Retrieved from ADDitude: https://www.additudemag.com/types-of-adhd-sluggish-cognitive-tempo-video/
Tuckman, D. A. (2007). Integrative Treatment of Adult ADHD. Oakland: New Harbinger Publication. Inc.
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