Do you know the difference between Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD? Are they the same disorder with two different names or are they in fact 3 different disorders?
Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms are different, but you can have a combination of ADD and ADHD as well. Therefore, there are in fact three different disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD symptoms are inevitably different. The difference between the two should be really quite obviously, hyperactivity. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, the diagnostic bible) of ADD and ADHD, there are really three types of ADHD disorders.
Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD is labeled the predominantly inattentive subtype. A person with ADD is inattentive; their thoughts race everywhere and their focus is turned inward to try and manage their thoughts. A person with ADD may come across as spacey because of their inward focus. The inward focus for someone with ADD is so prevalent that their surroundings become almost non-existent and sometimes don't even realize when someone is speaking to them.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD is the hyperactive-impulsive subtype that tends to be the most common type of ADHD. A person that has ADHD is easily distracted, bounces from one thing to the next, never finishes what they start because they are unable to concentrate on a task long enough. They can not process a series of commands (more than 2 sets of directions at once). However, someone with ADHD has something called 'hyperfocus' in which they will give total attention to something that they are fascinated with, such as a video game, reading or other activities that will keep them occupied for hours.
The third subtype is ADD and ADHD combined and tends to be summed up with the term ADHD. This occurs when symptoms of both of the above sub-types are present.
Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD are two separate diagnosis, but there is also a third diagnosis which is a combination of the ADD and ADHD referred to as ADHD. Of course, only a diagnostic tests from a qualified doctor will determine this.
