ADD vs. ADHD: what’s the difference?
Reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD, Ro,
Written by Robert Roy Britt
Reviewed by Felix Gussone, MD, Ro,
Written by Robert Roy Britt
last updated: Apr 29, 2021
3 min read
Here's what we'll cover
Attention-deficit disorder, which we would call ADD if it were still a thing, is no longer a formal medical diagnosis. Instead, medical professionals now consider ADD—marked by inattentiveness—as one aspect of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD is among the more common childhood mental disorders and can last into adulthood in many cases. A recent study estimated that sixty percent of children with ADHD experience symptoms into their mid-20's, and 41 percent had both symptoms and impairments as young adults (Sibley, 2017).
As formally diagnosed by a healthcare professional, ADHD typically involves an inability to focus. However, other ADHD symptoms include impulsivity and hyperactivity.
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Two aspects of ADHD reflect the confusion
ADHD is broadly defined as “a behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging” (APA, n.d.). It is a complex disorder that affects millions of children and is common in adults, too.
ADHD plays out differently depending on two primary aspects, each of which comes with its own batch of symptoms (NIMH, 2021):
Primarily inattentive (what used to be called ADD)
Can’t pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
Struggles to stay focused on tasks or activities
Does not seem to listen well
Doesn’t follow through on instructions
Struggles to organize tasks, leading to missed deadlines
Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort
Often loses things needed for tasks or daily life
Is easily distracted
Forgets daily tasks, activities, or appointments
Primarily hyperactive-impulsive
Fidgets, taps hands or feet, or squirms
Can’t stay seated
Is relentless or “always on the go”
Can’t engage in leisure activities quietly
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers before a question is completed
Struggles to wait in line
Interrupts or intrudes on others
A third variety of ADHD is diagnosed if a person experiences several symptoms of both aspects. A child or adult can lean one way or the other in the mix of attention issues and hyperactivity, which can change over time. Importantly, any of the above symptoms can be on display at times in adults and especially in children who nonetheless do not meet the clinical definition of ADHD, so a formal diagnosis is vital before any treatment is suggested.
There is no single test for ADHD, and any person with the condition might have their own mix of symptoms (APA, 2022).
A brief history of ADD and ADHD
Recognition of the disorder we now call ADHD began a century ago, and definitions evolved as the medical community learned more into the 1980s. Some of the milestones (CHADD, n.d.):
During the global influenza pandemic of 1918-19, some children had fevers so high it changed their brains, affecting certain functions. As doctors started paying close attention beyond cases of flu, they realized that other children who hadn’t run high fevers showed similar functional difficulties (Swanson, 2020).
By the 1960s, researchers started recognizing hyperactivity in some, but not all, kids with these symptoms and the terms ADD and ADHD co-existed.
In the 1980s, hyperactivity symptoms were seen as one aspect of ADHD symptom, not a defining symptom.
While the term ADD is still often used, experts no longer consider it to have formal medical meaning.
Diagnosing and treating ADHD today
About 8.7% of U.S. adolescents ages 13 to 18 have been diagnosed with ADHD at some point, and most children carry the disorder into adulthood (NIMH, n.d.). Heredity plays a role, but there can be other causes, none of which are well understood. ADHD can be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, psychologist or primary care physician, or pediatrician (Magnus, 2020).
Treatments for ADHD are similar for adults and children, involving behavioral therapy and various medications. There is no known cure or prevention (AAP, 2019).
If you hear someone use the term ADD, assume it’s shorthand and synonymous with ADHD. It’s your call whether to let them know it’s not a thing anymore.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any medical questions or concerns, please talk to your healthcare provider. The articles on Health Guide are underpinned by peer-reviewed research and information drawn from medical societies and governmental agencies. However, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2019). Treatment & Target Outcomes for Children with ADHD. Retrieved from https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/Treatment-of-ADHD-and-Related-Disorders.aspx
American Psychiatric Association (APA). (2022). What is ADHD? Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/adhd/what-is-adhd
American Psychological Association (APA). (n.d.). ADHD. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/adhd
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (n.d.). Q&A: ADD vs. ADHD. What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/qa-add-vs-adhd-whats-the-difference/
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (2017). ADHD Changes In Adulthood. Retrieved from https://chadd.org/adhd-weekly/adhd-changes-in-adulthood/
Magnus, W., Nazir, S., Anilkumar, A. C., et al. (2020). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. StatPearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441838/
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2021). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults: What You Need to Know. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/adhd-what-you-need-to-know
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (n.d). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd
Sibley, M. H., Swanson, J. M., Arnold, L. E., et al. (2017). Defining ADHD symptom persistence in adulthood: optimizing sensitivity and specificity. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58 (6), 655-662. Retrieved from https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpp.12620
Swanson, J. M. & Volkow, N. D. (2020). Lessons From the 1918 Flu Pandemic: A Novel Etiologic Subtype of ADHD? Journal of American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, 60 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2020.09.024. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33186710/
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/