What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?
ADHD is the term used in the current DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria. ADD with or without hyperactivity is the older term from the DSM-IIIR. ADHD in Adults – Adult ADHD Treatment of ADHD in adults requires a combination of several approaches; exercises might be included, but other methods of treatment are usually also needed. Treatment of Adult ADHD; Adult ADHD Treatment ADHD can be a severe problem also for adults. Adult ADHD treatment needs to be adjusted for each patient, but can include psychotherapy and medicines. ADHD in Children, Child or Teens ADHD, Age of Onset The official definition of ADHD says that the symptoms must start before 7 years of age, but some ADHD only starts with puberty or when the child grows older and more demands are put on them. Especially the inattentive mode of ADHD in girls is sometimes not recognized until in their teens. All about ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) All the answers on ADHD copied together into a single large document.
During the last few years many different terms for children, adolescents and adults with ADHD have been introduced. They were mainly influenced by American descriptions of the classification system DSM-IV: • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is the term used in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria. • ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) with or without hyperactivity is the older term from the DSM-IIIR. Thus in some older literature you will find this term as a synonym for ADHD. Thomas Brown describes common symptoms of ADD (inattentive type): • Often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli • Often difficulty following through on instructions from others • Difficulty sustaining attention • Often does not seem to listen to what is being said • Tendency to lose things necessary for tasks or activities • Difficulty organizing goal-directed activities • Often shifts from one uncompleted activity to another Some research
The difference between ADD and ADHD, in short, is a simple “nothing.” But since I’m sure you want a more of a detailed explanation, I will elaborate. Through the years ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder) has had many names. ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is one of those many names. ADD has been used so recently and so frequently that many people still use it instead of ADHD. This has naturally created confusion among adults with ADHD and parents of children who have ADHD. It raises the question “Which one do I have?” Imagine there is a new disease in San Francisco. The doctors study it and call it “Disease A.” Later that week, in Denver, doctors discover that same disease and not knowing that disease already exists, call it “Disease B.” Everywhere this disease shows up it is called by a different name. No one has made the connection that Disease A is the same thing as Disease B and C and D and etc… One day all the doctors get together at a conference and decide that all t
