Because this form of ADD doesn’t cause behavioral problems, it is usually diagnosed later in life.

Individuals with inattentive ADD do not suffer from hyperactivity, but are easily distracted, sluggish, slow moving, and lack motivation. Because the basal ganglia is associated with the production of dopamine, the usual treatment for classic ADD deals with increasing dopamine levels. SPECT scans have determined that people with classic ADD lack blood flow in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia. People with classic ADD are generally inattentive, easily distracted, disorganized, hyperactive, unable to sit still, and impulsive. Amen’s definition of classic ADD is the form of ADD that aligns with what most people call ADHD. Amen, the seven types of ADD/ADHD are as follows:ĭr. By learning about brain activity, psychiatrists can further differentiate the seven types of ADD and make better decisions regarding treatment.Īccording to Dr. Simply stated, SPECT scans show psychiatrists where the brain is working well, too hard, or too little. SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography and shows cerebral blood flow, which is another way of saying it shows brain activity. One commonly used functional neuroimaging techniques is SPECT scanning. Amen also promotes the use of functional neuroimaging as a diagnostic tool. Amen adopts the term ADD, rather than ADHD because he believes ADD is a more appropriate term for the condition.īeing a neuropsychiatrist, Dr. His book identifies, examines, and explains the different types of ADD/ADHD and discusses a multitude of treatment approaches. Amen released a book titled, Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program that Allows You to See and Heal the 7 Types of ADD that provided insight on the different variations of ADD/ADHD. In 2013, psychiatrist and nuclear brain imaging specialist Dr. Possible symptoms of women with ADD/ADHD can include: However, women tend to internalize many of their symptoms, which makes it harder for them to get a diagnosis and the care they need. Studies have shown that men tend to externalize their symptoms and, for this reason, they are easier to recognize and diagnose. Have a hard time starting challenging tasksĪdditionally, ADD/ADHD can affect women differently than men.Inability to focus on things they find boring.

Intent focus on things they find interesting.

Possible symptoms of ADD/ADHD in adultscan include: Usually adults with ADD/ADHD receive a diagnosis after experiencing problems in the workplace or with their personal relationships. Any adult with ADD/ADHD was once a child with ADD/ADHD that went undiagnosed until adulthood.

Can’t finish a task before starting anotherĪDD/ADHD can also affect adults and it is estimated that about 13 million of Americans are affected by ADHD.

Possible symptoms of childhood ADD/ADHD can include: ADD/ADHD can have a number of symptoms depending on the type of ADD/ADHD and the sex of the individual. Although ADD/ADHD is more frequently diagnosed in boys, recent studies suggest that ADD/ADHD affects both boys and girls at a similar rate, however it is not as frequently diagnosed in girls because ADD/ADHD affects the sexes differently. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 6.4 million American children are diagnosed every year. ADD/ADHD OverviewĪDD/ADHD is usually diagnosed in children and is diagnosed more in boys. But first, let’s take a look at the basics of ADD/ADHD. In fact, there are several different types of ADD/ADHD and understanding these different types is a crucial aspect in developing an effective treatment plan. However these symptoms can vary by the individual and not all the symptoms must be present to diagnose ADD/ADHD. In a modern context, ADD is used to describe inattentive attention deficit hyperactive disorder, which is a subtype of ADHD.ĪDD/ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and a lack of impulse control and attention. However, in modern times both terms are thrown about and sometimes this can cause major confusion. In 1987, the American Psychological Association discontinued the use of the term ADD and instead replaced it with ADHD. ADD, or attention deficit disorder, is the outdated term for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Difference between add and adhd