ADD and ADHD are terms that make many people feel confused when they hear them. However, the fact is very simple. The difference between ADD and ADHD is the change in the name, with ADD being an older name that existed in the past. It is similar to how the term “car phone” has been replaced by “cell phone,” although it means the same. However, since 1987, “ADHD” has been the term that has been used, as the official name by the medical society for this condition.
Why did the name change?
When doctors used to say someone had ADD before 1987, the term Attention-Deficit Disorder was what they meant. They used ADD for everyone, whether they were hyperactive or non-hyperactive. Later on, they found the most important feature called ‘hyperactivity’ that was also part of their symptomatology, so this had to be included in the name.
Just consider this: what if you termed all the drinks you consumed as just “water”? Would people not get confused about the different types of juice, or milk, and so forth, ”A expert compared ADD to this. They wanted a label that would better describe what they were detecting.
There are still people who say ADD today, and that’s okay. Through saying ADD, people usually refer to the same thing as ADHD. Yet doctors and other medical practitioners specialized in ADHD testing and treatment have been using ADHD for about three decades now.
What ADHD looks like
ADHD affects millions of children and adults. Studies that around 6.4 million children in America have this diagnosis. But behind each number is a real person with real struggles and real feelings. There are primarily three types of ADHD that people portray:
Inattentive type (what used to be called ADD):
In this, people often feel that their minds are constantly elsewhere. Therefore, they hardly focus, even when they try hard to do it. They may be:
- Making wrong decisions just to realize it after the act
- Finding it hard to concentrate carefully on significant tasks
- Seeming not to be taking in the words of the people they are talking to
- Having trouble listening to someone or carrying out instructions due to mind wandering, not due to a lack of willpower of their own
- Avoiding demanding tasks that need a lot of mental effort
- Getting distracted easily by small things that others wouldn’t even notice
- Often forgetting things, an example of that could be their belongings, things that matter to them
- Some for the reason of them are not very responsible, lose important items like keys, papers, or their phone
Hyperactive-impulsive type:
These may often be so energetic that they even seem not to be able to control themselves. They could:
- Sitting or being unusually restless in places where they are supposed to stay seated
- Nervous speaking, although they try to hold back, they still can’t stop talking too much
- Talk too much and give responses to the queries that they do not wait for being asked by the respondents
- Experience the trouble of waiting for their turn
- Get to a point where they cannot relax at one spot, which is a feeling that they are always moving or “on the go.”
Combined type:
Most other people with ADHD have both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms at the same time. Usually, they feel that it is such an ordeal since they have different situations they have to cope with at the same time.
The hidden struggle that numbers cannot show
ADHD is, in many cases, only a struggle of the spirit and mind, while being only visible to the individual themselves. The feelings can be the ones that the family members, teachers, and friends of the sufferer may not notice:
Children with ADHD:
Children often think of themselves as different from their peers. They watch other kids sit calmly and quickly understand what they are told, and they begin to ask themselves why they cannot do what the others do. Many children with ADHD start to accept that they are “bad” or “stupid” because their grown-ups tell them that “just focus” or “try harder.” Actually, they are already trying as much as they can.
Adults who discover ADHD later:
There are a few adults who, despite feeling that some things were not right in their lives, could never pinpoint the exact nature of their problem. Maybe they have been trying to manage their life by adopting various organizational strategies, or by keeping a focus, but it always seems that there is no permanent solution. When they finally learn about ADHD, they often feel relief mixed with sadness and relief that there is an explanation, but sadness about the many years they spent blaming themselves.
Women and hormonal changes:
The life of women with ADHD becomes even harder when they are on their period, during their pregnancy, or during menopause, when the hormonal balance shifts a great deal. Some hormonal changes can enhance or add to the symptoms of ADHD. This could lead to the women feeling unsure as to why their symptoms simply change from time to time.
Parents who recognize themselves:
There are times when a child gets diagnosed with ADHD, and a parent, on discovering that he or she has the same set of problems, throws all the blame on them for transferring the harmful genes to their child. But also, they might be angry at not finding the right coping skills that could have solved the problem they faced when young, thus they missed many opportunities.
The emotional burden of ADHD
- Shame: Feeling like they are letting everyone down
- Low self-esteem: Thinking that they are not as good as other people
- Frustration: Want to win, but they get stuck, and they get really excited about it
- Anxiety: Thoroughly thinking about forgetting something or missing important things
- Depression: Feeling like they can’t change or have a natural talent
Some people with ADHD cope with this situation by using excessive substances (e.g., drinking alcohol or other drugs), which consequently creates more problems and complicates their lives even more.
ADHD and Learning
ADHD is not a learning disability. Individuals with ADHD can learn just like any other person. They simply might have to figure out different methods than those used in normal classrooms.
For example, people use glasses in order to see clearly. This does not mean the person can’t see. The professional gives them the right tools to see better.
Getting Help
Getting diagnosed with ADHD requires both time and careful testing. There is no single test that can diagnose ADHD. Instead, specialists collect data from multiple sources, including standardized questionnaires and structured interviews, to verify a correct diagnosis. Contemporary ADHD assessment tools also include computerized methods that can record the attention and response patterns of a person. This provides them with a clearer understanding of the individual’s attention process in activities.
If your child is experiencing signs of inattentiveness, impulsivity, or hyperactivity, it is best to consult a child psychiatrist. Children’s physiology varies. Their response to treatment can depend on their stage of brain development and ongoing education. Child psychiatrists are medically qualified (MBBS, MD) to evaluate and create personalized treatment plans for each child to meet each child’s unique needs (e.g., child’s symptoms, lifestyle, and conditions, including psychosocial interventions).
Based on the assessment outcome, the psychiatrist develops a treatment plan. Typically, the treatment includes:
- Medication
- Education
- Skills training
- Psychological counseling
At GABA Telepsychiatry, board-certified adult and child psychiatrist Dr. Gundu Reddy (MD) has extensive experience in ADHD testing, diagnosis, and evidence-based medication and treatment management. She considers many factors (e.g., nutritional deficiency, neurodevelopmental history, medical conditions, and differential diagnosis, etc.) to provide comprehensive care online.
Note that the treatment target is not to “correct” someone who has ADHD but to help them understand how the brain operates and to provide them with tools for managing the condition.