Posts Tagged ‘attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder’

ADHD Vs ADD – Unraveling the Mystery

In this article titled “ADHD vs ADD” we will first explore the many names which this condition has been called over the years and then work to explain the differences between ADHD vs ADD.

Sometimes it is pretty amazing how the evolution of research deals with theories once thought to be absolute which are ultimately proven to absolutely wrong or incomplete. Never has there been a better example than with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Let’s briefly cover the five name changes which have occurred in recent years.

Hyperactivity of Childhood: First noted in the first edition of the APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood: Noted in the second edition of the DSM.

Attention Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity (ADD): This name was introduced in the third edition of the DSM and is still used outside the doctor and specialist community. Read more…

Exploring the Often Misunderstood World of Adult ADHD-ADD

It wasn’t that many years ago that attention deficit disorder, now known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was considered to be an obscure condition found only in children. Today we know that is not the case with an estimated 10 percent of all children having the condition and at least 5 percent of adults.

But ADHD ADD in adults presents itself much differently than when recognized in children. Perhaps this evolution evolves out of necessity or perhaps as the brain matures certain biological imbalances are either corrected or altered. Research has yet to provide us with these answers but what we do know is that hyperactivity morphs into the much less noticeable restlessness in most instances. Their once extreme hyperactivity is now internalized more and exhibited as fidgeting.

While in most ADHD ADD adults their hyperactive condition has transformed itself to become less noticeable certain symptoms likely will not improve with age. The most stark example of this is the primary symptoms of inattention/distractibility. Inattention/distractibility can be very problematic for ADHD ADD adults creating major challenges with job stability, relationships and magnifying some very important secondary symptoms such as low self esteem and anticipation of failure. The social and economic hardships caused by inattention or distractibility can also lead to co-occurring conditions such as depression. Read more…