ADD Vs. ADHD

Hi! My name is Kathleen, and I am originally from Portland, Oregon. My son has attention difficulties at school and at home and I am wondering what the difference is between ADD and ADHD.

Kathleen, the way we think about ADHD nowadays is that there is the ADHD inattentive type and then there's the ADHD hyperactive impulsive type. When I see a child or hear about a child who has inattention only, I think about ADHD, but I also think about a variety of other conditions that cause children in that age group to have problems with inattention. So, for example children who have worries or fears, those children are oftentimes inattentive. Children with learning disabilities can appear inattentive because they're not really taking in the content at school. So, when I hear about the inattentive subtype or kids who just have inattention alone, that's a more complicated youngster who needs a fuller and more complete diagnostic workup. On the other hand kids who are truly hyperactive, those kids really are more specific if you will to ADHD hyperactive impulsive type or the combined type and there's less confusion diagnostically about kids who have a serious hyperactivity.

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