First of all, I would like to thank you for tuning into my series in honor of ADHD Awareness Month. ADHD is near and dear to me as both my youngest son and my husband have it. Today we will be talking about the 3 types of ADHD.
To catch up on our previous posts check out Facts about ADHD and Signs and Symptoms of ADHD.
The 3 Types of ADHD
Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD
People with Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD never stop moving. Maybe when they sleep. It is like they are driven by a motor, always moving and always talking. They are known to interrupt others, blurt out answers, and struggle with self-control. Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD is more common in boys.
People who are impulsive or hyperactive often[ref]https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/three-types-adhd[/ref]:
- squirm, fidget, or feel restless
- have difficulty sitting still
- talk constantly
- touch and play with objects, even when inappropriate to the task at hand
- have trouble engaging in quiet activities
- are constantly “on the go”
- are impatient
- act out of turn and don’t think about consequences of actions
- blurt out answers and inappropriate comments
Primarily Inattentive Type ADHD
People with Primarily Inattentive Type ADHD have problems with paying attention. They are known to make careless mistakes and have problems following instructions and difficulty with organization. They are forgetful, easily distracted and often lose things. Inattentive Type ADHD used to be referred to as ADD is more common in girls.
People who experience inattentive behavior often[ref]https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/three-types-adhd[/ref]:
- miss details and are distracted easily
- get bored quickly
- have trouble focusing on a single task
- have difficulty organizing thoughts and learning new information
- lose pencils, papers, or other items needed to complete a task
- don’t seem to listen
- move slowly and appear as if they’re daydreaming
- process information more slowly and less accurately than others
- have trouble following directions
Combined Type ADHD
Combined Type ADHD is when the person demonstrates six or more symptoms of inattention and six or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
7 Types of ADHD?
A reader sent me a link after publishing this post that according to research by Dr. Amen a psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist there are actually 7 types of ADHD.
I found the article Dr. Amen’s 7 Types of ADHD quite interesting so decided I would update the blog post and share it with you. Reading it myself I believe he is getting TOO specific in breaking it down to 7 types.
For example, he lists the 7th type as Anxious ADD. That already has a diagnosis. It is called Anxiety. I have it and the school psychologist believes my older son has it as well. In my opinion, someone diagnosed as Anxious ADD under his 7 types would just be someone who has both ADHD and Anxiety. Two different mental health diseases. You can have more than one you know.
Anyways just some food for thought, I am all for things that make you think. Feel free to leave me a comment and let me know what you think about the 7 types of ADHD according to Dr. Amen.
Does my child have ADHD?
Are you concerned your child may have ADHD? Take this quick ADHD test and see if it may be time to book an appointment with your family doctor.
Coming up
I am aiming to publish the next post in this series next Tuesday. In that post I will be sharing our ADHD story which led to our diagnosis.