Attention Deficit Disorders: ADD and ADHD

The most troublesome ADHD behaviors and characteristics will also be covered in this course. It is important to know that a professional should diagnose ADHD and that the symptoms should be "chronic" and ongoing before seeking treatment. For all purposes regarding ADHD, the chronic behaviors should be continual and sustained over a long period and cannot be easily attributed to environmental factors such as moving, divorce, illness, death in the family, a new baby in the house, or a family crisis. All of these changes and situations, whether or not they are perceived as positive or negative, can and do cause ADHD like symptoms in children that usually pass over time or can be alleviated by family counseling. Keep in mind that big changes such as these can aggravate ADHD symptoms. Turmoil and substantial change, while difficult for all people, is particularly difficult for those with ADHD.  

Boys and men are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls and women, however, it is unclear why this is since girls and women are equally likely to have the disorder. ADHD is not a sex specific disorder, however, it does display differently in males than females.  

ADHD symptoms may lessen in adulthood or disappear altogether. It is believed that many of those with ADHD in childhood learn to self-modify their behaviors and symptoms. Because of this, they are able to manage the negative consequences that often accompany and are a result of the disorder. For instance, the inability to focus and stay still for long periods, as is required for school and college study and work tasks may be compensated for by performing tasks in shorter more intense bursts. As children grow into adults with ADHD, many, if not most, learn how to compensate for the disorder, thus, fewer adults are diagnosed than are children. However, a small percentage of adults with ADHD continue to have symptoms that they are not aware that they are caused by ADHD. Many of them would benefit from medication and behavioral therapy. 

Treatment typically involves medications, behavioral interventions, and modifications. These two components combined help those with ADHD control the symptoms and manage the disorder so that they can lead productive, fulfilling lives.  

During the last few years, many different terms for children and adults with ADHD have been introduced and used. They were mainly influenced by American descriptions of the classification system used by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).ADD and ADHD are synonyms. The acronym ADD stands for "Attention Deficit Disorder" and the acronym ADHD stands for "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." Although, ADHD includes the term Hyperactivity, they are still classified as the same. While the disorder may have lesser and greater degrees of hyperactivity, it has been found that hyperactivity to some extent is a clear characteristic of its symptoms. So, one would not be diagnosed with the disorder if there were no symptoms of hyperactivity, even if they are minor and/or periodic.  

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

ADHD is the term used in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) for the diagnostic criteria for this disorder.  

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)

With or without hyperactivity ADD, Attention Deficit Disorder, is the older term from the DSM. Thus, in some older literature you will find this term as a synonym for ADHD. However, by all current standards ADD is no longer used to describe the disorder, even though some literature and Web sites will refer to ADD as a disorder which has all symptoms except hyperactivity. This course will only use the acronym "ADHD" to describe Attention Deficit Disorder with or without high hyperactivity.