Question: When I was younger, children were diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder). Now my grandson has been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit
Answer: ADHD is now the preferred term for the biologically-based neurological condition that was known as ADD until 1987. Before then children were diagnosed as ADD with or without hyperactivity. There are commonly three types of ADHD: (1) Inattentive (easy distractibility), but not hyperactive or impulsive; (2) hyperactive-impulsive (both hyperactivity and impulsivity), but not inattentive; and (3) combined (inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity). Instead of using types of ADHD, some just describe a child’s symptoms.
It is important to understand that ADHD is still the diagnosis even if a child is not hyperactive or impulsive. Children who have a pronounced inability to pay attention can, and do, have ADHD and need to get help. A diagnosis of ADHD needs to be made by a trained clinician.
