What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?

ADD, or attention-deficit disorder, is an old term, now out of date, for the disorder we call ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

It was called ADD up until 1987, when the word “hyperactivity” was added to the name.

Before that, say in 1980, a child would be diagnosed with ADD, either with or without hyperactivity. But starting in the early 1990s, that child would be diagnosed with ADHD.

From the early ’90s until recently diagnosis included one of three types. Children who only had the inattentive symptoms were called inattentive type. Kids who were only hyperactive and impulsive were hyperactive/impulsive type. Kids who had all three symptoms were called combined type.

A lot of people still use the old term ADD, either out of habit or because it’s a more familiar term than ADHD. Some people use it to refer to inattentive type ADHD — without the hyperactivity. But it was never meant to be used that way, and continuing to use an almost 30-year-old term is getting more confusing.

The newest way of thinking about ADHD is actually to get rid of types altogether and just think about which symptoms present prominently. We still use the same clusters of symptoms (inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive), we just don’t consider them separate types. There are also adjustments to reflect new research on how ADHD symptoms present in adolescence or adulthood.

The bottom line is that the diagnosis of ADHD can still apply even if a child doesn’t have hyperactive or impulsive behaviors. That can be confusing for parents. We get this question all the time: “I don’t think my kid has hyperactive/impulsive symptoms—could he still have ADHD?” Yes, he can! And it’s especially crucial that kids with prominent inattentive symptoms of ADHD are still evaluated by a trained clinician, as these children could be more likely to be overlooked at school.

We want to make sure that people understand that kids who aren’t fidgeting or running out of class can still have really significant brain-based difficulties and related ADHD symptoms. The important thing is that a child who has a real problem paying attention, even without the other symptoms that tend to result in more disruptive or problematic behavior, still needs to be understood and to get help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are ADD and ADHD the same thing?

Yes, ADD and ADHD are the same thing. ADD (attention-deficit disorder) is an outdated term for what is now called ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Some kids with ADHD have hyperactive behaviors and some don’t, but the diagnosis is ADHD either way.

What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?

There is no difference between ADD and ADHD. ADD (attention-deficit disorder) is an outdated term for what is now called ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Some kids with ADHD have hyperactive behaviors and some don’t, but the diagnosis is ADHD either way.

Is ADD a real disorder?

ADD is a real disorder, but the term ADD (attention-deficit disorder) is outdated. Now, the disorder that was once called ADD is called ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).

This article was last reviewed or updated on March 3, 2023.

Topic:
ADHD & Attention

Dave Anderson, PhD

Dave Anderson, PhD, is the Vice-President of School and Community Programs and a senior psychologist in the ADHD and Behavior … Read Bio

What’s the Difference In Symptoms, Treatment?

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ADD vs. ADHD: What’s the Difference in Symptoms?

Today, there is no ADD vs. ADHD. ADD and ADHD are considered subtypes of the same condition and the same diagnosis, according to the DSM-5. Similarly, the stereotypical caricature of a person with ADHD — a boisterous, outspoken risk taker — is outdated. Many people with attention deficit disorder — especially girls and women — live with a quiet, spacey form of the condition that’s often misunderstood and undiagnosed.

Traditionally, inattentive symptoms of attention deficit like trouble listening or managing time were diagnosed as “ADD. ” Hyperactive and impulsive symptoms were associated with the term “ADHD.”

Here, we explain the differences between ADHD’s 3 sub-types.

Illustration of head, brain of child with ADHD with icons representing “multiple intelligences”: book smart, body smart, people smart, etc.
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What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the preferred medical term for the biologically based neurological condition that was once called ADD. It’s symptoms fall into with one of three quantifying subtypes:

• Primarily Inattentive
• Primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive
• or Combined

They also vary in severity from person to person, making diagnosis challenging. The group of behaviors that make up ADHD have been recognized since 1902, though the name has changed over time. According the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11% of children and teens in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD.

ADD vs. ADHD meaning illustrated with two puzzle pieces
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What Is the Meaning of ADD vs.

ADHD?

ADHD is the official, medical term for the condition — regardless of whether a patient demonstrates symptoms of hyperactivity. ADD is a now-outdated term that is typically used to describe inattentive-type ADHD, which has symptoms including disorganization, lack of focus, and forgetfulness. People with inattentive ADHD are not hyper or impulsive.

[Free Download: In-Depth Guide to Inattentive ADHD]

Woman with ADHD sitting on top of mountain overlooking lake at sunset thinking about her diagnosis
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What Is Inattentive ADHD?

Inattentive ADHD is too often dismissed as spacey, apathetic behavior in children, or misdiagnosed as a mood disorder or anxiety in adults. People with this form of ADHD often lose focus, are forgetful, and seem to have trouble listening. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-V (DSM-V), six of the following symptoms must be present and causing a severe impact at school or work to merit a diagnosis.

• Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
• Often has difficulty sustaining attention
• Often does not seem to listen when spoken to
• Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish projects
• Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort
• Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities
• Is often easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
• Is often forgetful in daily activities

Recognizing inattentive ADHD is key to preventing a lifetime of low self esteem and shame.

[Symptom Test: Could I Have Inattentive ADHD?]

The stereotypical ADHD patient is a 9-year-old boy who loves to jump off dangerously high things and never remembers to raise his hand in class. In reality, only a fraction of people with ADHD fits this description. Here are the three distinct presentations of ADHD:1.  Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive – see above2. Predominantly Inattentive – lack of focus and attention are […]
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What Is Hyperactive Impulsive ADHD?

Hyperactive impulsive type ADHD is the stereotype most people imagine when they think of ADHD: a young boy, bouncing off the walls, and interrupting the teacher mid sentence. Yet, this description fits only a small portion of those with the condition. To have this type, a person must have 6 or more of the following symptoms:

• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat.
• Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected.
• Runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness).
• Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
• Appears “on the go” or acts as if “driven by a motor.”
• Talks excessively.
• Blurts out the answers before the questions have been completed.
• Has difficulty awaiting turn.
• Interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games).

[Symptom Test: Could My Child Have Hyperactive Impulsive ADHD?]

Combined type ADHD occurs when someone has 6 or more symptoms of inattention, and 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Men and boys more commonly have hyperactive symptoms, while women and girls more commonly inattentive. Because of this, men are more commonly diagnosed than women, as their symptoms are more easily recognizable as ADHD. 
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What Is Combined Type ADHD?

Combined type ADHD occurs when someone has 6 or more symptoms of inattention, and 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity. Men and boys more commonly have hyperactive symptoms, while women and girls more commonly have inattentive. Because of this, men are more commonly diagnosed than women, as their symptoms are more easily recognizable as ADHD.

Drawing of ADHD woman full of problems and thoughts
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What Does ADHD Look Like In Adults?

Adults with inattentive ADHD may make careless mistakes, lose interest quickly, and struggle to follow verbal instructions. They can come off as lazy, disinterested, or forgetful, and they may live with these false, hurtful labels well into their adult life before seeking a diagnosis. We hear many stories of adults who grew up feeling defective or unworthy, never suspecting they had ADHD until their child was diagnosed and they recognized the symptoms in themselves.

To avoid the continued epidemic of missed diagnoses, it’s important for medical professionals to recognize all types of ADHD, as well as related conditions often mistaken for ADHD.

[ADHD Directory: Find an ADHD Specialist or Clinic Near You]

ADD vs ADHD: Next Steps

• Download: Is it ADHD? A Checklist of Common Symptoms
• Read: What Are the 3 Types of ADHD?
• Read: I Think I Have ADHD: Adult Symptom & Diagnosis Guide

How to add cells, rows, and columns to a Word table

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In this article

• Adding a cell

• Adding a line above or below

• Add a column to the left or right

• Table Tools contextual tabs

Add cell

1. Click the cell to the right or above where you want to insert the new cell.

2. In section Working with tables , click the tab Layout .

3. Click the arrow in the lower right corner of the section Rows and Columns .

4. Choose from the following options:

   Parameter	Action
   shifted right	Inserts a cell, moving the rest of the cells in the row to the right. Note: Word does not insert a new column. As a result, the number of cells in a row may be greater than in other rows.
   downshift	Insert a cell, moving the cells one line down. A new row is added to the table below.
   insert whole line	Insert a row above the selected cell.
   insert whole column	Inserts a column to the left of the selected cell.

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Adding a row above or below

1. Click the cell where you want to add a row above or below.

2. Under Table Tools on the Layout tab do one of the following:

   • To add a row above the selected cell, in the Rows and Columns group, click the Insert Above button.

   • org/ListItem”>

     To add a row below the selected cell, in the Rows and Columns group, click the Insert Below button.

Tip: To insert multiple rows (or columns) at the same time, select the desired number of rows or columns before clicking them. For example, to insert two rows above a row, first select two rows in the table and click the Insert top”.

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Adding a column to the left or right

1. Click the cell to the left or right of which you want to add a column.

2. In section Working with tables on the tab Layout do one of the following:

   • org/ListItem”>

     To add a column to the left of the selected cell, in the Rows and Columns group, click the Insert Left button.

   • To add a column to the right of the selected cell, in the Rows and Columns group, click the Insert Right button.

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Table Tools contextual tabs

When setting up the appearance and structure of a table, you will need the contextual tabs Designer and Layout of the group Working with tables . The tabs Design and Layout appear at the top of the ribbon when you click inside a table.

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See also

Removing a row, column, or cell from a table

Adding columns and rows to a table

Keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys in Word

Multiply a column of numbers by the same number

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Suppose you want to multiply a column of numbers by the same number in another cell. To do this, before copying the formula, you need to change it by adding $ symbols to the address of the multiplier cell.

In our example below, we want to multiply all the numbers in column A by the number 3 in cell C2. Formula =A2*C2 will give the correct result (4500) in cell B2. However, copying the formula to subsequent cells in column B will not work because cell C2 is referenced to C3, C4, and so on. Since there is no data in these cells, the result in cells B3 through B6 will be zero.

To multiply all numbers in column A by cell C2, add $ characters to the cell reference as follows: $C$2 as shown in the following example.

Symbol$$ Excel that the reference to cell C2 is “absolute” so that when you copy the formula to another cell, it will always refer to cell C2. To create a formula:

1. In cell B2, type an equal sign (=).

2. Click cell A2 to add it to the formula.

3. Enter the asterisk character (*).

4. Click cell C2 to add it to the formula.

5. Enter a $ before C and another before 2: $C$2 .