What are the types of ADHD?
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic mental disorder that disrupts one’s ability to manage their emotions and actions. This disorder can be broken down into three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined.
Knowing how your symptoms align with the three types of ADHD can ultimately result in a better treatment plan to ease your symptoms. Read further to see which ADHD type your symptoms align with best.
Inattentive ADHD is the most common type of ADHD. People with this type struggle with focus, organization and attention to detail, often missing deadlines and misplacing items.
Jump to insightCombined ADHD, the least common type, includes symptoms from both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD.
Jump to insightADHD diagnosis follows DSM-5-TR criteria and requires at least six symptoms for inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and five for combined ADHD.
Jump to insightTreatment typically involves medication and behavioral therapy. Stimulants are the most common medication, but nonstimulants, antidepressants and therapy are also options.
Jump to insightInattentive ADHD
Inattentive ADHD is the most common type of ADHD. People with this type of ADHD may have a hard time paying attention to details, staying focused and keeping organized, but they may have few to no symptoms of hyperactivity. People who have undiagnosed — and therefore untreated — inattentive ADHD may exhibit the following behaviors in their daily life:
- Missing deadlines
- Being late to school, work or appointments
- Inability to listen to others
- Misplacement of common items
- Forgotten chores (e.g., paying bills, doing homework or running errands)
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD is characterized by frenetic activity and the inability to control one’s impulses. This form of ADHD makes it difficult to sit still without fidgeting or being easily distracted.
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms can change as a person ages. For example, a child who’s been diagnosed with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may be disruptive in class and constantly talk or move around. However, an adult with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD is more likely to struggle with mood swings, impulsivity and issues related to decision-making. At any given age, however, symptoms of this type of ADHD include the following:
- Forgetting or losing things easily
- Fidgeting or squirming
- Difficulty with quiet activities
- Trouble with multitasking
- Poor response to frustration
- Frequent mood swings
Combined ADHD
An individual may receive a diagnosis of combined ADHD when they display symptoms of both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive ADHD. This is the least common type of ADHD, and it’s marked by symptoms like difficulty paying attention and sitting still. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, to be diagnosed with combined ADHD, you must have at least five symptoms of both hyperactive-impulsive ADHD and inattentive ADHD.
Combined ADHD can impact a person’s life by making it difficult to stay calm and focus on simple, quiet tasks. Left untreated, it may lead to poor performance at school or work, substance abuse, unstable relationships and/or financial troubles.
Diagnosing ADHD
A health care professional can provide an ADHD diagnosis based on your symptoms.
In order to be diagnosed with inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, you must exhibit six symptoms aligned with either or both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive ADHD and have had several of those symptoms since you were 16 or younger. You can be diagnosed with combined ADHD if you have five or more symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive ADHD and are at least 17 years old.
ADHD is commonly diagnosed based on the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition, Text Revision” (DSM-5-TR). This manual is used throughout the U.S. to ensure ADHD is diagnosed using the same standard criteria. Before ADHD can be diagnosed, a thorough ADHD assessment must take place. This assessment generally includes the following:
- Screening for preexisting conditions: This involves an interview discussing your medical and behavioral history and, in some cases, your day-to-day life (e.g., your work, school and marital status).
- Behavioral rating scale: Your provider administers a questionnaire to get objective information about your symptoms.
- Diagnostic interview: This is an interview to better understand your struggles with your symptoms and how they affect your everyday life.
- Outside input: To get an overall sense of how the people around you observe your symptoms, your provider will interview someone who knows you well, such as a teacher or parent.
- Physical examination: This exam can rule out any other possible conditions that may be causing your symptoms.
After a health care professional does an ADHD assessment, he or she will align the assessment outcome with the DSM-5-TR to evaluate which type of ADHD your symptoms best reflect.
Treatment approaches for each type of ADHD
ADHD treatment can look different for each person. Generally, medication approaches for ADHD are designed to increase neurotransmitters in your brain to help reduce hyperactivity, increase attention span and control impulsive behaviors. Out of all the treatment options available, stimulant medication is most commonly used for the treatment of all types of ADHD.
The following table details more about treatment options.
| Treatment | How it works | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Stimulant | Increases dopamine and norepinephrine levels in your brain to increase motivation and ability to pay attention | Focalin, Adderall, Concerta, Ritalin, Adderall XR |
| Nonstimulant | Increases levels of norepinephrine to improve focus and attention and lessen impulsivity | Strattera, Qelbree, Kapvay, Intuniv |
| Antidepressant* | May alleviate some ADHD symptoms | Wellbutrin, Norpramin, Tofranil, Pamelor |
| Behavioral therapy | Helps strengthen positive behaviors by increasing self-regulation skills through parent or therapist guidance | Positive reinforcement, behavior tracking, environmental modifications |
It’s important to note that if you start taking one drug for ADHD, you don’t necessarily have to stick with it forever. You’ll need to monitor for side effects and see if you have improvement in your symptoms. If you feel like your ADHD treatment isn't working, reach out to your doctor and consider a change. It may take several attempts before finding a treatment that works for you.
Long-term outlook for each ADHD type
Although a person diagnosed with ADHD generally doesn’t “outgrow” their diagnosis, some symptoms of ADHD may evolve over time. Some children diagnosed with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD may more closely align with an inattentive ADHD profile once they reach adulthood, for instance.
When properly treated, symptoms of ADHD can get better over time. However, if any type of ADHD is left untreated, symptoms may get worse. Untreated ADHD can lead to the following outcomes:
- Drug use/addictive behavior
- Vehicle accidents
- Job changes
- Obesity
- Anxiety/depression
- Suicidal thoughts
FAQ
What lifestyle changes can help with ADHD?
There are a few ways to manage your ADHD symptoms by incorporating lifestyle changes:
- Creating a bedtime routine and staying consistent with it
- Eating a balanced diet, limiting screen time and getting regular exercise.
- Cutting out coffee and limiting alcohol intake
- Hiring a life coach skilled in ADHD
How is ADHD diagnosed?
ADHD must be diagnosed by a health care professional. After a thorough ADHD assessment occurs, the health care professional will evaluate your results with the DSM-5-TR criteria. If your assessment lines up with the criteria, your doctor may diagnose you with one of three types of ADHD.
How can therapy help with ADHD?
Certain forms of therapy can help with ADHD. For example, behavioral therapy for ADHD can be used to reinforce positive behaviors through shared activities and the practice of new skills.
Bottom line
ADHD can be broken down into three types: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive ADHD and combined ADHD. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD is characterized by the inability to control actions, while inattentive ADHD typically shows in a lack of focus or concentration. Combined ADHD has elements of both.
Symptoms related to the different types of ADHD can be treated with medication and/or behavioral therapy. The proper treatment plan is prescribed by a health care professional and may look different for each person. It’s important to maintain treatment in order to effectively control your ADHD symptoms.
While there is no “cure” for ADHD, advancements are being made to better personalize treatments through neuroimaging. According to the Hough Family Institute for Brain Protection Sciences at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, neuroimaging is the use of scans such as computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to help treat brain disorders and injuries.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association, “ADHD Combined Type: A Common and Treatable Diagnosis.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Attention Deficit Disorder Association, “Types of ADHD in Adults: Understanding the Differences.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), “ADHD Changes In Adulthood.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic, “ADHD Medication.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Cleveland Clinic, “Inattentive ADHD.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, “Antidepressants in the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.” 1997
- Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, “Neuroimaging.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Kaiser Permanente, “Lifestyle Strategies for Adult ADHD.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Mayo Clinic, “Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Journal of Health Services Psychology, “Adult ADHD: Underdiagnosis of a Treatable Condition.” Jan. 28, 2023
- Missouri Medicine: The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, “ADHD Diagnostic Trends: Increased Recognition or Overdiagnosis?” September-October 2022.
- National Institute of Mental Health, “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.
- Journal of Clinical Child Adolescent Psychology, “Future Directions in ADHD Etiology Research.” February 9, 2015
- Nemours Kids Health, “Therapy for ADHD.” Accessed Oct. 15, 2024.