In this article titled "ADHD vs ADD" we will first explore the many names which this condition has been called over the years and then work to explain the differences between ADHD vs ADD.
Sometimes it is pretty amazing how the evolution of research deals with theories once thought to be absolute which are ultimately proven to absolutely wrong or incomplete.
Never has there been a better example than with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Let's briefly cover the five name changes which have occurred in recent years.
Hyperactivity of Childhood: First noted in the first edition of the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood: Noted in the second edition of the DSM.
Attention Deficit Disorder With or Without Hyperactivity (ADD): This name was introduced in the third edition of the DSM and is still used outside the doctor and specialist community.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): The third edition of the DSM was revised change ADD to ADHD.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD): The fourth edition of the DSM added the backslash.
What we see is as research catches up with speculation the name evolves.
This trend will likely continue with biological conclusions and brain scan technology advancing at such a rapid rate.
As we speculate into the future some experts believe that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will be broken down into a number of different disorders or at the very least subtypes.
Now let's move back to our topic of ADHD vs ADD.
We have determined that these are in fact the same condition but most people still associate one as having hyperactivity and one not having hyperactivity.
In other words a person with ADHD likely has inattention/distractibility and impulsivity but not hyperactivity.
Some of the misunderstanding revolved around a number of different factors including adults with ADHD who failed to show signs of hyperactivity and women who were denied a diagnosis because they didn't fit into the mold for being hyperactive.
What we now know is that hyperactive behavior in adults doesn't go away it simply morphs into a more socially acceptable form.
For instance a hyperactive child may become an adult that fidgets constantly but has learned to stay seated for an undetermined period of time.
In women the story is a little bit different.
For years young girls, adolescents, and adult women were only thought to have ADHD in very rare instances.
Now we know this is not true.
While a ten to one ratio of boys to girls was once considered the norm now it is down to about three to one and dropping annually.
One reason for this is hyperactive behavior in females is channeled into excessive and some would say endless talking.
While the story of ADHD vs ADD is fascinating, one should not lose sight of the fact that while hyperactive behavior is only present 50 percent of the time it can be one of the most obvious and detrimental symptoms.
What Next? We have discussed ADHD vs ADD but for those struggling with this condition finding a treatment option that can help them manage their symptoms should be one of their main priorities.
The most common form of treatment for ADHD are stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Cylert.
While effective all stimulant medications come with a number of serious label warnings.
The risk of side effects or perhaps lack of success with stimulants has prompted many to investigate other options.
A couple examples of this are behavior modification therapy and/or homeopathic remedies.
Homeopathic remedies for ADHD are a side effect free way to address such problematic symptoms as inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, erratic behavior and hyperactivity and can be used both as a standalone treatment or as a compliment to other nonprescription alternatives.