What are the 3 types of ADHD and their symptoms?
There are 3 different ways we can show ADHD and therefore different symptoms that align with them. They include:
1. The Inattentive Type
- Short attention span for age (difficulty sustaining attention)
- Difficulty listening to others
- Difficulty attending to details
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful
- Poor organisational skills for age
- Poor study skills for age
2. The Impulsive Type
- Often interrupts others
- Difficulty waiting for his or her turn in school and/or social games
- Tends to blurt out answers instead of waiting to be called upon
- Takes frequent risks, and often doesn’t think before acting
3. The Hyperactive Type
- Constantly in motion; and runs or climbs, at times with no apparent goal except motion
- Difficulty remaining in his/her seat even when it is expected
- Fidgets with hands or squirms when in his or her seat; fidgeting excessively
- Talks excessively
- Has difficulty engaging in quiet activities
- Loses or forgets things repeatedly and often
- Inability to stay on task; shifts from one task to another without bringing any to completion
As symptoms can change over time, so can the presentation.
Additionally, often individuals will find they have a combination of 2 of the above, or all 3. This demonstrates the significant fluidity of ADHD as a highly-individualised disorder.
