Six Types of ADD

There is so much information out there on Attention Deficit Disorder that people often do not know which thing to even begin to believe. Some say it is overdiagnosed. Some say it is a rising problem. The truth about ADD is that it can be seen in the brain. Scans of the brain show that ADD affects the prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate gyrus, the temporal lobes, the basal ganglia and the deep limbic system. There are actually six main types of ADD. By knowing which type a patient different treatments are prescribed.

Classic ADD is the age old disorder by which most people categorize patients with ADD. Most with this type will have difficulty paying attention and leave tasks unfinished. They also are usually hyperactive and impulsive.

Inattentive ADD can often be described as a patient that is a daydreamer. They exhibit most of the common features of ADD, but they are not hyperactive. They actually have little to no energy. They are sluggish and enjoy to drift away from paying attention.

Overfocused ADD has all of the regular traits of ADD, but the patient may have trouble shifting attention and be negative. This type of patients worries excessively and is argumentative.

Temporal lobe ADD patients are often inattentive, irritable and aggressive. They often have memory and learning problems. This type of patient will show severely impulsive behavior traits in their decisions.

Limbic ADD is basically the basic ADD combined with depression. This patient is usually not motivated and has low energy.

The Ring of Fire ADD patient will show signs of ADD combined with bipolar disorder. They are not only moody and agressive, but will also show large swings of anger to contentment.

Children are by nature hyperactive bouncing from topic to topic. This is not ADD. ADD comes into question when they begin to show signs of impulsive behavior such as darting across a crowded parking lot, when procrastination becomes a glaring problem when it comes to schoolwork or when a child cannot focus on schoolwork at all and will stare at a page for what seems like hours.

ADD is being more properly diagnosed these days than many years ago; thus, the rise in it. Some studies suggest that society, dietary changes, excessive television watching and video games contribute to ADD. Correct diagnosis and treatment are key to helping the ADD patient. Most facilities will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to determine which one the patient has. When the precise dosage of medication is prescribed which corrects the specific chemical imbalance in the brain, there is often a swift and dramatic improvement.


Davisson Clinic
12900 Preston Road Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75230
Phone: (972) 480-0000