History UsefulNotes / AttentionDeficitHyperactivityDisorder

Formerly known as ADD, this type is perceived as the "AttentionDeficitOohShiny" type. However, there are many other traits that define this type of ADHD, all of which are characterized by leaning more toward the "attention deficit" side. This type isn't immediately apparent early on in life, but the traits do tend to become more pronounced during adulthood, resulting in this type typically being diagnosed later in life. Additionally, this type happens to be more prevalent in women. The traits for this type include:

ADHD has three different types that are recognized by the DSM-V: Primarily Hyperactive and Impulsive, Primarily Inattentive, and Combined Type.

While there is no real cure for ADHD, there are medications that can alleviate some of the symptoms (the most common are Ritalin, Concerta, and Adderall), and some people with ADHD also take behavioral therapy. Some people with minor cases of ADHD can decide to not have any treatment for their ADHD.

* '''People with ADHD aren't trying hard enough/should try to focus''': While many people tell this to those with ADHD, the truth is that people with ADHD aren't lazy or unmotivated, they literally ''cannot pay attention'' no matter how hard they try. In short, telling a person with ADHD to "try to focus" is like telling someone with asthma to "just breathe".

When people think or picture ADHD, they probably think or picture a child running around in a quiet classroom. In that thought or mental image, that child would likely have this type of ADHD, which is characterized by a person having more of the "hyperactive" traits. Due to how pronounced these traits are, this type is typically diagnosed during childhood and is more commonly diagnosed in men. Additionally, most of the hyperactivity traits do become less pronounced in adulthood, though they don't quite "disappear" as many people believe. The traits for this type include:

When people picture ADHD, they probably picture a child running around in a quiet classroom. In that mental image, that child would likely have this type of ADHD, which is characterized by a person having more of the "hyperactive" traits. Due to how pronounced these traits are, this type is typically diagnosed during childhood and is more commonly diagnosed in men. Additionally, most of the hyperactivity traits do become less pronounced in adulthood, though they don't quite "disappear" as many people believe. The traits for this type include:

* '''ADHD goes away once the child grows up''': ADHD does not usually go away once the person reaches adulthood. Part of the reason many think it goes away during adulthood is because the symptoms become less pronounced during adulthood (especially for Hyperactive and Impulsive Type ADHD).

Depending on what kind of ADHD is being presented and how severe the symptoms are, ADHD can be diagnosed as young as 3 years old. For most children, it is typically diagnosed around the age of 12. While ADHD is frequently believed to be overdiagnosed, there is research to suggest that it is actually underdiagnosed, particularly in women. This is primarily due to the way that ADHD presents itself in men and women: men tend to have Hyperactive and Impulsive Type ADHD (which is typically disruptive and pronounced to others), while women tend to have Inattentive type ADHD (which isn't as disruptive and pronounced to others).

Depending on what kind of ADHD is being presented and how severe the symptoms are, ADHD can be diagnosed as young as 3 years old. For most children, it is typically diagnosed around the age of 12. Recently, a surge of ADHD awareness on social media sites have lead to many adults seeking diagnosis based on false representations of symptoms; which, when combined with poor diagnostic practices, has lead to an unprecedented increase in ADHD diagnoses with dubious validity.

Depending on what kind of ADHD is being presented and how severe the symptoms are, ADHD can be diagnosed as young as 3 years old. For most children, it is typically diagnosed around the age of 12. Recently, a surge of ADHD awareness on social media sites like TikTok has lead to many adults seeking diagnosis based on false representations of symptoms; which, when combined with poor diagnostic practices, has lead to an unprecedented increase in ADHD diagnoses with dubious validity.

Depending on what kind of ADHD is being presented and how severe the symptoms are, ADHD can be diagnosed as young as 3 years old. For most children, it is typically diagnosed around the age of 12. While ADHD is frequently believed to be overdiagnosed, there is research to suggest that it is actually underdiagnosed, particularly in women. This is primarily due to the way that ADHD presents itself in men and women: men tend to have Hyperactive and Impulsive Type ADHD (which is typically disruptive and pronounced to others), while women tend to have Inattentive type ADHD (which isn't as disruptive and pronounced to others).

* Having difficulty paying attention to details

* Difficulty understanding social cues
* Speaking/acting without thinking

* '''ADHD is caused by [X]''': ADHD is a neurological disorder, and studies have shown that the brain of someone with ADHD is wired differently than a neurotypical person the same age as them, so any "causes" for ADHD happen before the child is born (such as being born premature or having a genetic predisposition). Despite this, many people blame ADHD on poor parenting, too much sugar, [[NewMediaAreEvil computers, video games]], or watching too many fast-paced shows like ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' - while all of these can ''worsen'' ADHD symptoms, they do not ''cause'' ADHD.

* '''ADHD is caused by [X]''': ADHD is a neurological disorder, and studies have shown that the brain of someone with ADHD is wired differently than a neurotypical person the same age as them, so any "causes" for ADHD happen before the child is born (such as being born premature or having a genetic predisposition). Despite this, many people blame ADHD on poor parenting, too much sugar, or watching too many fast-paced shows like ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' - while all of these can ''worsen'' ADHD symptoms, they do not ''cause'' ADHD.

* '''People with ADHD can't ever focus''': On the other hand, while an inability to focus is one of the main traits of ADHD (it's in the name, after all), people with ADHD also tend to experience a phenomenon called hyperfocus (also known as hyperfixation), which is an uncontrollable intense focus on one particular subject for an extended period of time (think of it as an obsession cranked UpToEleven) - in fact, ADHD might be more accurately called "Attention ''Regulation'' Hyperactivity Disorder". For instance, someone with ADHD might have trouble writing a paper that would take about an hour at most, but could spend hours upon hours writing an incredibly long ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfiction without getting bored. Put more flippantly, it's like playing ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' with your brain as the Dungeon Master rolling the D20.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD) is one of the most misunderstood mental conditions. Most works portray it as being either overly hyperactive or [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny easily distracted]], but there are far more traits than just those two.

This type has both "attention deficit" and "hyperactivity" be equally prevalent. In order to be diagnosed with this kind of ADHD, the person must have at least six symptoms of Inattentive Type ADHD and six symptoms of Hyperactive and Impulsive Type ADHD.

* '''People with ADHD can't ever focus''': On the other hand, while an inability to focus is one of the main traits of ADHD (it's in the name, after all), people with ADHD also tend to experience a phenomenon called hyperfocus (also known as hyperfixation), which is an uncontrollable intense focus on one particular subject for an extended period of time (think of it as an obsession cranked UpToEleven). For instance, someone with ADHD might have trouble writing a paper that would take about an hour at most, but could spend hours upon hours writing an incredibly long ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfiction without getting bored. In short, it could be said that ADHD would be better named Attention Regulation Hyperactivity Disorder. Put more flippantly, it's like playing TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons, with your brain as the DM/RNG.
* '''Everyone with ADHD is hyperactive/easily distracted''': While hyperactivity and being easily distracted are hallmarks of ADHD, they aren't the only traits of ADHD. It is entirely possible for someone with ADHD to not be blatantly hyperactive or inattentive, and even those who are must have more than just those two traits to have ADHD.

* '''People with ADHD can't ever focus''': On the other hand, while an inability to focus is one of the main traits of ADHD (it's in the name, after all), people with ADHD also tend to experience a phenomenon called hyperfocus (also known as hyperfixation), which is an uncontrollable intense focus on one particular subject for an extended period of time (think of it as an obsession cranked UpToEleven). For instance, someone with ADHD might have trouble writing a paper that would take about an hour at most, but could spend hours upon hours writing an incredibly long ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfiction without getting bored. In short, it could be said that ADHD would be better named Attention Regulation Hyperactivity Disorder. Put more flippantly, it's like playing DungeonsAndDragons, with your brain as the DM/RNG.

* '''People with ADHD can't ever focus''': On the other hand, while an inability to focus is one of the main traits of ADHD (it's in the name, after all), people with ADHD also tend to experience a phenomenon called hyperfocus (also known as hyperfixation), which is an uncontrollable intense focus on one particular subject for an extended period of time (think of it as an obsession cranked UpToEleven). For instance, someone with ADHD might have trouble writing a paper that would take about an hour at most, but could spend hours upon hours writing an incredibly long ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfiction without getting bored.

When people picture ADHD, they probably picture a child running around in a quiet classroom. In that mental image, that child would likely have this type of ADHD, which is characterized by a person having more of the "hyperactive" traits. Due to how pronounced these traits are, this type is typically diagnosed during childhood and is more commonly diagnosed in men. Additionally, most of the hyperactivity traits do become less pronounced in adulthood, though they don't always "disappear" as many people believe. The traits for this type include:

This type, formerly known as ADD, is arguably the least understood type of ADHD, with it generally being considered the "AttentionDeficitOohShiny" type. However, there are many other traits that define this type of ADHD, all of which are characterized by leaning more toward the "attention deficit" side. This type isn't immediately apparent early on in life, but the traits do tend to become more pronounced during adulthood, resulting in this type typically being diagnosed later in life. Additionally, this type happens to be more prominent in women. The traits for this type include:

* '''People with ADHD aren't trying hard enough/should try to focus''': While many people tell this to those with ADHD, the truth is that people with ADHD aren't lazy or unmotivated, they literally ''cannot pay attention'', no matter how hard they try (it's in the name - ''attention deficit''), so telling a person with ADHD to "try to focus" is like telling someone with asthma to "just breathe".
* '''People with ADHD can't ever focus''': While an inability to focus is one of the main traits of ADHD (it's in the name, after all), people with ADHD tend to experience hyperfocus. Hyperfocus (also known as hyperfixation) is an uncontrollable intense focus on one particular subject for an extended period of time. For instance, an adult with ADHD might have trouble writing a report for their job, but can spend hours upon hours writing an incredibly long ''Franchise/StarTrek'' fanfiction without getting bored.

* '''Only boys can have ADHD''': While boys are twice as likely to get ''diagnosed'' with ADHD than girls, girls can still have ADHD. In fact, girls are believed to be underdiagnosed with ADHD due to it frequently presenting as Inattentive Type ADHD.
* '''ADHD is a learning disability''': While ADHD symptoms can ''get in the way'' of learning, it isn't in and of itself a learning disability. This belief likely stems from the fact that both learning disabilities tend to occur alongside ADHD ''and'' ADHD can cause kids to have difficulty completing their schoolwork, which can lead to the assumption that ADHD ''is'' a learning disability.
* '''ADHD is caused by [X]''': ADHD is a neurological disorder, and studies have shown that the brain of someone with ADHD is wired differently than a neurotypical person the same age as them, so any "causes" for ADHD happen before the child is born (such as being born premature or having a genetic predisposition). Despite this, many people blame it on poor parenting, too much sugar, or fast-paced shows like ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' - while all of these can ''worsen'' ADHD symptoms, they do not ''cause'' ADHD.

* '''ADHD is caused by [X]''': ADHD is a neurological disorder, and studies have shown that the brain of someone with ADHD is wired differently than a neurotypical person the same age as them, so any "causes" for ADHD happen before the child is born (such as being born premature or having a genetic predisposition). Despite this, many people blame it on poor parenting, too much sugar, or fast-paced shows like ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' - while all of these can ''worsen'' ADHD symptoms, they do not ''cause'' ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, (ADHD) is one of the most misunderstood mental conditions. Most works portray it as AttentionDeficitOohShiny and leave it at that, but far more nuance exists as with anything else in life.

ADHD comes in three flavors recognized by the DSM-V: Hyperactive, Inattentive, and Combined.

Impulsive/Hyperactive: Characterized by impulsive behavior, fidgeting, loudness, a need for constant activity and stimulation.

Inattentive/Distractible: Characterized by lack of focus, forgetfulness, disorganization, poor time management skills, maladaptive daydreaming.

Combined: Discrete traits of the other two types.

The name of the condition is a bit misleading; people with ADHD have no less intelligence of function than neurotypical people do. The issue is in regulating focus. Things or subjects that are interesting are easier to focus on, but even that is no guarantee. The best way to grasp what it can be like is playing DungeonsAndDragons with your brain every time you want to do something or shift gears mentally. The clinical term for this symptom is executive dysfunction.

Combined: Discrete traits of the other two types.