ADD and ADHD are medical abbreviations, used in diagnosis and treatment of behavioral disorders in children and adults. ADHD and ADD are well-known abbreviations in the USA, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Canada, Malta and Australia.
ADD vs ADHD definitions
- ADD – is an abbreviation of «attention deficit disorder» diagnosis.
- ADHD – is an abbreviation on «attention deficit hyperactivity disorder» diagnosis.
These are interchangeable abbreviations, meaning identical diseases. Both behavioral disorders ADD and ADHD are characterized by similar symptoms that can be treated using the same medications.
In the medical literature, ADD and ADHD abbreviations are written through slash, while medical staff usually uses ADHD and ADD to describe the symptoms, signs, causes and methods of treatment of the same disorders.
ADD vs ADHD – adults and children
It should be noted that ADD (attention deficit disorder) is an archaic term, which is almost not used by doctors these days. The reason why ADD term is not popular anymore lies in its inaccuracy.
An overwhelming majority of children and adults with attention deficit disorder are overactive and excessively anxious as a rule. Therefore, the ADHD term (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) characterizes the symptoms of this behavioral disorder more accurately.
Please note that hyperactivity is a symptom, mostly observed in childhood. Therefore, many people think of ADHD as of behavioral disorder in children in the first place.
Many people believe that ADHD (ADD) never occurs in adults. However, considering the fact that a lot of ADHD symptoms are similar to symptoms of mental disorder, adults with ADHD can be mistakenly diagnosed depression or anxiety.
Depression and ADD (ADHD) in adults and children are cured by means of different medications. Therefore, the diagnosis – is one of the key stages of treatment of behavioral disorders at any age.
ADD vs ADHD – diagnosis
The complexity of diagnosis of the behavioral disorders lies in that it has dozens of weakly pronounced signs and symptoms. Besides, ADHD (or ADD) are only diagnosed when a child or adult has several symptoms of the behavioral disorder at once.
ADD vs ADHD – differences
- If a child or an adult is impulsive, inattentive and it is difficult for him to control his activity level, he is diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- If a patient is inattentive, impulsive, yet is able to control his activity level, he is diagnosed with attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity.
Despite the differences between ADHD and ADD symptoms, for their treatment, doctors use the same meds. The most popular ADHD meds are sold under the trademarks Adderall, Strattera, Dexedrine, Ritalin and Concerta. You can find information on these and other meds for ADHD (ADD) treatment in the upcoming reviews.