What's the difference between ADHD and ADD?
ADHD is not a new disorder. It was first observed among children in the early 1900s, and has been extensively studied for more than 50 years. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) may be the most well known name for the disorder, but it is now considered a sub-classification of ADHD. In 1987, ADD was renamed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to include not only inattention but also symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity.

Behavioral problems caused by upsetting events, especially among children, are not necessarily the signs of ADHD. The emotional trauma of divorce, changing schools, or moving to a new area should not be mistaken for the symptoms of ADHD.

Upon diagnosis, a physician may classify ADHD more specifically as:
a) Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
b) Predominantly Inattentive Type (the type sometimes referred to simply as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD)
c) Combined Type
or the physician may not specify the disorder by subtype.