ADD symptoms

Predominantly Inattentive Type ADHD (previously ADD) differs from the other two forms of ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD and Combined Type ADHD, in that it manifests differently.


The following are some of the most common ADD symptoms:

  • Working memory deficits

  • Inattention

  • Distractibility

  • Inadequate executive function


The most common—and contentious—pharmacotherapy for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is central nervous system stimulants like Ritalin (ADHD). Some critics say that these restricted pharmaceuticals increase the risk of future substance dependence in children, while others argue that untreated youngsters commonly self-medicate with alcohol and illegal narcotics.

A meta-analysis of five research on ADHD and substance dependence that will be published soon revealed no evidence that stimulants put children at risk. Stimulants, on the other hand, appear to have a considerable "protective impact."

According to Timothy Wilens, M.D., a Harvard University professor of pediatric psychiatry, untreated ADHD kids were three times more likely than their medicated peers to abuse substances during adolescence, and 1.6 times more likely to abuse substances as adults.

"Medication lowers underachievement-related demoralization and addresses symptoms that indicate subsequent drug abuse," says Wilens, who will publish his findings in Pediatrics.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, parents of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 24 times more likely to suffer from the illness themselves than parents of children without the disorder. Parents with children with ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder were found to be more likely than other parents to suffer from mood, anxiety, and substance misuse disorders. According to Andrea Chronis, a psychologist at the University of Maryland, living with children who have ADHD can increase a parent's own problems and vice versa.