ADHD Types

ADHD, short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a fairly common behavioral condition. While ADHD was originally classified into three different types, child psychologist Daniel Amen, Ph.D. used the results of scans that highlight brain activity to add three additional categories.

Classic ADHD

• Classic ADHD symptoms include hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsive behavior. These ADHD patients are easily distracted, restless and disorganized.

Inattentive ADHD

• Individuals with inattentive ADHD primarily have trouble paying attention and concentrating. This type of ADHD causes low energy levels rather than hyperactivity.

Overfocused ADHD

• Overfocused ADHD patients possess the classic ADHD traits in addition to having extreme trouble shifting attention. Overfocused ADHD individuals tend to be inflexible, obsessive and argumentative.

Temporal Lobe ADHD

• Temperol lobe ADHD symptoms include inattentiveness and impulsive behavior. These patients are prone to aggressiveness, moodiness and dark thoughts.

Limbic ADHD

• Limbic ADHD combines inattentiveness with low energy levels, chronic mild depression and a lack of motivation. This type of ADHD is typically treated with antidepressants rather than stimulants.

The Ring of Fire

• The Ring of Fire is a combination of ADHD and bipolar disorder. These patients typically suffer from inattentiveness, cyclical moodiness, angry outbursts, inflexibility and hypersensitivity.