ADD vs. ADHD: How They Impact Learning

Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two of the most commonly diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders in children and teens. These conditions can significantly impact academic and social functioning, making it challenging for diagnosed persons to achieve their full potential. This blog will give you a quick overview of ADD vs. ADHD, including its similarities and differences. 

ADHD has a range of behaviors and it affects each child so differently. One child may struggle with executive functioning but do well in school and another may be impulsive and emotionally reactive. That is part of why, even today, that children or teens with ADHD might be missed.

It is crucial to detect and diagnose attention and executive functioning problems early on, as they can continue to impact until adulthood, which is something I see everyday in our Ridgefield, CT center. 

We need to help children and teens with ADHD succeed, teaching them practical coping skills to compensate for their challenges is essential. In addition, improved time management, social skills, and communication can be a big benefit too. With all the children I work with, it is important for parents to know that it is never too late to learn executive functioning skills and thrive with ADHD.

What is ADHD?

A child diagnosed with ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may exhibit impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattention, or a combination of these symptoms. This neurological condition is often misunderstood as simply the inability to focus and act disruptively. However, this is not entirely accurate. 

There are three major subtypes of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and a combination. ADHD became the collective and clinically accepted term for all these presentations. 

No two children with ADHD are the same. Children with ADHD may be different from others with the same diagnosis because of their pattern of assets and weaknesses. While some struggle with focus, others can hyperfocus when engaged in tasks that interest them. I recently worked with two brothers with ADHD and they couldn’t be more different in how it affected them. Their temperament was also very different and that impacted how they managed stress. 

That is why consulting with an ADHD expert is crucial to prevent misdiagnosis. We use QEEG brain maps to see exactly what areas are functioning or not to support a definitive diagnosis of ADHD. QEEG brain maps are 89% effective in diagnosis compared to rating skills which are less than 53% effective. 

ADHD Symptoms – Hyperactive/Impulsive Type

Children and teens with an ADHD diagnosis (predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD) usually exhibit these common symptoms. However, the symptoms of ADHD in the two other presentations may differ. 

• Fidgeting or frequently squirming
• Difficulty sitting still or remaining seated
• Running or climbing excessively
• Talking excessively or blurting out answers before a question is completed
• Problems with waiting for one's turn
• Interrupting or intruding on others' conversations or activities

What is ADD?

ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting a person's ability to pay attention, stay focused, and control impulses. Children and teens with ADD struggle to maintain attention and focus. This subtype doesn’t display issues with impulsivity.

This condition can make it difficult for them to complete tasks, follow instructions, and organize their thoughts. ADD is the inattentive subtype of ADHD, which includes three subtypes. When someone has the inattentive subtype of ADHD, they may not get diagnosed as quickly as a child who is observably behaviorally dysregulated.  I just diagnosed an intellectually gifted 17-year old with ADHD and if we didn’t have a QEEG brain map as part of our intake process, it was likely he might never have been diagnosed.

While there is often confusion between ADD and ADHD, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) only officially recognizes ADHD as a diagnosable condition. The current diagnostic criteria for ADHD can include inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. 

ADD is still considered by most a subtype of ADHD as it is no longer included in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Because it is regarded as an outdated term, it's safer to refer to ADD as inattentive type ADHD. 

ADD Symptoms or ADHD Inattentive Type Symptoms

Here are the common ADD symptoms in children and teens. However, these symptoms of inattention may manifest differently with each child. 

• Difficulty paying attention to details or staying focused on tasks
• Difficulty sustaining attention during activities or conversations
• Frequently making careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
• Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Avoidance or dislike of activities that require sustained mental effort
• Easily distracted or forgetful during daily activities
• Problem completing tasks or following through on instructions 
• Frequently misplacing or losing items, such as keys or homework
• Difficulty listening or following conversations
• Problem with time management and meeting deadlines

ADD vs. ADHD: Similarities

When comparing ADD to ADHD, what we are talking about is the overlap amongst the subtypes. Difficulties with attention characterize this neurodevelopmental disorder. Below is a closer look at the similarities between the ADHD subtypes:

Attention Difficulties

All types of ADHD involve problems sustaining attention and focus, making it hard for the children and teens who have it to complete tasks or stay organized. They may also have difficulty remembering appointments, deadlines, or other important information. Executive functioning challenges get in the way of their daily life.

These kids will also show difficulty following through on tasks or commitments, even if they were initially interested or motivated to complete them. They also need to improve their attention to detail to prevent careless mistakes.

Brain Chemistry and Structure

Studies have found that individuals with ADHD may have differences in how their brains process dopamine and norepinephrine (Del Campo et al., 2011). These two neurotransmitters play a role in attention and executive functions. On a QEEG brain map, a person with the hyperactive-impulsive type of ADHD looks very different from the primarily inattentive type of ADHD. Their brain waves in the regulations related to those functions simply don’t function the same. The good news is that these regions of the brain can be trained to improve inattentiveness, impulse control and cognitive processing with neurofeedback for ADHD. 

Onset

Both typically develop in childhood and persist into adulthood or may not be diagnosed until they're older. Often, the symptoms become apparent during the early school years, when children are expected to pay attention, follow directions, and complete tasks independently. The clinical criteria for ADHD requires that symptoms appear before age 12.

The majority of the children and teens that I work with who have ADHD are also very bright. That means that they can compensate with intellect and may be missed until the teen years or college. Looking back at teacher comments and report cards can often open the door to a history of smaller issues that may reflect ADHD.

ADD vs. ADHD: Differences

While ADD and ADHD are often used interchangeably before, these terms refer to different subtypes of the condition. Now, ADHD is used to describe both states, and ADD is just one of the types of ADHD. But first, here are their significant differences:

Hyperactivity

ADD was traditionally used to describe the inattentive subtype of attention deficit disorder, while ADHD was used to describe the hyperactive subtype. As such, children and teens with ADHD may display symptoms of hyperactivity, such as restlessness or fidgeting, that are not typically seen in those with inattentive ADHD.

Impulsivity

ADHD can involve impulsive behavior. Children and teens with these disorders may act without thinking or interrupt others without consideration of the consequences. Because of their impulsiveness, delayed gratification doesn't apply to them, and they are more prone to taking risks. As a result, they are likely to binge eat, overspend, drive recklessly, engage in substance abuse, and utter impulsive speech. 

Perception

Children with ADHD inattentive type may seem to lack attention or focus, causing parents to think their kids are lazy. They struggle with executive functioning in learning and processing despite often being intelligent. Those with ADHD combined type or hyperactive-impulsive type, on the other hand, may exhibit a more energetic and active condition due to hyperactivity.

How Do ADD and ADHD Affect Learning?

ADHD Inattentive Type can significantly impact a person's ability to learn and succeed academically. Their lack of executive functioning skills makes completing even simple tasks a challenge. Executive functioning is different from ADHD, but everyone with ADHD struggles with it. Children and teens showing symptoms of these conditions struggle with schoolwork, causing some to refuse to go to school. 

1. Challenges with Focus and Concentration

Children and teenagers with these conditions often experience challenges with executive functioning, affecting their ability to plan for future tasks like homework or school activities. Poor executive functioning also leads to issues with focus and concentration during examinations. These behaviors can hurt a child's school performance.

2. Struggles with Organization and Time Management

Children with ADHD typically have shorter attention spans and may require extra time for homework and tests. As a result, they need to develop better time management and organizational skills. In addition, establishing routines and systems can be helpful. For instance, calendars, binders, and incentives can assist them in staying organized and keeping track of their school work.

3. Impact on Memory and Recall

Both conditions can uniquely impact a child's memory, as attention is vital for memory. Essentially, if a child can't focus, they won't be able to pay attention, which can disrupt their cognitive processes. In addition, due to some brain regions not functioning, children and teens with ADHD can experience long-term, short-term, or working memory difficulties, depending on the severity of their symptoms.

4. Difficulties with Reading and Writing

As children with ADHD struggle with sustaining attention for prolonged periods, reading and writing tasks are challenging. Reading and writing are complicated tasks that require executive functioning and working memory. For example, these kids may have difficulty focusing on the text when reading or maintaining a train of thought when writing. They also struggle to slow down enough to get their thoughts on the page. It is why a child's learning disability may be misdiagnosed as ADHD and vice versa. 

Support for Students with ADD and ADHD

ADHD students may benefit from school accommodations provided through a 504 plan or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In addition, because children with this medical diagnosis are different from normal kids, they will particularly benefit from these things: