ADHD and ADD: What’s the Difference?

ADHD and ADD: What’s the Difference?

A lot of mental health issues have symptoms that overlap. This makes diagnosing mental health conditions difficult. To further lend to the confusion, some of us erroneously refer to one condition as another. This mistake is extremely common when it comes to ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).

This seemingly harmless mix-up can have long-term ramifications on the perception of mental health. Wrong self-diagnoses can make people apprehensive about seeking help for their mental well being. With so much misinformation out there, a person may become discouraged and stop being proactive with either their own health or that of a loved one. That sort of oversight can be catastrophic for one’s emotional response, productivity, and sleep cycles.

Let’s take a look at the differences between ADHD and ADD. In addition, we’ll discuss how all-natural supplements such as Focusene can assist a person with either ADHD or ADD in finding balance.

The Similarities Between ADHD and ADD

Before discussing what separates the two mental health conditions, it’s far easier to discuss the similarities between them since there are a number of symptoms that overlap.

These telltale signs include:

  • Poor memory recall
  • Lack of focus
  • Inability to pay attention
  • Weak cognitive performance

These symptoms are pretty vague, however, they sum up much of the 11% of children who are diagnosed with ADD. It also describes many of the symptoms that those with ADHD display, except for one glaring difference.

What is the Difference Between ADHD and ADD?

As more children and adults develop attention disorders, treatment of these conditions has continued to evolve. At one point, ADD and ADHD were diagnosed as the same condition. They both fell under the ADD umbrella.

However, scientists have learned that there is one significant discrepancy between how a person with ADD copes with their condition as compared to someone diagnosed with ADHD. The “H” in ADHD represents that discrepancy and it stands for hyperactivity. Hyperactivity influences the way attention disorder should be treated.

Those with hyperactivity may exhibit the following common trademarks:

  • Fidgeting while sitting
  • Restless legs
  • Impulsive outbursts
  • Being overly talkative
  • Sitting at the edge of their seat
  • The inability to sit still
  • Nervous tension

As you can tell, there is a lot more to look out for in a person who has ADHD. Let’s take a closer look at the symptoms of people who experience this disorder.

Symptoms of ADHD and ADD

In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, an individual must exhibit at least six primary symptoms to be properly diagnosed with ADHD.

A person with ADHD must frequently:

  • Pay little attention to detail
  • Be unable to sustain attention
  • Not listen when spoken to
  • Not follow through on projects
  • Have trouble following instructions
  • Exhibit difficulty with organizing activities
  • Avoid activities that require mental effort
  • Lose things needed to complete a task
  • Display forgetfulness during daily routines

Compared to ADD, there is a lot more going on both externally and physically when attempting to diagnose a loved one with ADHD. By expecting to see a fidgety child or over-talkative adult, you might not realize someone close to you has ADD.

Problems with Confusing ADD and ADHD

Just because your child isn’t jumping out of their seat during class to participate doesn’t mean they don’t have an attention disorder. Therefore, these less-than-boisterous children run the risk of never being diagnosed.

Those with ADD still suffer even if they have control of their emotional outbursts and are not acting out. Instead, they’re fighting bouts of forgetfulness, disorganization, and lack of interest. These consequences can cause a child to perform poorly in school, an adult to lack productivity during work hours, or a teacher to miss some sentences while grading a student’s paper.

How to Help with ADD and ADHD

If you suspect that you or a loved one has an attention disorder, seek help. Go to your physician and see a therapist. Speak to them about your concerns and see if they offer any insight into the condition.

Getting help for ADD and ADHD is especially essential for children. Every classroom of 30 students will have up to three children with ADHD. Even more, many may be fighting off symptoms associated with ADD. The best way to tell if your child has ADD is to get involved.

Talk to your child. Ask about their day. If they say, “I don’t remember,” or “I don’t know,” this should be a red flag for ADD. On the contrary, if they go into a big, long monologue that’s a lie, it could potentially be one of two things—the overactive imagination of a precocious child or the signs of developing ADHD.

Check your child’s grades. For one, you should want them to excel in their studies. However, bad grades don’t mean your child isn’t smart. It might mean they’re distracted. Ask your child why they’re doing bad in class. Implore if they are distracted. You’d be surprised how willing your child might be in receiving help.

Focusene Supplements for ADD and ADHD

If your child is having trouble concentrating, you might want to opt for an all-natural supplement like Focusene. Focusene is formulated using botanicals scientifically proven to help boost brain activity. One of the primary active ingredients in Focusene is dandelion.

Research on dandelion root indicates that this wildflower is abundant in luteolin. Luteolin is a potent PDE4 inhibitor. This is essential for combating ADD and ADHD because PDE4 can break down cAMP in the brain. cAMP is energy necessary to boost our thought process. So, by supplementing with luteolin-rich Focusene, you can help increase brain power naturally.

To further boost cAMP levels, Focusene contains the botanical, forskolin. Studies on forskolin find that it actually enhances the overall influence luteolin has on the brain. Therefore, forskolin also increases cAMP.

Battling ADD and ADHD can cause mental anguish to anyone. When attempting to pay attention, learn something new, or perform on a test, a person with these issues can experience unnecessary stress. That’s why Focusene also contains phenylalanine and L-Theanine.

These two essential amino acids are critical for boosting our neurotransmitters dopamine and GABA, respectively. Therefore, Focusene has everything you need to lift the bad mood caused by frustration due to ADD and ADHD. Furthermore, Focusene helps calm nerves so you or your loved one can focus on the task-at-hand.

Have you or a loved one battled ADD and/or ADHD? What are some ways your family has learned to cope? Share your inspirational story with us in the comments below!

Back to News