Living with symptoms of ADD can be a painful and confusing experience that can keep an individual from achieving fulfillment in life. There are seven types of ADD, and each type brings its own set of unique challenges. Dr. Zlatin Ivanov understands that ADD is a complex disorder, and identifying and treating it may not be easy. To ensure accurate diagnosing, he offers a thorough evaluation process and comes up with personalized treatment plans to address the specific case of ADD/ADHD. Dr. Ivanov focuses on identifying the symptoms you are experiencing to manage your condition in the best possible way.
ADD, or attention deficit disorder is the outdated term for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The American Psychological Association discontinued the use of the term ADD in 1987 and replaced it with ADHD, but both terms are frequently used interchangeably, creating a confusion. Mental health professionals use ADD to describe inattentive attention deficit hyperactive disorder, which is a subtype of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a common cognitive and behavioral condition that afflicts many children and adults. It is one of the most prevalent childhood development problems. Also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ADD is a neurodevelopmental disorder recognized by pervasive problems with attention, and in many cases, impulsive and hyperactive behavior.
ADD/ADHD is usually diagnosed in children and more so in boys, but studies show that it can affect girls too. It often leads to a range of behavioral issues that cause significant challenges in school and interfere with social development and peer interaction. Unfortunately, ADD remains the most misunderstood and incorrectly treated cognitive and behavioral condition today.
ADD/ADHD is characterized by hyperactivity and a lack of impulse control and attention. However, symptoms vary among individuals, and not all symptoms must be present to make a diagnosis.
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Even though ADD/ADHD can affect both boys and girls, it is less prevalent among girls as it affects the sexes differently. ADD/ADHD can have several symptoms depending on the type of ADD/ADHD and the gender of the child.
Possible symptoms of childhood ADD/ADHD can include:
ADD/ADHD can also affect adults. However, experts believe any adult diagnosed with ADD/ADHD was once a child whose disorder went undiagnosed until adulthood. Usually, adults are diagnosed after they experience problems in their relationships or workplace.
Possible symptoms of ADD/ADHD in adults can include:
It is interesting to know that ADD/ADHD can affect women differently than men. It has been found that men exhibit their symptoms, which makes it easy to diagnose the condition. On the other hand, women do not express their symptoms, and due to this, getting the right diagnosis and care for them becomes tough.
Possible symptoms of ADD/ADHD in women can include:
There are different types of ADD/ADHD, and each type brings its own set of unique challenges. Research shows that this condition is far from one size fits all diagnosis. Experts believe ADD is a more appropriate term for the condition. Symptoms vary by individual, and not all symptoms must be present to diagnose ADD.
SPECT is a commonly used functional neuroimaging scanning technique that provides more information about ADD/ADHD. SPECT stands for Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography and shows cerebral blood flow or brain activity and helps psychiatry determine whether the brain is working well, too hard, or too little. By learning more about brain activity, psychiatrists can investigate the type of disorder and come up with the best treatment options.
The seven types of ADD are:
Classic ADD is a form of disorder that aligns with what is commonly known as ADHD. People with classic ADD are generally inattentive, easily distracted disorganized, hyperactive, unable to sit still, and impulsive. Due to hyperactivity and conflict-driven behavior, this type of ADD is noticed at an early stage. This type is more often seen in boys than in girls.
Some other symptoms people with classic ADD may exhibit include:
Brain mapping of people with classic ADD reveals excessively slow brainwaves in the front regions of the brain and frequently abnormal connectivity within or between the prefrontal cortex and parietal lobes.
People with inattentive ADD often face difficulty with executive functioning, such as organization, planning, prioritizing, time management, and self-monitoring. They are easily distracted and lack the mental stamina for completing routine tasks, and are often labeled lazy or unmotivated. Research shows that individuals with inattentive ADD also have reduced blood flow to their prefrontal cortex, which causes low dopamine levels.
People with inattentive ADD exhibit the following symptoms:
As this form of ADD does not cause behavioral problems, the patients are not hyperactive or impulsive. Due to this, it is not possible to diagnose it early in life. Also, it is more commonly noticed in females.
People suffering from over-focused ADD have all the symptoms of classic ADD, but face difficulty shifting their focus or attention from one task to another. Unlike classic ADD where there is an issue with focusing, people with over-focused ADD find their focus, but moving their focus becomes a challenge. They also have a habit of becoming stuck in negative thought loops and demonstrate obsessive behavior, excessive worry, and frequently exhibit argumentative behavior and inflexibility.
Other symptoms of over-focused ADD include:
Brain mapping of people with over-focused ADD shows the brain being stuck in excessively fast brainwaves of overstimulation which makes the brain function in a more rigid and inflexible state.
People suffering from temporal lobe ADD usually exhibit symptoms of classic ADD combined with irritability, quick temper, aggression, and dark thoughts. As the temporal lobe is responsible for learning, memory, and mood stability, this type of ADD can lead to behavioral control issues such as learning or memory problems, moodiness, and paranoia.
Other symptoms of temporal lobe ADD include:
This type of ADD is often associated with head injuries or irregularities in the temporal cortex. Brain scans show increased or decreased activity in the brain’s temporal lobe, both during concentration tasks and periods of rest.
Limbic ADD is caused by increased activity in the limbic region of the brain. The limbic center in the brain is responsible for your emotional expression and controls how sad or happy you are. Individuals with limbic ADD may experience increased feelings of guilt, possible moodiness, and in some cases, damaged self-esteem. It is because the limbic center in the brain is overactive during periods of concentration and rest, while the prefrontal cortex is underactive.
Other symptoms of limbic ADD include:
Limbic ADD affects a group of structures with the brain involved in a fight or flight response system, leaving the individual feeling excessively and unrealistically threatened at times.
This type of ADD is characterized by overall high activity in the brain. The brain is overstimulated in multiple areas, which overwhelms an individual with thoughts and emotions, making it difficult for them to turn their brain off. People suffering from the Ring of Fire ADD experience an increase in anxiety, racing thoughts, and difficulty falling asleep or sleeping throughout the night.
Other symptoms of Ring of Fire ADD include:
Over activity in the cerebral cortex and other parts of the brain leads to classic symptoms of ADD along with emotional overreaction, quick anger, and sensitivity to stimuli such as noise, light, and touch. There is also a connection between Ring of Fire ADD and bipolar disorder. This type of ADD without bipolar disorder comes without episodes of mania, and the symptoms are more consistent than those of bipolar with classic ups and downs.
People suffering from anxious ADD exhibit the classic symptoms of ADD but also experience additional symptoms of stress, such as headaches, digestive problems, difficulty falling asleep and low self-esteem. Brain mapping reveals dysregulation in brain networks involving the prefrontal cortex, limbic areas, and the insula can cause these symptoms.
Other symptoms of anxious ADHD include:
Anxious ADD differs from every other type of ADD as it causes increased activity levels in the basal ganglia with low prefrontal cortex activity, which is related to anxiety and triggers the body’s idle speed.
With all these types of ADD, it is possible to have a combination case. It has been found that ADD combination is the most commonly occurring type of this complex disorder. To be diagnosed as a combination ADD, the patient may have at least six or more symptoms from the various other types and these symptoms must be present for more than six months.
It is important to note that symptoms of combination ADD should have been present before the age of 12 and must occur in mild, moderate, or severe settings.
When left untreated or unmanaged, ADD can have a detrimental effect on all areas of life throughout a person’s life, and affect social connections, romantic relationships as well as career and academic success.
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Mental health professionals use a unique testing process to identify ADD/ADHD and determine the best treatment. As the symptoms can cause problems with daily functioning and personal relationships, early diagnosis is crucial. It is essential to know that while ADD cannot be cured, patients can experience significant progress with specialized ADHD treatment.
The testing process begins with an intake that usually occurs over the phone, followed by a thorough evaluation process that helps the therapist design a treatment plan that addresses the specific case of ADD.
ADD/ADHD treatment consists of medication management, talk therapy, behavioral therapy, and lifestyle changes, including a diet and exercise program. The therapist will adjust the treatment plan and may combine one, two, or more treatment options to help you cope with ADD symptoms effectively.
No matter which type of ADD you suffer from, Dr. Zlatin Ivanov can help. He works with you to develop effective treatment plans after identifying the type of ADD you or a loved one is experiencing and offers the highest level of quality care. Call psychiatry NYC to schedule an appointment and get started with therapy today to live a full, healthy life.
Dr. Zlatin Ivanov, MD, is an adult psychiatrist specializing in addiction treatment, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and OCD. He offers exceptional talk therapy and medication management through online video conferencing.
Dr. Ivanov is double board certified in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurology and a member of the American Psychiatric Association. His medical career is colored by many outstanding contributions to medicine, including several publications, research, and scientific presentations. An attending psychiatrist at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, and Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City, he takes the time to listen to patients and makes sure they know he is committed to their unique situation.
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