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ADD affects people in different ways requiring different approaches to both diagnosis and treatment. Treatments for some types of ADD aggravate conditions in other types.

There is still little evidence as to the cause of Attention Deficit Disorder. Various studies have attributed it to everything from birth defects to food allergies, food additives, and pesticides. Brain scans have shown interesting patterns in some studies with people with ADD, but the scans demonstrate a symptom rather than a cause.

Behavior Variations

As more and more people are diagnosed with ADD, some studies have shown variations in both symptoms and behaviors. At present this pattern of behaviors is defined by three to seven categories or types of ADD. Many are similar, while other types are unique, and one type combines all of the symptoms and behaviors. 

Common Emotions Vs ADD Symptoms

For the record, many of these behaviors and symptoms are common when a person is under stress, duress or suffering from Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder (PTSD). The point is that some symptoms and behaviors may be short-term responses to other conditions. The counter-point is that some of these behaviors could indicate an ADD type personality if they occur chronically. 

These types of ADD are based on a variety of research approaches including the work of Dr Daniel G Amen, who has used brain scans to identify physiological symptoms that are unique to different ADD patterns of behavior.

Treatment Variance

It has also been determined that treatments and medicines that work for one type of ADD actually aggravate symptoms in other types. It's curious that sugar was commonly believed to be the culprit with increasing hyper-activity, but to date no studies have shown a direct link between aggravated behaviors caused by sugar and ADD.  The fact of the matter is that a common ADD prescription called "Ritalin" may aggravate symptoms and behaviors in some types of ADD. 

Common ADD Behaviors

It should be noted that all people with ADD show similar behavioral traits. Disorganization is one of the most common symptoms manifested by clutter; a messy desk at work, disorganized files both in drawers and on a computer desktop, all fueled by a tendency to procrastinate and struggle to remain focused. 

In addition, people with any form of ADD tend to be easily distracted. Their conversations will go off on tangents and the performance of many tasks are delayed or forgotten while something else attracts their interest and attention. 

People with ADD are also inattentive to details, meetings and conversations, and exhibit extremely short attention spans. That is essentially the "attention deficit" behavior that defines the condition in many instances. However, there are additional symptoms and behaviors that cause for the divergence of the condition into various types. 

Now, what are the seven subtypes of ADD? We'll lead with the most common form and then examine the other subtypes.

1. Classic ADD, Also Known As ADHD

This first type of ADD represents all of the symptoms and behaviors across all of the other types of ADD. It is commonly referred to as "Attention Deficit Hyper-active Disorder or ADHD. It's the hyper-active component that makes this form of ADD problematic. 

  • The person is very impatient with themselves and others, and even simple, physical objects that cause them the simplest frustration like an appliance or other device that does not appear to be working properly. 
  • They are overactive in many activities and will often work through the night, sleep during the day or pursue a variety of activities with haste. 
  • People with ADHD are also overzealous and will pursue an interest or hobby with an extreme expenditure of energy, time and money and then quickly move on to something else that interests them.
  • The other symptoms and behaviors appear as they are listed below to define the additional forms of ADD, but the person with Classic ADD or ADHD demonstrates all of the traits as well. 

Subtypes Of ADD: What Do You Need To Know?

2. Inattentive ADD

A key symptom of inattentive ADD is distractibility. People with this form of ADD are sometimes referred to as "spacey" or in a more derogatory sense, "flaky." They are also referred to as "daydreamers" and will often carry on private conversations with themselves as they daydream about possibilities. 

"Couch potatoes" is another derogatory term sometimes assigned to people with the form of ADD. While the slang descriptions may be accurate in defining this form of ADD, just because a person daydreams or spends a lot of time on the couch doesn't automatically indicate Inattentive ADD. But it could.

3. Overfocused ADD

Many people with overfocused ADD are described as "micro-managers," and "detail freaks." Contrary to other types of ADD where distractibility is a symptom, the person with overfocused ADD is often obsessed with minutiae. 

"Paralysis by analysis" is another description of the behavior pattern as they continue to look at one detail after another in an endless cycle. 

4, Temporal Lobe ADD

We're all irritable at times but a person with temporal lobe ADD tends to be irritable most of the time. This type of ADD is often accompanied by mood swings and a cycle of negative thinking and unhappiness. Like many forms of ADD, learning disabilities often accompany this form of ADD in addition to outbursts of temper and frustration. 

5. Limbic ADD

A person with Limbic ADD is a loner who feels at times hopeless and worthless. Their social isolation is accompanied by periods of sadness and a negative attitude. Low energy along with a disorganized lifestyle and workstyle is also common. Like many forms of ADD, this type of person is inattentive and easily distracted. This is an example of a type of ADD that is commonly treated with ADD medications like Ritalin

6. Ring Of Fire ADD

This type of ADD often exhibits symptoms of Bipolar disorder. People with Ring of Fire ADD are extremely sensitive, easily offended and often confrontational. The cyclic moodiness that often accompanies this form of ADD often interferes with their interactions with others both at home and at work. Anger is a common behavioral response to their environment. This is an example of a type of ADD that is complicated by the stimulant nature of Ritalin at times aggravating symptoms and behaviors. 

7. Anxious ADD 

Anxiety is the primary symptom of Anxious ADD. Specific learning disabilities include an anxious and stressed response to timed tests. Someone with Anxious ADD is fearful of judgment and often exhibits various signs of social anxiety sometimes resulting in headaches and gastrointestinal distress. 

Nervousness and tension are classic symptoms and unlike a person with Ring of Fire ADD, this type of person tries to avoid conflict. 

Remember: this is not a checklist.

All of the behaviors described above fall in the category of very common human emotions that manifest themselves as a response to certain stimulus and environments. What sets them apart as signs or symptoms of ADD is their consistent and repeated occurrence over time. A medical professional specializing in ADD is the only person who can make an accurate diagnosis and recommend a course of treatment.

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  • Photo courtesy of ActiveSteve via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/activesteve/5038312785
  • Photo courtesy of Furryscaly via Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/furryscalyman/353707470
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