Facts about ADHD

https://www.healthline.com/health/what-adhd-combined-type#symptoms

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It’s typically diagnosed in children, but adults can experience symptoms, too. The symptoms are usually divided into two categories:

  • inattention, or the inability to focus

  • hyperactivity-impulsivity, or the inability to stay still or control behavior

Most children experience symptoms of both. This is also known as ADHD combined type. Read on to learn more about what combined type ADHD is and how to treat it.

What are the symptoms and signs of combined type ADHD?

ADHD tends to shows up as predominantly inattentive or predominately hyperactive-impulsive. When someone has six or more symptoms of each type, they have combined type ADHD.

Inattentiveness symptoms

Examples of inattentiveness symptoms include:

  • struggling to follow instructions

  • appearing to not listen when spoken to

  • becoming easily distracted

  • having difficulty following through on tasks or assignments

  • losing or forgetting things or events

Hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms

The most common symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity include:

  • fidgeting or squirming

  • being unable to remain seated for long periods

  • talking nonstop

  • blurting out answers

  • being impatient

  • interrupting or butting into other peoples’ conversations

  • having difficulty waiting your turn

  • being constantly “on the go,” acting as if “driven by a motor”

A person with combined type ADHD will display six or more of these signs and six or more signs of inattentiveness.

Also, to diagnose ADHD, a person must have:

  • several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms present before the age of 12 years

  • symptoms present in two or more settings (such as at home, school or work; with friends or relatives; in other activities)

  • symptoms that interfere with or reduce the quality of social, school, or work functioning

  • symptoms that are not better explained by another mental disorder (such as a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder)