Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. A 2016 parent survey estimated around 6.1 million children in the United States had received an ADHD diagnosis.1 Very often, this condition persists, lasting into adulthood.
ADHD stands out because of three important patterns of behavior: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. For these reasons, talk of the different types of ADHD usually takes on a combination of these traits.
For decades, these groupings have been accepted as the major ways ADHD can be presented. However, newer research is opening these types to include other possible ways a person may live with ADHD.
This guide will explore seven different types of ADHD and the reasoning behind these groupings.
ADHD Research
While the American Psychiatric Association is yet to recognize additional types of ADHD, the following groupings have gained some popularity. This has led many to question their understanding of the disorder.
At the forefront of these new groupings is a psychiatrist and brain imaging specialist—Dr. Daniel G. Amen. In research documented in his book "Healing ADD: The Breakthrough Program that Allows You to See and Heal the 7 Types of ADD," Dr. Amen attempts to challenge conventional beliefs about ADHD.
His research aims to explore ADHD and its impact on key areas of the brain. It also examines neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA in connection to the disorder.
Skepticism of the 7 Types
Dr. Amen’s findings have been greeted with skepticism. It's still accepted that there are only three types of ADHD. However, these seven types may provide a different way of understanding ADHD and its impact on behavior and wellness.
The Seven Types of ADHD
A person with ADHD may present traits that mark them as inattentive, impulsive, or hyperactive. The newly-explored types of this condition, however, deviate from or build on these groupings.
7 Types of ADHD
The following are other suggested types of ADHD:
- Classic ADD
- Inattentive ADD
- Over-Focused ADHD
- Temporal Lobe ADD
- Limbic ADD
- Ring of Fire ADD
- Anxious ADD
- Classic ADD
A person living with classic ADD (previous name for ADHD) will display signs of ADHD-combined presentation.3 This means they’ll appear inattentive during meetings, classes, and even through in-person conversations. They may also get distracted easily.
Someone displaying the classic signs of ADHD may be impulsive in their speech or actions towards others. For example, this person may speak the first thing that comes to mind without going over possible outcomes.
Other supposed symptoms include disorganization, poor follow-through, forgetfulness, interrupting others, etc.
Why Do These Behaviors Appear?
In explaining why people exhibit these behaviors, Dr. Amen’s research showed decreased activities in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia during moments of concentration.3The prefrontal cortex is a part of the brain responsible for influencing attention and impulse, plus memory.4 Helping with movement coordination and motor learning is the cerebellum, while the basal ganglia performs many functions, like dopamine production.
Dopamine is a major player in attention, motivation, working memory, and learning.
Inattentive ADD
It’s very hard to sustain the attention of a person that has inattentive ADHD. This is especially true when the topic does not interest them.3 If someone frequently misses fine details or is prone to making obvious mistakes at work or in school, they might have inattentive ADD.
Someone with inattentive ADHD may have difficulty remaining attentive during play, classes, or reading.
Using brain scans, Dr. Amen supposes this condition is caused by decreased activity in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and basal ganglia.
Over-Focused ADHD
While inattention is a typical symptom of ADHD, Dr. Amen proposes a type of this condition that swings in the opposite direction. People with over-focused ADHD will tend to hyper-fixate on a subject.
Because this type of ADHD entails zeroed-in focus, it’s easy to fixate on negative thought patterns and behaviors. Over-focused patients may hold grudges, display excessive worry, and can appear argumentative to others.
This new research suggests increased activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus—a portion of the brain responsible for emotional expression, attention, and regulating mood. In contrast, other similar portions of the brain showed decreased activity.
Temporal Lobe ADD
Scans reveal that people with this form of ADHD have decreased (and sometimes increased) activity in the temporal lobe. This part of the brain may increase the odds of aggression and violence when it suffers dysfunction.
For people with temporal lobe ADD, the typical impulsive, inattentive, or hyperactive symptoms of ADHD are compounded by aggressive behaviors.
Also, this form of ADHD has been reported as common in patients with head injuries.
Limbic ADD
The limbic system is a portion of the brain that impacts emotional processing, memory, social awareness, etc.
According to Dr. Amen's research, people with this form of ADHD might be moody or show disinterest in previously-enjoyed hobbies.
They may suffer from chronic low self-esteem, and feelings of guilt. They might also display hyperactive tendencies.
This discovery was made using brain scans that revealed interesting activity. In people with this type of ADHD, brain scans showed increased deep limbic activity at rest and during concentration. Inversely, lower activity was found in the areas of the brain that control concentration.
Ring of Fire ADD
This form of ADHD is said to result in consistent high activity in the brain. It can cause patients with this type to feel overburdened by their thoughts and emotions.
Dr. Amen’s research has linked ring of fire ADD to possible infections, allergies, or inflammation in the brain. Due to this, the brain is constantly overstimulated in multiple areas.
This type has also been linked to bipolar disorder. However, while patients with bipolar disorder often have manic episodes, this type of ADD is an established pattern of regular behavior.
Anxious ADD
Anxious ADD combines the classic symptoms of ADHD with symptoms of anxiety.3 Anxious ADD has been linked to low activity in the prefrontal cortex and overactivity in the basal ganglia.
A Word From Verywell
While these groupings of ADHD remain unconfirmed, they offer a different way of viewing things where this disorder is concerned. The distinctions between each type have been recognized to avoid pigeonholing every patient with ADHD. Likewise, these distinctions may play a part in providing specialized treatment for patients with ADHD. If you or a loved one are managing this disorder, it’s important to receive a mental healthcare provider’s opinion on diagnosis and treatment options.
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