This post defines important terms and abbreviations to make all the material throughout the website easier to digest.
- DSM
- APA
- ADD
- ADHD
- ADHD-I
- ADHD-HI
- ADHD-C
- EFD
DSM– the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the APA. It is the official handbook commonly used by healthcare professionals.
APA– American Psychological Association. It is the largest organization of professional psychologists in the United States.
ADD– Attention Deficit Disorder. It is the layman’s term for the condition of being easily distractible without any hyperactivity. It used to be an official term in the DSM. It is no longer a diagnosis recognized by the APA.
ADHD– Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This too is a term that many people toss around in everyday speech without really knowing what it means. Most people on the streets use it when referring to anyone who is displaying any hyperactive behaviors.
It was and still is an official term in the DSM, though. Again, many people don’t realize that a diagnosis of ADHD means much more than appearing to have extra energy. It encompasses a lot more than that: poor memory, distractibility, weak social skills, etc.
ADHD-I– Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominantly Inattentive. In plain English, this is the new label for ADD. Beginning with the DSM IV, attention deficit issues became a presentation of ADHD. ADHD was designated as the umbrella and three types of presentations were identified within. Predominantly inattentive (ADD) is one of the three. That continues to be the method of identification today in the DSM V. More information from NCBI/NIH is here.
ADHD-HI– Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. This is the second presentation now recognized. To me, this appears to be the new way of saying what used to be called ADHD.
ADHD- C– Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, combined. This is the last of the three presentations, which it puts it all together. As you would surmise, it is the hat trick of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity all combined.
To be clear, currently, the official presentations are:
- ADHD-I: predominantly inattentive (previously ADD)
- ADHD-HI: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
- ADHD-C: combined
EFD- Executive Functioning Disorder. EFD is a term that describes the difficulties of the brain’s management system, but it is not an official diagnosis.
So why did I choose the name ADD Adventures when ADD is not even a thing anymore? Because most people on the streets still use the term. Besides, ADHD-I is a bit clunky to use, and the inclusion of the letter H is a little confusing for many people. So essentially, I know the difference, but I will use ADD colloquially and use ADHD-I when speaking scientifically.