ABOUT ADHD

Three Types of ADHD

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and there are three different types of ADHD a person can be diagnosed with. The three types of ADHD consist of inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type and combined type, each type consists of different various symptoms. It is important for a person to be diagnosed with a specific type rather than just all around ADHD. This is detrimental for a person with ADHD to receive the right treatment and for it to be successful.

Inattentive Type

Inattentive type consists of a person with ADHD show signs of being inattentive. Some symptoms WedMD Medical Reference mentioned that are linked to inattentive type are;

  • Being distracted
  • Being forgetful
  • Careless mistakes
  • Unable to follow directions
  • Failling to pay attention and keep on task
  • Avoiding tasks that involve effort
  • etc.. (WebMD Medical Reference, 2018, WebMD).

Inattentive type is neither the most or least common type of ADHD diagnosed between the three types inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type and combined type

Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

Hyperactive-impulsive type consists of a person with ADHD showing signs of being hyperactive and/or impulsive. Some symptoms WedMD Medical Reference mentioned that are linked to hyperactive-impulsive type are;

  • Fidgeting
  • Getting up often when seated
  • Talking too much
  • Interrupting
  • Squirming
  • Often “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”
  • etc.. (WebMD Medical Reference, 2018, WebMD).

Hyperactive-impulsive type is the least common type of ADHD diagnosed between the three types inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type and combined type.

Combined Type

Combined type consists of a person with ADHD showing signs of being inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive. The symptoms linked to combined type would be similar to as mentioned above for hyperactive-impulsive type and inattentive type but the individual with combined type would exemplar signs of both. Symptoms shown could be;

  • Fidgeting
  • Getting up often when seated
  • Talking too much
  • Interrupting
  • Squirming
  • Often “on the go” as if “driven by a motor”
  • Being distracted
  • Being forgetful
  • Careless mistakes
  • Unable to follow directions
  • Failling to pay attention and keep on task
  • Avoiding tasks that involve effort
  • etc.. (WebMD Medical Reference, 2018, WebMD).

Combined type is the most common type of ADHD diagnosed between the three types inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type and combined type.


Each type consists of different various symptoms. It is important for a person to be diagnosed with a specific type rather than just all around ADHD. This is detrimental for a person with ADHD to receive the right treatment and for it to be successful.