Is it ADD or ADHD? A straightforward guide for adults with ADHD.

If you’ve recently been diagnosed or you think you might be a fellow Wise Squirrel, you’ve probably asked this question: What is the difference between ADD and ADHD? I’m going to set the record straight for you here, so you can come away with confidence.

ADD vs ADHD: What your diagnosis really means.

If you grew up hearing the word ADD but were diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you’re not alone. Many late-diagnosed ADHDers (Wise Squirrels) wonder why the term changed and what it means for how their brain works today. Good news: the answer is simpler than it sounds, and it might help you understand yourself with a lot more clarity and compassion.

TLDR: ADD and ADHD are the same thing. 😉

Why You Won’t See “ADD” in Your Diagnosis Anymore

“ADD” (Attention Deficit Disorder) hasn’t been an official medical term for decades. It was phased out when researchers realized that attention challenges and hyperactivity are part of the same neurological condition, just expressed in different ways.

Today, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, version 5. Mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, and researchers, refer to this as the DSM-5, which recognizes a single umbrella diagnosis.

ADHD: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

But within this diagnosis are three presentations, or ways it can show up in adults:

• Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (ADHD-I)

• Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Presentation (ADHD-HI)

• Combined Presentation (ADHD-C)

If you were told you have inattentive ADHD, that’s the modern equivalent of what many people still casually call “ADD.” To learn more about these three presentations, check out my article that uses Bart and Lisa Simpson and Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes to help clarify the differences in ADHD presentations. And while you’re reading this paragraph, there is only one type of ADHD.

Why This Matters for Adults Diagnosed Later in Life

A lot of late-diagnosed adults spent years feeling “lazy,” “scattered,” or “not living up to potential.” Understanding your specific ADHD presentation is a powerful step toward replacing self-blame with self-knowledge. Your brain wasn’t misbehaving. It was misunderstood.

The Two Core ADHD Presentations

1. Inattentive ADHD

(The quiet, internal version)

This form often flies under the radar because it doesn’t look disruptive—it looks thoughtful, introverted, spaced out, or overwhelmed.

Common signs

• Losing track of time

• Having to re-read things

• Difficulty prioritizing

• Forgetting appointments

• Struggling to start tasks

• Feeling mentally busy but physically still

• Being described as “great but disorganized”

What Inattentive ADHD means for your life

You may do well with big ideas but struggle with the details. Planning, consistency, and routine might drain you more than the work itself. And you might have spent decades masking these challenges because you were the “smart, quiet one” who didn’t cause problems.

2. Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD

(The active, expressive version)

This version is more visible, but in adults, it doesn’t always look like bouncing around the room. It often shows up as internal motor energy.

Common signs

• Constant restlessness

• Talking more than others

• Interrupting unintentionally

• Quick decisions (sometimes too quick)

• Feeling impatient

• Needing stimulation to focus

• Always juggling projects

What this means for your life

You might have been labeled “energetic,” “intense,” or “busy.” You tend to act fast, think fast, and talk fast. People rely on your energy, but you may struggle with consistency, impulse control, or burnout.

3. Combined ADHD

Most adults fall into this category—it means you’ve got a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive traits.

Why You Might Have Missed This for Years

ADHD in adults often looks like:

• Overachieving to keep up

• Underachieving because of overwhelm

• Exhaustion from masking

• Feeling misunderstood

• Needing pressure or deadlines just to start

• Big ideas with inconsistent follow-through

You didn’t miss it because you failed. You missed it because ADHD shows up differently in adults. Many of my coaching clients describe feeling seen for the first time when they finally get language for what their brain has been doing all along. This is why I’m so passionate about serving fellow Wise Squirrels, and I offer you a free coaching session.

So…What Now?

Understanding your presentation helps you:

Build systems that actually fit your brain

Inattentive folks often need structure and scaffolding. Hyperactive types need flexibility and motion. Combined types need both.

Approach work and communication with better tools

From task management to conversations to planning, knowing how your brain naturally operates makes a huge difference.

Explain your needs with confidence

Whether it’s at work, in relationships, or in your personal routines, having language makes your needs easier to communicate.

A Simple Reframe

Instead of thinking:

“Why can’t I focus like everyone else?”

Try “My brain focuses differently—and I can design systems that match how I naturally work.”

That shift is the foundation of my coaching and presentations on ADHD.

Reduce shame and increase self-respect

ADHD isn’t a character flaw and does not affect intelligence. Once you understand the pattern, you can work with it and not against it. I highly recommend working with a qualified healthcare professional who understands ADHD. If he or she calls it ADD, they are probably old school, and that could be a great sign, and who the heck knows what it might be called when the DSM-6 is published, as long as it’s not “a superpower”, I’ll adjust accordingly.