Hi,

It's good to hear that your grandchild has a loving and supportive grandparent. Children with ADHD (any type) need all the love and support they can get.

My 26 yr. old daughter, 16 yr. old son and myself all have the inattentive type of ADHD. My husband has the "classic" ADHD with the hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Generally, the inattentive type do not have the hyperactivity and impulsivity of the "classic" ADHD. They still have problems paying attention, doing complex tasks (esp. school "projects"), procrastination, disorganization, etc. They are also less likely to have behavioral problems in school or to have conduct disorder, but they are more prone to having anxiety issues.

Others may find it hard to believe this individual has ADHD because they do not "act out" and are usually more quiet and reserved. They may appear to have low energy and motivation and can have great difficulty getting up in the morning. They generally get along better with peers, although some may be excessively shy or anxious. They tend to be more self-concious whereas the hyperactive type are not aware of how their behavior is perceived by others.

A significant portion, but not all, of the inattentive type may daydream a lot in class, appear to be in a daze or confused at times, be more sluggish and slower to respond. They are apt to have more problems with working memory and a slower mental processing speed. That is not to say that they are less intelligent. My neighbor has an IQ of 180 but he has a lot of these qualities and can appear to be in a daze and confused.

I was only recently diagnosed with inattentive ADHD because I had compensated pretty well by making and using lists, worrying a lot which helped me focus (my ADHD became more apparent when I had my anxiety treated!) and having a higher IQ.

What made the most difference for me was taking medication and understanding ADHD and how it affected me. I hated writing papers in school and college. I never knew what to write about, had a difficult time knowing how to begin and what to write about, etc. I performed better with specific instructions. If someone explained to me how to do something that involved several steps, I had to write it down or I would not remember it all. On medication, I found I didn't have to do that anymore. I could understand and remember it all so much easier. My thoughts were more organized and I could comprehend what I read without having to reread it several times. It was so much easier to write and express my thoughts.

I also felt more self-confident when I started medication because I clearly understood what someone was telling me. It used to take me longer to process what was being said and I felt stupid at times even though I knew I wasn't.

When my son started taking medication I noticed a huge difference. He would do what I asked the first time, sometimes even before I asked!! Before being on medication, I would repeatedly remind him to do something numerous times and still he would forget. He would complete school projects without any assistance from me. Prior to medication, I had to help him every step of the way and it was such a struggle for him to do a project or paper.

For organization, color can be extremely helpful. For example, use different color notebooks and binders for each subject. Use a red binder and notebook for math and cover your mathbook in a red book cover. Use green for science, blue for reading, etc. Eventually your mind automatically associates red with math so if you have math homework to do, you know to bring home the red book, binder and notebook.

If you have more than one child using the same bathroom, assign each one a different color. One child might have a blue towel, a blue toothbrush, blue hairbrush, etc. and the other child has green. When each child denies leaving a towel on the floor, you now know whose it is.

I've learned a lot through reading and attending support groups. Go to www.CHADD.org and find a support group in your area. you do not have to join CHADD in order to attend a support group.

Good luck, Elaine

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Elaine20, I just read your comment concerning inattentive ADD. I was just recently diagnosed and have been doing quite abit of research concerning the diagnosis. Because ADHD is so often thought of or related to hyperactivity, I have had a difficult time discussing this with my husband. He refuses to believe I have ADD because I am not hyperactive. I was somewhat relieved to finally have a diagnosis and yet there are times, when I begin to have (that well-known) self-doubt because of his comments. I am a carbon copy of your description of the inattentive ADHDer. Thank you.. There is such a lack of public knowledge concerning ADHD, not to mention the preconceived stereotypes. Having a support system is invaluable.

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Thank you so much for that explanation. I'm pretty sure I have ADD (inattentive) but have not been diagnosed (I'm in my 50s). If I do have it, I have learned to cope but struggle with anxiety and depression.. You described me and my daughter to a T. My daughter was diagnosed when she was in 7th grade... she is now 29 with 3 boys of her own. One was diagnosed with ADHD (very "H") when he was 5 and the other has not been diagnosed although when they were at the physchiatrist (sp) office one day and he wouldn't stop talking, fidgeting and breaking-in on the conversations the dr said "have you ever had him checked for ADD?"... it doesn't interfere with his life (except for talking in class) so she hasn't had him diagnosed... the 3rd one is a baby. I'd never heard the term "inattentive ADD" before. Thanks again for your answer.

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I was also recently diagnosed with Inattentive Type ADD. I always thought my problems came from depression, and never sought treatment. But as I've gotten older and handled the depression better, other symptoms got worse - procrastinating, difficulty focusing on one task, always feeling like I should be doing something other than what I was doing, constantly feeling like time was getting away from me. When I finally went to a psychologist several weeks ago she suspected ADD after the inital screening of symptoms and it was confirmed two weeks ago.

I purchased You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo and have found it incredibly helpful for understanding how my symptoms are not just personality or things that everyone feels once in a while, but characteristic of ADD. (I tend to encounter self-doubt when I discuss doing ADD-type things with people and they say, oh, me too! But then I try to remember that this is something that I deal with constantly, and it interferes with my ability to enjoy life and to achieve my potential. And that warrants help, no matter what the label is).

I think that even though I have low physical energy and am not moving around a lot, my mind is "hyperactive" and won't let me relax. So I am very busy even when I'm sitting still. I look calm and even attentive to other people, but my thoughts are a whirlwind of activity. Because it can't be seen, it's hard for other people to understand.

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I really like the description of how inattentive ADD works, that seems to be an area without a lot of information available. When I was tested for ADHD at 46, I found inconsistency was my biggest "problem" so while I can be hyperactive at times, others I am a slug. I can be ultra sensitive to noise and other times a bomb can go off by my ear and I wouldn't notice. My husband understands a bit about the Hyper aspects of my ADHD, but doesn't get the self-conciousness I have. I have some pictures of how an ADHD brain fires electrically, there are definite patterns for different types of ADHD. One type shows a massive firing pattern, kind of like a pinball when the ball is bouncing around without much direction - anybody else know what I mean? Again with the pinball example, the ball can be controllable to a point until something bounces it off in a strange direction, so while I can keep things in control for a while, something comes along and zip, who knows where I'll end up. I do have medication, but I'm not real good at taking it, I even try to chart it, but find I can remember to take my meds without charting it, so the chart isn't 100% for me either.

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Kudos to Elaine for an excellent description in layman's terms!

This is one of the most relevant descriptive threads that I have encountered since researching ADHD/ADD this past year. Being diagnosed earlier this year (age 54) was such a relief. It definitely explains most of my current non-ability to function 'adequately', much of my past, and my life in general.

Was wondering, Elaine, if you (or others) might would share what medication seems to be working well for you. I do realize that everyone is different, thus the various approaches in dispensing medication. My doctor has just prescribed Concerta, beginning with a very low dosage (likely to be increased), but it's too soon to know its effectiveness.

Thanking everyone for sharing GOOD applicable information.

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My son has been diagnosed with ADHD-I for a few years now. He is in the 8th grade, which is his 3rd year of middle school, at the same school. I still need to explain to each new teacher and ESE Specialist at the school, the symptoms of his diagnosis. He is still being told by some of his teachers that he needs to 'try harder' to pay attention, he 'pays attention' to the things that interest him! To him, these comments are an implied opinion that he is lazy. (he has a double-whammy as he also has a Gifted I.Q. of 147) He has been listening to comments such as these since 1st grade. Is it any wonder that he never liked school? I calmly and patiently (I hope) inservice each new teacher & ESE Specialist as to the nature of the ADHD beast as the situations arise. i.e. not a short attention span, it is an attentional inconsistently, he has limited control over chemical release & distribution to neuro-transmitters, his Giftedness often masks his disability etc... . It has been a long battle but, I think he is finally beginning to overcome his poor self esteem. He can now advocate for himself to me, not so much at school yet, as he says to me "Don't they think I want to pay attention?" The more information out there the better. Keep on advocating for yourself and your loved ones!

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I cannot finish a sentence without surpressing a totally new topic or way to express what I was saying... Subject and verb have nothing to do with each other. People wonder if I am not "doing" Robin Williams. I seem to channel a dozen different topics at any one time. It is no wonder that I can't concentrate on the present. It's like the joke: three ADDers are walking down the street. The first one says, "It's windy." The second replies, "No, it's Thursday." The third one says, "Me too. How about a drink?" I am not inattentive --- my thoughts just get jammed. I used to think that's how everyone operated until I learned I had ADD. While I am multi-tasking, I don;t have time to pay attention. "Look, a chicken..."

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Granna,

I hope you are doing well with the Concerta and that you get good results. As I'm sure your doctor explained there are numerous medications from which to choose. However, it all comes down to basically 3 types: some form of Ritalin, amphetamine salts, and non-stimulants. The newest medication to join the group is Vyvanse, which is an amphetamine salt. I work with a psychiatrist part time and he has switched most of his patients to Vyvanse.

Vyvanse is the only ADHD medicine that is processed in the liver and remains inactive until it reaches the liver. Therefore, it has no real street value because it can't be crushed and snorted or abused in any way. In fact the FDA has said that it will remove the restrictions and allow refills on Vyvanse in the next year or two.

Vyvanse is the longest acting ADHD medication on the market, getting between 12 and 16 hours of coverage. It goes into and out of the body gradually so there tends to be no "rebound effect" (irritable mood) when it wears off. It disrupts sleep and appetite in only about 2-3% of the population after within about 7 - 10 days of beginning the medication.

It is made by Shire and you can get a coupon from your doctor or on their website for a month's free trial. It comes in various strengths and your doctor can try different ones during your free month by prescribing a few pills at a time of varying strengths.

I have ADHD as does my husband and two children. Between us, we have tried numerous medications and this one is by far the best for us. Also, many of my clients have switched to Vyvanse and report a preference for it.

I hope this helps answer your question. Good luck.

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My son has ADHD. He is 9yrs. old. He struggles everyday. I have to tell him things at three times before he gets anything. Same with homework. At school, he has a hard time in the class because he is slower to understand than others. It's hard for him to just fall into place with other kids too , I think. I always have to watch him . Always sneaky. And will still. Or do things he knows is wrong to do. I just hang in there to teach him from wrong and right. And just be there for him when needed.

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Granna,

I take the Vyvanse and so does my 16 yr. old son, who is also inattentive. I am very pleased with this medication. My son had taken Concerta when he was younger and it worked well for several years. The doctor switched him to the Vyvanse a year ago. Generally speaking (there are exceptions of course and comorbidities such as depression or anxiety can complicate the medication treatment at times), our doctor has found that Adderall and Vyvanse work better for adolescents and adults. I had also found some research that indicated that Adderall (and similar meds, such as Vyvanse) worked better for inattentive ADHD than the methylphenidate types (Concerta, Ritalin, Metadate, etc.) of medication.

If anyone is interested, I found some good articles on research with inattentive ADHD on the internet by a woman named Adele Diamond. I think she may be in Canada.

Elaine

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Elaine20 said: I had also found some research that indicated that Adderall (and similar meds, such as Vyvanse) worked better for inattentive ADHD than the methylphenidate types (Concerta, Ritalin, Metadate, etc.) of medication.

In my personal experience - the methylphenidate types not only offer no syptom relief, they make me a total jerk. Each time I've given one a shot I have ended up spending a couple weeks irritable beyond belief. Adderall XR was good but Vyvanse doesn't come crashing down at the end of the day so my boyfriend finds me much more pleasant when I get home from work.

p.s. I'm new and it's really nice to see people asking questions and being politely and genuinely curious about what it means to be inattentive vs. hyperactive, after 15 years of "You have ADD? You just don't seem hyper!"

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In some ways, at least for me, I don't think inattentive type ADHD means there isn't any hyperactivity, but that it's primarily internalized. My mind was always going--an almost constant negative rumination (my failures, lack of motivation, procrastination, perfectionism, needing to 'fix' myself, should be doing this/that, etc), ideas exploding into tangents, analyzing everything--that would also create tangents. A complete whirlwind of activity I had no control over. The only relief I could find was hyperfocusing on computer games, internet--anything interactive, but not requiring too much critical thinking. Off course, I'd spend too much time on these activities and that helped set up a negative feedback loop which fueled my negative rumination and depression.

I will never forget the first time I took Adderall. For the first time my brain was quiet. All of that negative rumination was gone---like turning off a light switch. What I find strange is it feels as if after my brain found that 'switch', it 'knows' where it is. Even without meds in my system I don't fall into the negative rumination pattern anymore.

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It's like coming home, wow...lots of people just like me. Wondering what type of medicine seems to work well for inattentive types. Doc has me on low dose of Ritalin, not really doing anything for me, it's a little better the first hour after that it is nothing.

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