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ADD Diagnosis

I got my ADD diagnosis today (no "h" as I don't meet the criteria for hyperactivity). It felt validating to hear a doctor say what I've felt for a while now.

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  • Congrats on your diagnosis! ADD is not a medically valid term anymore. Just as we no longer refer to PTSD as shell shock.

    ADHD has three types:

    • Hyperactive/impulsive
    • Inattentive
    • Combined

    So your diagnosis would be inattentive ADHD. (Same here)

    Here's an article on the matter.

    Also, I'm a huge proponent of the name being changed entirely to Executive Function Disorder. ADHD is a total misnomer. I'm not hyperactive, and, I constantly get distracted by focusing on something I shouldn't be for 12+ hours at a time, I certainly am not deficient in attention. I have plenty of attention to give, but my body lacks the natural reward system that would allow me to choose where that attention goes. Executive Function Disorder is more descriptive and accurate. And that doesn't even take into consideration that changing the name would also help to remove decades of negative bias regarding ADHD and the perception of those who have it having had a moral failing because they can't concentrate.

    • ADD is not a medically valid term anymore

      Hmm, I've heard/read that in ADHD forums also, but this doctor used the phrase "ADD, not ADHD because you don't meet the criteria for hyperactivity". Perhaps they said it that way because of my age (assuming I would understand ADD vs ADHD because there was previously a distinction). I can ask for clarification at my next visit.

      I like what you are saying on the Executive Function Disorder. I know that when I used to hear "ADHD", I used to picture a kid I knew back in high school that would literally bounce off walls when he was off his meds. That is definitely not me. I do struggle with impulsivity a little though and I would argue I have an "attention deficit" problem as I can be staring a person in their eyes as they talk yet not hear a word they are saying as my mind is somewhere else entirely. I can also struggle with paying attention in meetings as I just want to get back to some other task I was working on (no matter how important I believe the meeting to be).

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