You might hear the diagnosis “ADHD” get thrown around a lot, but there are actually three different kinds of ADHD diagnoses. While there can be overlap, it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone’s ADHD looks like everyone else’s, and each person can have their own unique struggles or challenges with how it manifests for them. 

Let’s take a look at the different types of ADHD, their symptoms, and how each diagnosis might be seen differently–both in how it’s treated and how society may view it.

What does having ADHD look like? 

Imagine two different American college students who are both in a required English literature class. 

What does inattentive ADHD look like? 

First, we’ve got Kay. Kay is creative, funny, and loves running in their spare time. Kay is in their sophomore year of college, but the pressure has started to take a turn. Kay can’t seem to focus long enough to finish their homework, no matter how hard they try. Kay is often told they seem “spaced out” or “in their own world.” When Kay tries to follow a baking recipe, they might skip steps, and they’re always losing track of their keys, their phone, their wallet, or all three at once–sometimes misplacing them in “unusual” places, like the fridge or somewhere they wouldn’t mean to keep these things. 

These things are starting to impact Kay’s school performance and sense of self-confidence, but what Kay doesn’t realize is they might have the Inattentive Type of ADHD (also called ADHD-I). Kay’s ADHD symptoms have often been attributed to their “spacey personality,” rather than being recognized as an ADHD presentation, especially because Kay was socialized as a woman. 

What does hyperactive ADHD look like? 

Now, let’s meet Linus. Linus was diagnosed with ADHD from a young age because his ADHD “looks most like” or fits the common stereotype of ADHD–he always had trouble sitting still when he was younger. He was always told he would “grow out of it,” which has happened slightly, but Linus still often speaks out of turn, interrupts people, or struggles with blurting out things he probably shouldn’t say, leading to conflict with friends and romantic partners. Some might describe Linus as “impatient,” “emotional,” or “like he’s hyped up on caffeine,” but these are actually labels about how his ADHD manifests, rather than his personality. Thankfully, Linus was diagnosed in elementary school and has found supports and medication that work for him. While he sometimes feels like he has a hard time getting to know others because people perceive him as “intense,” he’s able to stay on top of his assignments and is doing well in the class. Linus has Hyperactive ADHD (or ADHD-H), which impacts him but was more easily recognized by his teachers and school staff than Kay’s ADHD was. (This didn’t mean it was easier, because Linus often got punished in school rather than supported for his different learning needs.) 

Linus and Kay have two of the three types of diagnosed forms of ADHD, but there’s also a third type. Let’s look at the third type.

What is Combined ADHD?

Combined ADHD (or ADHD-C) is ADHD that has symptoms from both inattentive and hyperactive manifestations of ADHD–for example, someone might have trouble following directions or steps, “zone out” often, and also have trouble with patience, emotional impulse, and interrupting others. 

Combined ADHD isn’t “better” or “worse” than any other kind of ADHD, but it may be present alongside anxiety or depression in some people because of the emotional difficulties that can occur. 

What do I do if I have one of these diagnoses or think I might have a type of ADHD? 

If you think you have ADHD, even if you’re not sure what type, you’ve come to the right place. Self Made Psychology is a psychotherapy practice that offers ADHD assessments–so you can get a diagnosis or confirm a diagnosis you think you might have–and also offers ADHD coaching and therapy. If you’re considering if you might have ADHD, reach out to our team and we can help you find the right next step for you with support from clinicians who have lived experiences of ADHD or other neurodivergence. We’ve been through, we get it, and we’ve got you.