What Are the Types of ADHD?

What are the types of ADHD?

People experience ADHD differently. The Australian ADHD Guideline groups those differences into presentations based on which symptom thresholds are met.

You may also see the word subtypes used for these groups, especially in older articles.

The Australian ADHD Guideline sets out these three presentations (AADPA).

What are the 3 types of ADHD?

The three types are the same ones described by the Australian guideline and the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne (Royal Children’s Hospital).

Inattentive ADHD

Inattentive ADHD is quieter and easier to overlook. Read more in our guide to inattentive ADHD in women, which covers how it can show up in adult life.

Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD

The Royal Children’s Hospital describes this presentation as rare. Our guide to hyperactive ADHD explains what it looks like at home and school.

Combined ADHD

The Royal Children’s Hospital describes combined ADHD as the most common type. See combined ADHD in women for how both sets of symptoms can show up together.

ADD and ADHD

You may still hear the term attention deficit disorder (ADD). Our guide on ADD and ADHD explains why both names are still used.

The “high functioning” label

People sometimes say “high functioning” about ADHD, but it hides real support needs. Read high functioning ADHD in women to see why support needs are a better way to describe someone.

ADHD subtypes you see online: ring of fire, limbic and more

Some websites list many more ADHD types. These are not presentations in the Australian ADHD Guideline, which describes three.

• Ring of fire ADHD: an informal online label; it is not one of the presentations in the Australian ADHD Guideline.
• Limbic ADHD: another informal label; if low mood is affecting your life, talk to your GP.
• Temporal lobe ADHD: an informal label, not one of the guideline’s presentations; ask a clinician about any concerns.
• Internal ADHD: a casual phrase some people use for ADHD that is less visible to others; it is not a presentation in the guideline.
• Type 2 ADHD: not a presentation in the Australian ADHD Guideline; ask whoever uses the term what they mean.
• 12 ADHD types: a list from outside the Australian guideline; it is not a diagnosis, so take any questions to your GP.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

Is ADHD a spectrum?

People with ADHD experience it differently, which is what people often mean when they call it a spectrum.

• The Australian ADHD Guideline groups people by which symptom thresholds are met, into three presentations.
• Ask your clinician how ADHD affects your school, work, relationships and daily tasks.
• If you wonder about severe ADHD, discuss your daily difficulties with your GP or specialist rather than a label.

What are the two types of ADHD?

You may see two types of ADHD described online. The Australian ADHD Guideline describes three presentations, not two.

• Inattentive: the symptom threshold for inattention is met.
• Hyperactive-impulsive: the symptom threshold for hyperactivity-impulsivity is met.
• Combined: the thresholds for both are met, and the Royal Children’s Hospital and the guideline both list it as its own type.
• If an article describes two types, ask your clinician how it compares with the three presentations.

Types of ADHD in children

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne describes three main types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive (which it says is rare) and combined (which it says is the most common).

• Keep notes on what you see at home, school and sport.
• Share teacher observations and school reports with your GP or paediatrician before an assessment.
• Ask the school about practical adjustments such as seating, movement breaks and written instructions.
• Read about ADHD traits to see how symptoms can look at different ages.

The Raising Children Network and the Royal Children’s Hospital both have free fact sheets for parents.

ADHD types in women and girls

The Australian ADHD Guideline notes evidence that girls and women with ADHD may frequently go unrecognised or be diagnosed late. ReachOut Australia says teenage girls are more likely to experience inattentive ADHD and boys hyperactive ADHD, and that the inattentive type is less visible (ReachOut).

• If you think ADHD may have been missed for you or your daughter, talk to your GP.
• Bring examples from childhood and today, and observations from school, family or work.
• Mention anything that seems to affect how you feel, so your clinician has the full picture.
• ADHD Australia explains why ADHD in girls is often missed at school, which is useful reading for teachers and parents.

How common is ADHD in Australia?

Around 6-8% of children and 3-5% of adults in Australia have ADHD, which means more than 1 million Australians, according to the Australian ADHD Guideline’s GP factsheet (AADPA).

• healthdirect says around 1 in 20 people in Australia has ADHD (healthdirect).
• It is more commonly diagnosed in young males but is also underdiagnosed in young females and adults.
• Our ADHD Awareness Month guide shows how Australians raise awareness.

What type of ADHD do I have? How assessment works

You cannot work out your type from a website, and an online quiz cannot replace a clinician. Only a qualified professional can assess this.

1. 1Write down your experiences. Note when attention, restlessness or impulsivity cause trouble, with examples from childhood and today.
2. 2See your GP. Ask for an ADHD discussion and what the next steps for an assessment would be.
3. 3Collect other views. School reports, family memories and a partner or colleague’s observations can all help.
4. 4Complete the assessment. The clinician will explain whether ADHD fits and which presentation is most likely.
5. 5Ask about supports. Talk through strategies, workplace or school adjustments and treatment choices with your clinician.

Related conditions and other types

These guides cover related conditions and other types you may be reading about.

• See our guide to types of autism if you also wonder about autism.
• Our overview of the types of disability shows where ADHD fits among them.
• Epilepsy is a different condition; read about the different types of epilepsy.
• Medicine choices differ from person to person; see types of ADHD medication and always speak with your prescriber.

ADHD types and the NDIS

NDIS funding is conditional: it depends on whether you meet the NDIS access requirements. Check the eligibility information on the NDIS website for what applies to you.

• Our guide on whether ADHD is a disability explains how it is viewed in Australia.
• Gather reports from your clinician that describe how ADHD affects daily tasks, and keep them together.
• Ask your GP or a local area coordinator if you are unsure whether to apply.
• If you meet the access requirements, ask what supports such as help around the home or community access your plan could include.

TQN Care support workers help with personal care, community access, respite and help around the home across Sydney, Melbourne and surrounding areas (NSW & VIC). Tell us what you need and we will call you back.

Your next step

Knowing the types of ADHD is a good start, but daily life is where support counts. TQN Care provides NDIS support workers for personal care, community access, respite and help around the home, working with your routines and goals. Browse our NDIS services or make a referral, and we will call you to talk about what you or your family need. We offer practical support, not diagnosis or treatment.