What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?
Quick answer: ADD is an older term. Since 1994, the medical term is ADHD, which includes inattentive, hyperactive impulsive, and combined presentations. What was once called ADD aligns with ADHD inattentive presentation in current terminology used by clinicians and diagnostic manuals internationally.
Since 1994, diagnostic manuals use ADHD with specified presentations. What was once called ADD now maps to ADHD inattentive presentation.
Screening and evaluation focus on current patterns and impact rather than labels alone.