Types of ADHD explained

Page summary

Types of ADHD, which clinicians call presentations, are predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive or combined. A presentation describes which group of symptoms has led over recent months. Combined means the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive symptoms both meet the criteria. Your presentation can change over time, and ADD is an older name for ADHD. A qualified clinician decides which presentation fits, after a full assessment of your history. AuDHD Psychiatry assesses adults and children living in the UK for ADHD online.

Reviewed by Dr Darren O’Reilly. Dr Darren O’Reilly is a Chartered Psychologist and Clinical Director.

Published date: 13 February 2026

Review and publication details

Clinically reviewed by Dr Darren O’Reilly, DPsych, Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol), HCPC registered practitioner psychologist, registration number PYL041661 (check the HCPC register).

AuDHD Psychiatry is the trading name of ADHDdegree Ltd, a company registered in Scotland, company number SC822923. Registered office: 3f1 Third Floor, Hill Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3JP. Registered with the ICO, number ZB823033.

You might have heard “combined type” or “hyperactive type” from a GP, in a report or online. A label like that can sound bigger and more fixed than it really is. In practice, it’s a short way of describing which difficulties lead for you right now. At AuDHD Psychiatry, we treat it as a description, never a verdict on who you are.

At a glance

  • Both kinds: most people with ADHD show some signs of each main kind, while some show only one.
  • Combined: the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive symptoms both meet the criteria.
  • Time frame: a presentation describes your symptoms over at least the past six months.
  • ADD: an older name, not a separate type in today’s manuals.

➨ Table of Contents

What are the types of ADHD?

ADHD has three types, and clinicians call them presentations. The DSM-5 is the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). It splits ADHD into predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive and combined presentations [1]. In each, the symptoms are noticeably greater than expected for a person’s age or stage of development [1].

The ICD-11 is the World Health Organization’s international classification of diseases. It describes ADHD with qualifiers for the same three [2]. It also groups ADHD with the neurodevelopmental conditions, which start while a person is still developing [2]. Most people with ADHD have symptoms of both the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive kind, but some only show signs of one [3].

What is combined ADHD?

Combined ADHD means the criteria for both groups of symptoms are met [1]. The two groups are the inattentive symptoms and the hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. For each group, the APA describes six or more symptoms that happen often, or five from the age of 17 [1].

A combined presentation isn’t “worse” than the others, and it isn’t “double ADHD”. It tells you which symptoms are present at the level the criteria need, not how much they affect your life. Two people with combined ADHD can have quite different days. One finds focus at work hardest, while the other mainly feels restless and talks over people.

What is hyperactive-impulsive ADHD?

Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD means these symptoms meet the criteria while the inattentive ones don’t [1]. Hyperactivity is about movement and energy. Impulsivity is about acting or speaking before you’ve thought it through. Children and adults can both have this presentation. Signs described by the APA [1] and the NHS [3] include the ones below.

Hyperactive signs:

  • fidgeting, or tapping your hands or feet.
  • getting up when you’re expected to stay seated.
  • feeling restless, which in adults is often an inner restlessness rather than running about.
  • talking a lot.

Impulsive signs:

  • blurting out an answer before the question is finished.
  • finding it hard to wait your turn.
  • interrupting other people.
  • making quick decisions without thinking through what might happen.
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What does the inattentive presentation involve?

Inattentive ADHD means attention difficulties meet the criteria, while hyperactive-impulsive ones don’t [1]. Inattention shows in signs such as being easily distracted, losing things often and finding it hard to finish tasks [3]. Many people still call this presentation ADD, since hyperactivity isn’t a main part of it. You can still have a few hyperactive or impulsive signs, as long as they stay below what the criteria need. This presentation can show at any age, and the ICD-11 describes ADHD across the whole lifespan [2]. Our guide to inattentive ADHD covers what it looks like in daily life.

How does a clinician decide which type you have?

A clinician decides your type as part of a full ADHD assessment. The APA says a diagnosis rests on persistent symptoms noticeable over at least the past six months [1]. Those symptoms also need to have begun before age 12, and to cause difficulty in more than one setting [1]. In the UK, clinicians also follow NICE guidance on diagnosis. It says symptoms should cause at least moderate impairment, in two or more important settings such as home, work or school [4].

Rating scales and questionnaires are useful extra tools, but a diagnosis should never rest on them or on observation alone [4]. That’s why an online quiz can’t tell you which presentation you have. A qualified clinician looks at your history, your current difficulties and how they affect your daily life. You can read more about how ADHD is diagnosed, from the first questions to the report.

Can your type of ADHD change?

Yes, your type of ADHD can change over time. The APA notes that ADHD symptoms can change, and can look different in adults than in children [1]. A presentation describes how things have been for you recently, so a later assessment can describe a different one. A change like that isn’t a new condition, and on its own it doesn’t mean you’re getting better or worse.

The names have shifted too. In 1980, the APA’s manual called the condition attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity [5]. A revision in 1987 renamed it attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The 1994 edition then divided ADHD into three subtypes [5]. Today’s manual calls them presentations, a word that fits the idea that they can move.

When is it worth looking into an assessment?

An assessment makes sense when lifelong signs still get in your way. Your GP can refer you for one through the NHS [3].

An assessment may help if:

  • the signs go back to childhood.
  • they affect more than one area, such as work, study or home.
  • you’re 18 or over, or a parent of a child aged 6 to 17.

It might not be right today if:

  • you need urgent help now. Call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option, or in Northern Ireland call Lifeline free on 0808 808 8000, any time. In an emergency, call 999 or go to A&E [6].

At AuDHD Psychiatry, you don’t need a GP referral. Our adult ADHD assessment and our ADHD assessment for children each take one online appointment. You get an outcome letter the next day and the full report within two weeks. We assess people living in the UK. To start smaller, try the free ADHD test, which doesn’t diagnose. Or book a free 15-minute call, which is an information call.

We’ll help you get the answers you’ve been looking for and ensure you get the right support to move forward.

Talk to our qualified, compassionate team.

☎ Call us at 0131 516 1656
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We’re here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

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Questions people ask

The three types of ADHD are predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive and combined, as the DSM-5 names them [1]. The first centres on attention, and the second on restlessness and acting on impulse. A clinician confirms which one fits during a full assessment, and the answer can change over time.

Predominantly means one group of symptoms leads. In a predominantly inattentive presentation, attention difficulties meet the criteria and the hyperactive-impulsive ones don’t [1]. A predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation is the other way round. The word describes the balance of your symptoms, not how strong they are.

No, ADD is an older name rather than a separate type. The 1980 manual used it for attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity [5]. Today, the same picture is diagnosed as ADHD, and the presentation shows whether hyperactivity is part of it. Some people still say ADD out of habit. Our guide explains what ADD means and where the term came from.

Yes, adults can have the hyperactive-impulsive or the combined presentation. Adult signs on the NHS list include feeling restless, being very talkative or interrupting, and making quick decisions [3]. In adults, restlessness is often felt inside rather than seen. You probably won’t be running about, but sitting still through a long meeting can feel hard.

Clinicians describe three. The ICD-11 uses qualifiers for the inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive and combined types [2]. Phrases such as “high-functioning” are everyday words, often used for people who seem to cope well on the outside. Our guide to high-functioning ADHD looks at what people mean when they use it.

In short

ADHD shows up in three ways: mainly inattentive, mainly hyperactive-impulsive, or both together as combined. The label describes how your symptoms have looked lately, and it can shift as life moves on. Your presentation is worked out during a full assessment. If these signs have followed you since childhood, a conversation with AuDHD Psychiatry is a sensible next step.

Related

Sources

  1. American Psychiatric Association, What is ADHD?, physician review October 2025, https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/adhd/what-is-adhd (read 01/10/2026)
  2. Reed GM, First MB, Kogan CS and others, “Innovations and changes in the ICD-11 classification of mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders”, World Psychiatry, February 2019, 18(1):3-19, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6313247/ (read 01/10/2026)
  3. NHS, ADHD in adults, page last reviewed 19 March 2025, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/adhd-adults/ (read 01/10/2026)
  4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), guideline NG87, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: diagnosis and management, published 14 March 2018, last updated 13 September 2019, https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87 (read 01/10/2026)
  5. Lange KW, Reichl S, Lange KM and others, “The history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”, ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders, December 2010, 2(4):241-255, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3000907/ (read 01/10/2026)
  6. nidirect, Mental health emergency: if you’re in crisis or despair, https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/mental-health-emergency-if-youre-crisis-or-despair (read 01/10/2026)

About AuDHD Psychiatry

AuDHD Psychiatry is the trading name of ADHDdegree Ltd, a company registered in Scotland. The company number is SC822923. Our registered office is 3f1 Third Floor, Hill Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3JP.

Registered with the ICO, number ZB823033.

Last updated: 13 October 2026

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