What Are The Types of ADHD in Adults? The 3 ADHD Subtypes, Explained

ADHD is different for everyone who experiences it. The neurodevelopmental disorder doesn’t discriminate by age or gender, but it typically begins in childhood and lasts into adulthood. However, many millennials are learning they’re neurodivergent later in life. Suddenly, they’re starting to realize why they’ve felt different or broken their whole life – there’s nothing wrong with them; their brains just work differently. 

As a cognitive behavioral therapist, I work with my clients to help them navigate all the big and small challenges of living with a neurodevelopmental disorder. Whether you’ve had a diagnosis since childhood or haven’t gotten one at all, understanding the different types of ADHD in adults can be a game changer when it comes to receiving affirming support. 

Types of ADHD in Adults

The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) outlines the diagnostic criteria for ADHD in both adults and children. These criteria show 3 different ADHD subtypes: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, and combined types. 

The 3 ADHD Subtypes

Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD:

• Restlessness: Feels an internal sense of restlessness.
• Fidgeting: Often moves hands or feet, shakes legs up and down, or shifts positions frequently.
• Interruptions: Regularly interrupts or intrudes in conversations.
• Impatience: Finds it hard to wait for their turn.
• Excessive talking: Talks more than usual or at inappropriate times.

Inattentive ADHD:

• Distractibility: Often starts one task and quickly switches to another without finishing the first; easily sidetracked.
• Loss of focus: Struggles to stay on task or loses track when being spoken to.
• Attention challenges: Finds it hard to maintain focus, especially for prolonged periods.
• Organizational difficulties: Struggles to keep things in order.
• Mental effort: Tends to avoid tasks or situations requiring significant mental effort – especially if those things feel boring, tedious, or uninteresting.
• Memory issues: Frequently loses track of belongings or experiences everyday memory lapses.

Combined ADHD:

• Exhibits symptoms from both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive types.

Criteria for ADHD in Adults (17 and up):

• Must exhibit at least five symptoms from the lists above.
• Symptoms were present before the age of 12, even if you weren’t diagnosed then.
• Symptoms must be observed in two or more settings (e.g., at home, school, work, with friends or relatives).
• The symptoms interfere with or impair social, school, or work functioning.
• Symptoms aren’t better explained by another mental disorder (e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, personality disorder) and should not occur exclusively during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.

There are also emotional symptoms of ADHD that, while not in the diagnostic criteria, are very real and commonly experienced by many adults. These symptoms include:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Overwhelm, especially when it comes to situations or tasks that require a lot of steps
• Frequent and intense overstimulation
• Significant fluctuations in mood
• Emotional extremes
• Rejection sensitivity, or feeling particularly sensitive to rejection or the possibility of rejection
• Low frustration tolerance
• Difficulty coping with everyday life stresses

Many of the above symptoms can be a result of ADHD, but it can be challenging to differentiate between symptoms of separate disorders. For instance, ADHD shares many symptoms with both anxiety and depression. ADHD can also amplify existing mental health problems. Many people with ADHD also have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, for example. The more support and knowledge you have around each of your mental health issues, the better daily life can feel. 

Does a Diagnosis Matter?

So you think you may be neurodivergent. Maybe you’ve gotten a diagnosis, or maybe you’ve just done your research (like reading this article) and have your suspicions. Great! You’re like many of my clients. 

Now, here’s my disclaimer on all that:

As the Centers for Disease Control states, there isn’t any one ADHD test or quiz that can determine whether you have the disorder. Additionally, many other mental health issues can amplify or mimic ADHD symptoms, including ADHD, anxiety, and other types of neurodivergence. So keep in mind that while it’s tempting to go down a Google and YouTube rabbit hole of self-diagnosis, there may be other factors at play.

All that said, I believe everyone knows themselves best – and everyone deserves access to information that can improve their lives. Even if you don’t have an official diagnosis, learning more about the different ADHD subtypes can help you come up with strategies, set goals, and decide whether to seek support.

Ongoing Support For ADHD

If you’ve spent a lot of your life feeling like an outsider and a weirdo, only to realize you’re neurodivergent, you’re not alone. Furthermore, a growing body of evidence suggests that women and femmes typically experience ADHD differently than men. So if you’re a woman, you may have masked your symptoms for years or decades because you didn’t fully understand them.

You don’t have to keep trying to navigate neurodivergence on your own. Awareness, therapy, medication, or some combination of supportive modalities can make a huge difference in how you live your life. If you want support in figuring out how to live a more balanced life with ADHD, I’m here for you.

I’ll help you:

• Work with underlying anxiety and depression
• Overcome unhelpful coping tools and replace them with useful ones
• Find better balance in your work, home, and relationships
• Learn healthy emotional regulation skills to improve your daily life

Learn more about my therapy services (including EMDR and talk therapy) if you’re located in Idaho or Iowa. For all other locations, check out my coaching services. My coaching program offers all the same expertise, tools, and guidance as therapy in a direct and goal-oriented approach that you can benefit from anywhere. 

Reach out today to schedule a complimentary consultation and see if we’re a good fit. Let’s start building a better future together.