SUBTYPES

Inattentive type

If you have this type of ADHD, you may experience more symptoms of inattention than those of impulsivity and hyperactivity. You may struggle with impulse control or hyperactivity at times. But these aren’t the main characteristics of inattentive ADHD.

People who experience inattentive behaviour often:

• Miss details and are distracted easily. I have this, just recently I misread a label on my meds and ended up nearly ODing on my IVs.

• Get bored quickly. Sometimes yeah

• Have trouble focusing on a single task. Sometimes unless I hyper focus on something

• Have difficulty organizing thoughts and learning new information. Yes, hence the blog but I learn things pretty quick.

• Lose pencils, papers, or other items needed to complete a task. I can imagine of our tablets go missing too.

• Don’t seem to listen. I wasn’t aware of this til recently, but my family will definitely say otherwise. Usually if I have my phone in my hand haha.

• Move slowly and appear as if they’re daydreaming. I think anyone (CF or ADHD or not) would look like this during the first neb of the day. I would pretty much sleep with my eyes open doing my neb before school

• Process information more slowly and less accurately than others. This clearly can be a risk when regarding treatments etc.

• Have trouble following directions. I think I combatted by not intentionally masking but having it beaten into me though my martial arts training…. Literally. This may be an issue when administering your treatments.

Statistically, more girls are diagnosed with inattentive type ADHD than boys.

Hyperactive-impulsive type

This type of ADHD is characterized by symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity. People with this type can display signs of inattention, but it’s not as marked as the other symptoms.

People who are impulsive or hyperactive often:

• squirm, fidget, or feel restless and or difficulty sitting still. This can affect CF was we already burn calories between 3-5times faster so if you’re like me, having a restless leg or being constantly active can make it more difficult to gain weight.  

• talk constantly. I used to do this when I was little often talking out of line, but my parents would often discipline me for that, so I’ve masked it for years, again without knowing Although I am more than capable of talking your ear off now and then.

• touch and play with objects, even when inappropriate to the task at hand. I was told at a young age not to do this because when I would attend paediatric appointments, I couldn’t play with the toys for is of cross infection. 

• have trouble engaging in quiet activities.

• are constantly “on the go.”- I have a real issue with not knowing how to relax and wind down. I enjoy quiet reading, but I tend to read things that really grab my attention, usually some non-fiction about abnormal brains (ironic), thought experiments etc

• are impatient. I know some people have to take nebulisers and other treatments 

• act out of turn and don’t think about consequences of actions. This can be risky for anyone but more so for anyone with a life long medical condition or disability

• blurt out answers and inappropriate comments. Probably won’t affect your CF but when I was 8-10, I once lost my parents a win at a quiz night on holiday by finishing the lyrics to “Wig Wam Bam” by Sweet. It’s a tune, how was I not meant to sing it

• Often has difficulty waiting his or her turn (e.g., while waiting in line, while speaking in conversations).

• Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations, games, or activities; may start using other people’s things without asking or receiving permission; for adolescents and adults, may intrude into or take over what others are doing).

Children with hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD can be a disruption in the classroom. They can make learning more difficult for themselves and other students. I was always a golden child in school, my teachers couldn’t see my leg jigging under my desk but if you read further on, I am shocked they didn’t pick it up while I was in school.

More boys are diagnosed with the hyperactive-impulsive type than girls.

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Combined type

If you have the combination type, it means that your symptoms don’t exclusively fall within the inattention or hyperactive-impulsive behaviour. Instead, a combination of symptoms from both categories are exhibited. This is how I identify.

Most people, with or without ADHD, experience some degree of inattentive or impulsive behaviour. But it’s more severe in people with ADHD. The behaviour occurs more often and interferes with how you function at home, school, work, and in social situations.

Most children have combination type ADHD, according to the National Institute of Mental Health Trusted Source. This type is more common in boys compared to girls. The most common symptom in preschool aged children is hyperactivity.

Symptoms can change over time, so the type of ADHD you have may change, too. ADHD can be a lifelong challenge. But medication and other treatments can help improve your quality of life.

Looking at the ways ADHD can affect CF and treatment taking etc. I feel that in a lot of cases after doing this from such a young age we may have come up with our own way to get around these issues and might not be aware these are considered ways we mask. Our tools to get our car working again, I just never knew other people might not need tools at all.

While I can’t remember or find what subtype these symptoms belong to people with ADHD also may have

• Trouble “turning the brain off”. The sad thing I have found out is that this is often the times depression and anxiety really can take over. I have a real issue turning my brain off but it’s usually stupid things like “what would I do if I won the lotto”, “if I was to open a speak-easy what cocktails would I want” or thinking though plans B, C, D… of a project I’m particularly passionate about. It may seem like that’s not a bad thing, but I feel trapped or out of control in stopping to allow myself to sleep. This is why I feel horrible that some people get trapped or stuck with a mind feeding them depressive and anxious thoughts.  

• Trouble relaxing or winding down. This may be a result of either or subgroup be it being your legs and had feeling restless or your mind is.

• Being very knowledgeable about a subject but when asked or tested they go Blank. This happens all the time. Like being asked what medication I take… or have literally just taken. Even if you’re not neurodivergent you’ve done this at some point. Like when someone asks you the time and you forget how to read a clock or when you shout for a child and end up shouting for every other child until you eventually shout the right one. This is why I was misdiagnosed with test anxiety.

Other thing that can stem from ADHD

• Autism is often linked to ADHD- I took the quiz and scored as having low level autistic.

• RSD- This is something I feel is something I unknowingly have had for years 

• Depression and anxiety- this is something I thought I only experienced briefly after ending communication with Joanna but recently my lost feeling after achieving my goals is also a form of depression.