What is Inattentive ADHD?

Inattentive ADHD:
A Neurobiologically and Behaviorally
Distinct Disorder

by Adele Diamond

Individuals with Inattentive ADHD tend to be disorganized, easily pulled off course, forgetful, and inattentive. They tend to be disorganized mentally and physically. They tend to make careless mistakes, and are not good at paying close attention to detail. They have difficulty organizing their work, setting priorities, planning out a strategy, and remembering to do all required tasks. They have difficulty organizing their things and tend to be sloppy. They have trouble keeping track of their belongings and forget where they have put them, in part because they rarely put things away. If multiple items are needed for an assignment or task, they will typically forget one or more. They have trouble keeping track of multiple things held in mind, which can make arithmetic calculation, reading, or abstract problem solving difficult.

Individuals with Inattentive ADHD also tend to have a hard time sustaining focused attention on a task or activity. They are quite poor at following through on something to completion. They tend to get bored with a task fairly quickly and often abandon a task unfinished, bouncing from one partially begun project to another. They may have a hard time keeping their mind on any one thing at a time. When doing homework or reading, they often find their minds wandering. Because focusing deliberate, conscious attention on completing a task is so arduous or aversive for individuals with the Inattentive ADHD, they tend to try to avoid beginning a task, procrastinate, may forget to write an assignment down, forget to bring home the materials needed to complete an assignment.  

Full article “Attention-deficit disorder: A neurobiologically and behaviorally distinct disorder

What is Inattentive ADHD? 

(An interesting talk given in English and translated for a Moroccan and Arabic audience.)

The problem is that this word we have for people who cope with all of these things (in the western world), does not exist in the Arab language. Neither in Moroccan nor Turkish…..  I need to do a lot more explaining but it can be a blessing, or a disorder (handicap) that stands in your way. It very much depends on what your life looks like, some external factors, the expectations you set for yourself and those others have from you. 

People with Inattentive ADHD who do not experience it as a dysfunction, obstruction, handicap or disorder, usually end up on the other end sooner or later. Especially when life circumstances suddenly change. For example, around 20 years old, when life’s responsibilities start to weigh on you for real, and when you have lesser options to play around or fail anymore. This is when many people with ADD start to experience signs of burnout, depression or anxiety for the first time. 

Full article “Introduction to ADD & ADHD

Inattentive ADHD Is a Quiet Crisis
That’s Leaving Girls [and Boys] Behind

by Melaina Juntti

Because the symptoms of inattentive ADHD can be less outwardly apparent … kids with this presentation often fly under the radar…. Their symptoms are either missed altogether, misconstrued as a learning disability or other mental health issue, or brushed off as personality traits the child could control if they just tried harder. Regardless, without the proper diagnosis and intervention, these kids typically struggle through school, and many develop depression and anxiety. Then as adults, they often face financial and relationship problems and fail to reach their full career potential.

This is a tragedy, since most people with ADHD, no matter the presentation, are intelligent, driven, creative, and entirely capable of succeeding in life. They just need a little help to manage their disorder.

When not managed properly, “ADHD can ruin your life,” Hallowell says. “Our prisons are full of undiagnosed and unmanaged ADHD, as are the halls of addiction and bankruptcy.”

To ensure that ADHD becomes an asset, not a liability, for your child, it’s important to pinpoint it as early as possible. The best thing parents can do, says Hallowell, is educate themselves on the disorder so they know the signs to watch for in their kids—and in themselves, since ADHD is genetic and often goes undiagnosed into adulthood, especially the inattentive presentation.

Full article “Inattentive ADHD Is a Quiet Crisis

Inattentive ADHD Misdiagnosis

by ADDitude Magazine

People with inattentive ADHD can pay attention and focus on things they find captivating or exciting, but they struggle to sustain attention adequately on important non-preferred tasks, like schoolwork or assignments at work. In this hour-long ADDitude webinar with Thomas E. Brown, Ph.D., and Ryan J. Kennedy, DNP, explain how inattentive type ADHD is diagnosed and how to effectively treat it. It will also correct common misunderstandings about medications for ADHD and why they need to be “fine-tuned” to be effective.

Inattentive ADHD Explained 

by ADDitude Magazine

Inattentive ADHD …manifests as forgetfulness, disengagement, or distractibility, and can be mistaken for anxiety or a mood disorder in adults. In children, it may resemble a learning disorder. Here, we take an in-depth look at inattentive vs. hyperactive symptoms of ADHD.

Full article “What Is ADD? Inattentive ADHD Explained

The Scandal of ADHD Diagnosis in the U.S.

by ADDitude Magazine

If you think a lot of American children are being over-diagnosed with ADHD, and perhaps over-medicated, you’re right. And if you think a lot of American children aren’t being diagnosed with ADHD and not given treatment when they should – guess what? You’re also right.

Full article “The Scandal of ADHD Diagnosis

Welcome to Hidden
Inattentive ADHD Symptoms

Video by Larry Letich, LCSW

Beyond Inattention:
How ADHD May Be Affecting Your Life

by WebMD

  • Compulsive eating

  • Anxiety

  • Substance misuse

  • Chronic stress

  • Sleep problems

  • Employment problems

  • Trouble with deadlines

  • Impulsive spending

  • Financial issues

  • Screen addiction

  • Sexual problems

  • Relationship problems

  • Emotional outbursts

For slideshow with commentaryBeyond Inattention

Questions About Inattentive ADHD

Dr. Doug Herr, psychologist and faculty member at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, answers your questions about Inattentive ADHD on Nikki Kinzer’s Taking Control ADHD.