In recent years there have been several changes in the “language of ADHD”.

ADHD vs.ADD

Although many people still use ADD and ADHD interchangeably, the term ADD, which stood for “attention deficit disorder” was officially replaced with the newer term ADHD, which stands for “attention deficit hyperactivity disorder”. The reason is that hyperactivity is thought to be an important feature of the condition.

Traits vs. Symptoms

There has also been a shift away from using the word “symptoms” and instead, using the term “traits”, which has far less stigma attached.

A Spectrum Approach

The field of psychiatry has adopted “a spectrum approach” to many mental health conditions, including ADHD. This view recognizes that different individuals with the same diagnosis can exhibit a wide range of traits with intensities ranging from mild, to moderate to severe

Neurodivergence

Lately, there has also been a trend towards using the word “neurodivergent”. Some people with ADHD or other brain conditions such as autism, identify as being “neurodivergent”.  This is a non-medical term that is applied to those whose brains work differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.