When you think of ADHD, what do you imagine? Is it a hyperactive and impulsive little boy, bouncing off the walls, exasperating his parents and teachers? This image of ADHD has persisted for decades, and as a result, only the individuals who fit this stereotype of ADHD came to the attention of teachers and parents and received diagnoses and treatment.

Thankfully, our understanding of ADHD has improved tremendously in recent years. Physicians, therapists, teachers and parents are better at recognizing ADHD in individuals who do not fit the stereotype including adults, females and those who do not exhibit hyperactive and impulsive tendencies but instead show more inattentive symptoms of ADHD.

In the following series of articles, I will review recent changes in the language of ADHD, the different subtypes of ADHD, and the ways in which ADHD may present differently in adults and females.