Symptoms, Challenges, and Strategies for Success

When we think of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) we think about someone who is hyperactive, who is always on the go and struggles to stay still and displays impulsive behaviour. Whilst this is true for one form of ADHD there is another type that is often overlooked and rarely diagnosed. It’s called ‘Inattentive ADHD’. This sort of ADHD is different from the more common form of ADHD. Rather than hyperactivity, the main symptoms are lack of focus and an inability to focus on tasks.

In this blog post we look at Inattentive ADHD, it’s symptoms and the challenges people with Inattentive ADHD may face. We will also discuss some strategies people may find beneficial. Whether you’re someone with Inattentive ADHD, a family member of someone with it, or if you’re simply curious about the condition, we hope you find this blog post useful.

Most people just see ADHD as one condition, but it’s not. Inattentive ADHD is one of three types of ADHD as recognised by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The more common type of ADHD, that displays symptoms such as hyperactivity, there is Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD, and then there is Inattentive ADHD.

Inattentive ADHD Symptoms

People who have Inattentive ADHD will generally display these symptoms:

Difficulty Keeping Attention

People with Inattentive ADHD will often struggle to keep attention on a task. They may start a task with gusto but that will usually fade pretty quickly. This is especially true if the task is mentally challenging.

Frequent Daydreaming

We can all daydream from time-to-time but it happens more often for someone who has Inattentive ADHD. It’s pretty normal for someone with Inattentive ADHD to ‘zone out’ halfway through a conversation. This can cause issues if the person is in a meeting or at a lecture at college or university. If someone only hears a bit of a conversation it can lead to miscommunication or they can miss tasks they have been asked to do.

Being Unorganised

Have you ever been in a situation where you lose track of time. Well for someone with Inattentive ADHD that can happen often. They may appear to be disorganised and they will quite often lose items, forget appointments, or run late for meetings.

Forgetfulness

Someone with Inattentive ADHD may forget to do everyday tasks such as return a phone call, pay bills, or miss scheduled appointments such as going to the doctors or dentist. We can all have ‘brain fog’ now and then, when we forget to do some things, but for someone with Inattentive ADHD, that can be a part of their everyday life.

Poor Attention to Detail

Inattentive ADHD can have an impact on someone’s work or school life. It’s a common trait that someone with Inattentive ADHD will make more mistakes than normal due to lack of attention to detail.

Avoiding Tasks that Require Effort

Someone with Inattentive ADHD will often struggle with tasks or activities that require long periods of concentration. This can include studying or filling out lengthy paperwork. The person may attempt the task, but they will either complete it with great difficulty or they’ll abandon it altogether.

Struggle Following Instructions

The person may struggle to follow instructions especially if the instructions include following a lot of different steps. This will usually lead to unfinished tasks or substandard work.

For someone to be diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD these symptoms must be present for at least 6 months and cause real issues in the persons everyday life including work, education, and social life.

How Inattentive ADHD Is Different From The Other Types

The main difference of Inattentive ADHD when compared to the other two types of ADHD is the absence of hyperactivity or the person acting impulsively. It’s common for someone with the other two types of ADHD to interrupt conversations, fidget, appear to be jumpy or can’t sit still, or act impulsively. In contrast someone with Inattentive ADHD may appear to be quiet or shy, often looking uninterested in what’s happening about them.

The Three Types of ADHD

As we previously mentioned, there are three types of ADHD. These are;

Inattentive Type:

This sort of ADHD is usually associated with the person lacking focus or being easily distracted.

Hyperactive-Impulsive Type:

Someone with this sort of ADHD will appear hyperactive and impulsive but they’ll be able to focus on a task or they won’t display the inattentiveness that someone with Inattentive ADHD will display

Combined Type:

Just as the name suggests, it’s a combination of Inattentive and Hyperactive-Impulsive. It’s the most commonly diagnosed form of ADHD.

When someone says ADHD, you automatically think of someone being hyperactive. This is because it’s a symptom of the most commonly diagnosed form of ADHD. As hyperactivity isn’t a symptom of Inattentive ADHD, and it’s not as well-known as the Combined Type, there can be a delay in it being diagnosed. Education and some health professionals fall into the same trap that we all do… ADHD equals hyperactivity.

Common Misconceptions about Inattentive ADHD

Some of the common misconceptions of someone with Inattentive ADHD are:

It’s Just Laziness

If you are live or work with someone with Inattentive ADHD you may think they’re being lazy. You will be struck but what appears to be a lack of effort on their part. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The person with Inattentive ADHD will often try harder to concentrate, complete tasks, or organise themselves than those people who don’t have it.

It’s Not as Serious as Hyperactive ADHD

The symptoms that someone with Inattentive ADHD will display can be life changing. Being unable to focus or maintain concentration will have an impact on their school life which in turn will have an impact on their work/career prospects. The person with Inattentive ADHD will also struggle to maintain relationships and will often be affected by low self-esteem. This condition truly is life changing.

It’s the Same for Everyone

Like most neurological conditions, the symptoms can vary from person to person. Someone might appear to be shy or withdrawn whilst someone else may really struggle with forgetfulness. When someone is diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD it’s important to identify the areas in that person’s life that they are struggling with the most. By doing this the person can develop a personalised plan to help them address these areas.

It Only Affects Children

This couldn’t be further from the truth. Many adults struggle with Inattentive ADHD and it has an impact on their work, relationships, and family life. As Inattentive ADHD often goes undiagnosed in childhood, the person may have struggled most of their life with a condition that was only diagnosed in adulthood. That person will probably have adapted their life to avoid situations that may have challenged them, totally unaware that there is an underlying cause that could be addressed.

Medication Is The Only Solution

Medication can have an important part to play in managing this condition but it’s not the only way to do it. It’s really down to the individual to find a way that works for them. They may opt for some behavioural therapies, coping strategies, or lifestyle changes. Or it could be a combination of all of the above. No two people are the same, so it’s really important that a plan is created that addresses the individual’s needs.

The Impact of Inattentive ADHD on Daily Life

Inattentive ADHD can have a major impact on various areas of your life. These could include:

Academic performance

Not being able to concentrate in class and take in the information that’s required as part of a course can lead to bad grades and not achieving the persons academic potential. There’s also the issue of the person being labelled as lazy or uninterested when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Work Environment

Inattentive ADHD can have a huge impact on a person’s work life. The person will often be perceived to be lazy or unreliable due to missed meetings, missed deadlines, forgetting to do tasks such as returning phone calls or emails.

Relationships

The person with Inattentive ADHD will often appear to be forgetful or uninterested. This can take a toll on a relationship. The person’s partner or family members may feel neglected or unimportant to the person, which can often lead to miscommunication which results in arguments or squabbling. Being open with loved ones is really important if the person has Inattentive ADHD. The important people in their lives must know what the person is going through to fully understand the impact it can have on them and their relationship with the person.

Self Esteem

Having Inattentive ADHD can be challenging. The person may feel inadequate or suffer from low self-esteem. Imagine constantly being labelled as lazy, unfocussed, uninterested, quiet, shy… that would take a toll on anyone!

Diagnosis of Inattentive ADHD

To be diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD requires an evaluation by a trained healthcare professional.  The diagnoses evaluation will usually include clinical interviews, behavioural assessments, observation and assessment by the healthcare professional, and being able to rule out other conditions that may display similar symptoms such as anxiety, depression, or a learning disability.

The evaluation should be a thorough process which includes interviews with the person, their family members and friends, their teachers, or even their work colleagues. This is so the person carrying out the evaluation can get a fuller picture of the symptoms that are impacting on the person’s life and how they are impacting on their daily life.

The person carrying out the evaluation may also want to observe the person at home, school or work, yet again, to help get this fuller picture that will help in correctly diagnosing the issue.

Strategies for Managing Inattentive ADHD

Being diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD is the start of the journey for the person. The next step is finding ways to help manage the condition. These may include:

Structured Environment

Having a regular routine where the person’s life is organised is really important. By having a structured environment that may include the use of calendars, planners, and digital reminders will help to keep the person on track when it comes to keeping appointments and completing tasks.

Having a consistent daily routine will help to reduce the amount of decision making the person will face which will reduce the mental load the person may face.

Also, having an organised work or study space is really important. Having a place that’s free from clutter will remove distractions and help to improve the person’s concentration.

Behavioural Therapy

Some behavioural therapies, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) can help the person to develop coping strategies that works for them. CBT is all about replacing negative thought patterns with positive ones.

It’s also good if the person has a goal to work towards. When the person works with a trained healthcare professional, they can work on a plan that includes setting achievable goals and a way to make these goals a reality by breaking tasks down into easier to manage stages. By doing this the task becomes more manageable and the person doesn’t feel as overwhelmed.

Mindfulness techniques can also be used to develop self-awareness and to help the person to stay focussed on the present.

Medication

Medication can be a really effective way of treating Inattentive ADHD, especially when it’s used along with behavioural therapies. The sort of medication that’s usually prescribed for Inattentive ADHD are stimulants. These may include methylphenidate or amphetamine as well as some non-stimulants such as atomoxetine.

Decisions about the use of prescribed medication should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional and whatever course of medication is decided upon, it should be tailored to the individuals needs whilst being mindful of any potential side-effects.

The use of prescribed medication should be tightly monitored with regular reviews taking place to make any required adjustments.

Lifestyle Changes

Having a healthy body as well as a healthy mind can make a positive impact on the symptoms of Inattentive ADHD. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Exercise

The benefits of regular exercise cannot be understated. Not only does the exercise help heart and lung functions but it also realises endorphins that helps us to manage stress and generally makes us feel better. You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, just 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week should do the trick.

  • Nutrition

Going hand in hand with exercise is having a healthy diet. If you eat rubbish, eventually you’ll feel rubbish! Avoid processed sugary foods and cut down on fried foods. Take small steps by replacing some of your favourite foods with the healthier alternative. For example, replace full fat butter with a low cholesterol plant-based alternative. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

  • Sleep/Rest

Getting a good night’s sleep is also really important. Establish a consistent sleep schedule and make it as relaxing and calming as possible. The quality of your sleep is also really important so try to avoid looking at phones, watching TV, or listening to music before you try to fall asleep.

  • Support Networks

Having a group, or groups, of people who understand what you’re going through can underline the fact that you’re not going through this alone. Also, having trusted professionals can be great for getting help and advice when it comes to managing your diagnoses.

If you are at school, make your teachers aware of your diagnoses. They can then provide you with any additional support that you may need.

If you are at work, make your employer know. They will probably be able to offer you more flexibility over your working arrangements as well as providing you with tools to aid you in your work.

You can also consider joining support groups so you can meet other people who have also been diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD. It can be really beneficial to hear how other people are managing their diagnoses as well as hearing about the challenges they may be facing. It doesn’t make you feel as if you are the only person that this is happening too.

Technology Aids

We live in an age of technological advancements! The good news is that there are now so many tools and apps that can help a person be more productive and organised. This is great for someone with Inattentive ADHD.

Firstly, you should investigate a task management app such as Todoist, Trello or Notion. These apps can help you keep track of tasks, set reminders, and you can track your progress as you go! If that’s not for you then think about even using the checklist function on your smartphone. If you have an iPhone you can access this in Notes. You just write yourself a list and mark off the tasks as you complete them.

There are also focus tools on the market such as Focus@Will or the Pomodoro Technique. These tools aim to keep you more focussed by breaking large tasks into more manageable smaller tasks. They can even schedule in breaks for you!

You can also use digital assistants such as Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant to help you keep track of appointments and set reminders for daily tasks.

The Importance of Awareness and Understanding

Being able to tell people that you have Inattentive ADHD is really important for everyone who has the condition. By telling people about it you’re making people aware of an often misdiagnosed or unheard-of condition. Once the conversation has started people can start to be informed about what it is, the symptoms that go along with it, and steps people can take to managing it. It also brings about an opportunity to dispel some of the myths or misconceptions about the condition. By doing this we are not only educating people about Inattentive ADHD but we’re also giving people the opportunity to be supportive by creating an understanding environment.

The earlier we have the conversation about Inattentive ADHD the better. As previously mentioned, a lot of children are either misdiagnosed with another condition or labelled as lazy or uninterested at an early age… labels they will have for their whole life if left unchallenged. It’s important that people in educational establishments such a teachers or classroom assistants are made aware of the condition so they can take the appropriate steps to ensure Inattentive ADHD is identified and appropriate adjustments are made for the individual child. By being aware of the condition, teachers can play a vital part in the child managing the condition and flourishing academically.

Employers can also play a vital role in someone managing their condition. By understanding the challenges a member of their team is facing, they can help the person by creating a flexible work environment that accommodates different working practices and provide tools that will help the person be a valued member of the workforce.

Probably one of the most important groups that should be educated about Inattentive ADHD is the child’s parents or caregivers. The child will most likely have faced many of the challenges that come with Inattentive ADHD, so they’ll be looking to their parents to provide understanding and guidance. By understanding what’s going on with the child, the parents or caregivers can work alongside teachers, therapists, and healthcare professionals to ensure a plan is in place that will help the child’s development and wellbeing.

Conclusion

Inattentive ADHD is a complex condition that not a lot of people are aware of. It’s a condition that can often see the person being labelled as lazy, uninterested, disorganised, shy, and withdrawn, when in fact the person will usually be trying their hardest to overcome an undetected or misdiagnosed condition. By recognising the symptoms, the person with Inattentive ADHD can work with trained healthcare on a tailored plan that will help the individual manage their condition. People who have Inattentive ADHD can lead fulfilling and successful lives if the condition is identified.

If you know someone who is struggling with the symptoms of Inattentive ADHD, urge them to seek the opinion of a healthcare professional or therapist. Taking that first step is crucial. With the right support and guidance, the person can start to navigate the challenges that Inattentive ADHD pose while fulfilling their full potential.