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Can I Have Adult ADHD But Not Be Hyperactive?
Can an adult not be hyperactive yet still have adult ADHD?
Can an adult not be hyperactive yet still have adult ADHD?
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Answer
Yes! There are three main types of ADHD, including the stereotypical "predominantly hyperactive-impulsive" type (what most people think of as ADHD), the "predominantly inattentive" type, and a combined type (which includes features of both other types). If you have the predominantly inattentive type, you won't have much trouble with hyperactivity, although you'll have great difficulty with inattention symptoms.
However, just because a person doesn't seem hyperactive to an outsider doesn't mean he or she doesn't have this symptom. Sometimes, adults with ADHD can hide or compensate for their symptom, although it usually takes great effort to do so.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD