# What are the types or levels of ADHD?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-adhd
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

ADHD is described by three presentations rather than fixed levels: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined. Severity (mild to significant impact) is judged separately by a clinician who sees the whole child. Presentations can shift as a child grows, and reliable recognition happens in the school years, not in toddlers.

*"What type does my child have?" is one of the first questions parents ask — and the honest, reassuring answer is that ADHD isn't a ladder of severity so much as a set of patterns.*

## In short
Under the WHO's ICD-11, **ADHD (6A05) is described by three presentations rather than strict 'levels'**: a predominantly **inattentive** presentation, a predominantly **hyperactive-impulsive** presentation, and a **combined** presentation where both patterns appear together. A child's presentation can also shift as they grow — the picture at five is not fixed for life. Severity (how much it affects daily life) is judged separately by a clinician, not by a fixed scale you can score at home.

## The three presentations, simply
- **Predominantly inattentive** — the child finds it hard to sustain attention, is easily distracted, may seem forgetful, loses things, or drifts off mid-task. This pattern is often quieter and so noticed later, especially in girls.
- **Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive** — the child is constantly on the go, fidgets, struggles to wait or stay seated, talks a great deal, and acts before thinking.
- **Combined** — features of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity are present together. This is the most commonly recognised picture in childhood.

Clinicians describe how much these patterns affect a child's day — at home, at school, with friends — as mild, moderate or more significant. That judgement of impact is what guides support, and it is always made by a qualified professional who sees the whole child, not from a label alone.

## When to seek a check
If attention, activity or impulsivity is causing real difficulty across **more than one setting** — say both home and school — and has done so for several months, it is worth a developmental check. ADHD is recognised reliably in the school years, not in toddlers, and a calm, structured assessment brings clarity rather than worry.

## The Pinnacle way
AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an online form or this page. Understanding which presentation fits your child is the start of a plan you can actually follow. Learn more about [ADHD](/adhd), explore how [behaviour therapy](/behavioural-therapy) supports attention and self-regulation, and see [what the AbilityScore is and how it is established](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).

## Trusted sources
WHO ICD-11 (6A05, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder); CDC 'Learn the Signs. Act Early.'; American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org); NICE guideline NG87 on ADHD diagnosis and management; Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

**Next step —** Curious where your child stands? [A Pinnacle clinician can establish a clear starting point](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india).

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- WHO ICD-11 — Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: https://icd.who.int/browse11
- NICE NG87 — ADHD diagnosis and management: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87
- American Academy of Pediatrics — HealthyChildren.org: https://www.healthychildren.org
- CDC — Learn the Signs. Act Early.: https://www.cdc.gov/child-development

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## Related question paths

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- How is ADHD assessed in a young child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/how-is-adhd-assessed-in-a-young-child
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