As a parent, it’s gut-wrenching to watch your child struggle—whether it’s with focus in the classroom, sitting still at dinner, following directions, or simply making and keeping friends. You may be wondering: Is this just a phase, or is there something deeper going on? Maybe you’ve heard the terms ADD and ADHD thrown around and are unsure which one applies to your child—or if there’s even a difference.
You’re not alone. With over 7 million children in the U.S. diagnosed with ADHD, this is one of the most common challenges parents face today. But here’s the truth most people miss: the label isn’t nearly as important as what’s happening beneath the surface.
In this post, we’ll break down what ADD and ADHD really mean, how the brain and nervous system are involved, and most importantly—what you can do to help your child without relying solely on medications or quick fixes.
ADD vs. ADHD: A Quick History
The term ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) was once used to describe kids who had trouble focusing but weren’t necessarily hyperactive. In the 1980s, the DSM—the manual doctors use to diagnose conditions—began using this term to describe two types: with and without hyperactivity.
By the 1990s, the medical world updated the term to ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), recognizing that challenges with focus and hyperactivity often go hand in hand. Today, ADHD is the umbrella term used to describe three different presentations:
- Predominantly Inattentive (formerly called ADD)
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
- Combined Presentation (both inattentive and hyperactive)
So yes—ADD and ADHD refer to the same condition today, just with different symptoms showing up more strongly in some kids than others.
The Most Common Presentation: Combined Type
In our clinical experience, the Combined Presentation is by far the most common. Why? Because one set of challenges often leads to the other.
We often see kids who seem to have boundless energy and can hyperfocus on activities like video games or sports, but totally check out during slower-paced tasks like reading or classroom lectures. Their inability to slow down and regulate attention eventually turns into classic signs of inattention.
On the flip side, kids who initially struggle with focus and attention—what some would still call “ADD”—often experience mounting frustration. When they’re constantly corrected, misunderstood, or falling behind, that frustration can build into outbursts, impulsivity, or meltdowns, pushing them into what we call a “raging bull” pattern.
What Are the Signs?
Here’s a breakdown of how these presentations typically show up:
Inattentive (ADD-type) Signs:
- Easily distracted
- Trouble following directions
- Loses things often
- Avoids tasks requiring focus
- Seems to “zone out” or daydream
- Disorganized and forgetful
Hyperactive-Impulsive Signs:
- Fidgeting or squirming
- Can’t stay seated
- Excessive talking or interrupting
- Acts like they’re “driven by a motor”
- Difficulty playing quietly
- Impulsivity or emotional outbursts
To receive a formal diagnosis, these behaviors must persist for at least six months, be developmentally inappropriate, and interfere with everyday life.
But here’s what we really want you to know: whether it’s labeled as ADHD, ADD, or something else entirely—the diagnosis doesn’t change why your child is struggling.
The Real Root: Neurological Imbalance
Instead of chasing symptoms, we focus on what’s underneath them: a stressed and out-of-sync nervous system.
Your child’s brain and body are constantly communicating through the nervous system. When everything is running smoothly, they can regulate emotions, pay attention, transition between tasks, and stay calm in challenging situations.
But when there’s tension, stress, or miscommunication within that system, it shows up as the behaviors we call ADD or ADHD.
Three Key Neurological Contributors:
- Subluxation – Tension and misalignment in the spine interfere with brain-body communication, creating a state of overload.
- Dysautonomia – A dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (which controls everything from heart rate to digestion to focus).
- Vagus Nerve Dysfunction – The vagus nerve helps calm the body down after stress. When it’s not working well, kids stay stuck in “fight or flight.”
The “Perfect Storm” That Triggers It All
We often explain to parents that no child is born with a fully developed nervous system—it’s shaped over time, especially during critical periods like:
- Pregnancy – High maternal stress can impact baby’s neurological development.
- Birth – Difficult or intervention-heavy births (C-sections, forceps, prolonged labor) can place tremendous stress on the brainstem and spine.
- Early Childhood – Repeated exposure to antibiotics, toxins, screen time, or emotional stressors can keep the nervous system in a constant state of dysregulation.
When all these stressors build up, they create what we call “The Perfect Storm”—a cascade of imbalances that can show up as attention challenges, impulsivity, sleep issues, sensory struggles, and more.
What You Can Do: Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care
At Foundations Chiropractic, we don’t diagnose or prescribe medications. Our role is to help uncover the neurological stress patterns that are contributing to your child’s struggles.
We use advanced, non-invasive INSiGHT Scans to get a clear picture of how your child’s nervous system is functioning. These scans help us identify:
- Where the stress and subluxation are located
- How severe the nervous system overload is
- What kind of care your child needs to rebalance and heal
This approach allows us to create a personalized care plan that helps regulate your child’s nervous system—naturally, gently, and without drugs.
You Don’t Have to Walk This Alone
We know it can feel overwhelming trying to navigate your child’s challenges. You may have tried different therapies, changed diets, or even tried medication, yet still feel like something is missing.
That’s where we come in.
At Foundations Chiropractic, we offer hope and real answers for families navigating ADD, ADHD, and behavioral struggles. Our neurologically-focused approach is designed to help your child thrive—by getting to the root cause and restoring balance to their nervous system.
Ready to Learn More?
If you’ve been searching for a drug-free, root-cause approach to your child’s attention and behavior struggles, we’d love to help.
📅 Schedule an appointment with us and take the first step toward discovering what’s really going on in your child’s nervous system.
Together, we can help your child experience more calm, focus, and confidence—and help your family breathe a little easier, too.
