“Focus on Inattentive ADHD: The Under-Diagnosed and Under-Treated Subtype” [Video Replay & Podcast #384]

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#384), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on January 10, 2022.

ADHD Expert: Mary V. Solanto, Ph.D. Verified Updated on April 18, 2023
Click to Add Comments

Episode Description


ADHD’s three distinct subtypes were first recognized in the 1994 update to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual), however confusion over the subtypes’ differences persists even today. This appears particularly true of the “Predominantly Inattentive” (PI) subtype, which is characterized by symptoms of distractibility, failure to complete work, forgetfulness, and disorganization. People with the predominantly inattentive ADHD — many of them women diagnosed later in life — experience the same problems paying attention that are typical of ADHD, but they face fewer of the difficulties related to impulse control seen in the Combined subtype.

Because inattentive children exhibit fewer behavior-management problems, PI is not always recognized and diagnosed in childhood, and this under-recognition can persist into adulthood. This is particularly true for girls with ADHD, who are more likely than boys to have the PI subtype. Research and clinical experience show clearly, however, that difficulties with attention — even when not accompanied by impulsivity or hyperactivity — can lead to significant functional impairment and distress in higher education, the workplace, and in social interactions. When PI is diagnosed and treated early, individuals can work to manage symptoms and take better control of the condition.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

  • The prevalence of predominantly inattentive ADHD in children and adults
  • The most common symptoms and distinctive features of inattentive ADHD
  • How predominantly inattentive ADHD is recognized and diagnosed
  • The daily-life difficulties of people with PI
  • Effective treatments for predominantly inattentive ADHD

Watch the Video Replay

Enter your email address in the box above labeled “Video Replay + Slide Access” to watch the video replay (closed captions available) and download the slide presentation.

Download or Stream the Podcast Audio

Click the play button below to listen to this episode directly in your browser, click the symbol to download to listen later, or open in your podcasts app: Apple Podcasts; Google Podcasts; Stitcher; Spotify; Amazon Music; iHeartRADIO.

More on Inattentive ADHD

Obtain a Certificate of Attendance

If you attended the live webinar on January 10, 2022, watched the video replay, or listened to the podcast, you may purchase a certificate of attendance option (cost: $10). Note: ADDitude does not offer CEU credits. Click here to purchase the certificate of attendance option »

Meet the Expert Speaker:

Dr. Mary Solanto is professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Hofstra/Northwell School of Medicine (Long Island, N.Y.). Prior to joining Hofstra, she was Director of the ADHD Center at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at NYU. In 2017-2018, Dr. Solanto was a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in the Netherlands, where she conducted research on treatment of ADHD in college students. Dr. Solanto’s research on the cognitive and behavioral functioning of children and adults with ADHD, the effects of psychostimulants, and the characteristics of subtypes of ADHD has been supported by grants from NIMH, NICHD, and NINDS. She developed a novel cognitive-behavioral intervention for adults with ADHD, which was the focus of an NIMH-sponsored efficacy study (American Journal of Psychiatry, 2010). The manual for therapists, Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Adult ADHD: Targeting Executive Dysfunction was published by Guilford Press (2011). The program was recognized as the Innovative Program of the Year by CHADD (2011). Dr. Solanto has served on study section/grant review panels for NIMH. Currently, she is a member of the editorial boards of the Journal of Attention Disorders, and the ADHD Report (Guilford Press), and serves on the professional advisory boards of CHADD and APSARD.

Listener Testimonials

“Dr. Solanto was excellent! Good pacing, presentation, and lots of helpful and well-researched information.”

“Really appreciated Dr. Solanto’s precision of language while still being clear and accessible for a non-expert! A great talk.”

“Solanto is a knowledgeable speaker who breaks down complicated research and makes it easier to understand for the lay person. She is also at the vanguard of the field, bringing awareness to the latest discoveries.”

“I listened to this and it described me! It has given me insight as to why I struggled when I moved from primary to secondary education. I feel like someone has opened the curtains and allowed me to see through the windows.”

Webinar Sponsor

The sponsor of this ADDitude webinar is….

Inflow is the #1 app to help you manage your ADHD. Developed by leading clinicians, Inflow is a science-based self-help program based on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy. Download now on the App Store and Google Play Store.

ADDitude thanks our sponsors for supporting our webinars. Sponsorship has no influence on speaker selection or webinar content.

Follow ADDitude’s full ADHD Experts Podcast in your podcasts app:
Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Google Play | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Pocket Casts | iHeartRADIO | Stitcher