Inattentive presentation
Also called predominantly inattentive presentation (DSM-5). That is the name used in diagnostic manuals and on most official paperwork.
The kind of ADHD where the main struggle is attention, not being on the go. These children daydream, drift and lose things, and they are often missed for years.
Applies across the UK
ADHD ADHD ADHD is a difference in the way a child's brain works. It affects how they pay attention, how much energy they have, and how easily they act on impulse. Read the full definition of ADHD does not always look like a child bouncing off the walls. In the inattentive presentation the difficulties are quieter: losing focus, losing belongings, drifting off mid-task, seeming not to listen, running out of steam on anything long. Because these children are not disruptive, teachers often do not flag them, and the NHS notes that girls with ADHD more commonly have inattentive symptoms and that these can be harder to recognise.
If this describes your child, the quietness is exactly why your own observations matter so much. A child can be well behaved at school and still be struggling in a way an assessment needs to hear about.
Related words
Where this comes from
- ADHD in children and teenagers , NHS. Checked 2026-08-14.
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