ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hype in Spanish

What it means

ADHD, short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood, although some people are not diagnosed until they are adults. ADHD involves trouble paying attention (inattention), trouble controlling impulsive behaviors (impulsivity) and being overly active (hyperactivity). MedlinePlus describes three types: mostly inattentive, mostly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined, which is the most common type. The exact cause is unknown; it probably results from a combination of factors, such as genetics and environment. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD. The process involves a physical exam, a thorough medical and family history, and usually standardized symptom checklists, questionnaires or interview questions.

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) in Spanish

Spanish term: TDAH (trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad)
Gender and article: masculine: el TDAH (el trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad)
Pronunciation: teh-deh-ah-AH-cheh (trahs-TOR-noh por DEH-fee-seet deh ah-ten-SYOHN eh ee-pehr-ahk-tee-vee-DAHD)

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
trastorno de déficit de atención e hiperactividad	General	Wording of the full name in the MedlinePlus en español health topic, with "de" instead of "por".
trastorno de hiperactividad con déficit de atención (THDA)	General	Wording and abbreviation used in the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia article.
TDA	General	Listed among the alternative names in the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia article.
deficiencia de atención	General	Listed under "Otros nombres" in the MedlinePlus en español health topic.

TDAH is the abbreviation MedlinePlus en español uses in its health topic, and it takes the masculine article because trastorno is masculine: el TDAH. The full name appears in more than one wording. This page's headword says trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad, a wording found on MedlinePlus en español in the title of a linked resource. The MedlinePlus en español summary itself writes trastorno de déficit de atención e hiperactividad, and its encyclopedia article says trastorno de hiperactividad con déficit de atención, abbreviated THDA. The English version of that encyclopedia article is about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The three symptom words are falta de atención (inattention), impulsividad (impulsivity) and hiperactividad (hyperactivity); the encyclopedia also says desatención for inattention. MedlinePlus en español names the three types TDAH predominantemente inatento, TDAH predominantemente hiperactivo e impulsivo and TDAH combinado. For treatment vocabulary, the summary uses psicoterapia (terapia de conversación) and terapia conductual (behavior therapy).

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Patient	My daughter's teacher says she has trouble paying attention in class.	La maestra de mi hija dice que le cuesta prestar atención en clase.
Clinician	When did you first notice these symptoms? Was it before age 12?	¿Cuándo notó estos síntomas por primera vez? ¿Fue antes de los 12 años?
Patient	She has trouble sitting still, and she interrupts others a lot.	Le cuesta quedarse quieta, e interrumpe mucho a los demás.
Clinician	Do these problems happen at home as well as at school?	¿Estos problemas ocurren en casa además de en la escuela?
Clinician	There is no single test for ADHD. I will ask you to fill out a questionnaire about the symptoms.	No existe una prueba única para el TDAH. Le voy a pedir que llene un cuestionario sobre los síntomas.
Clinician	We will also check vision and hearing to rule out other problems.	También vamos a revisar la vista y la audición para descartar otros problemas.
Patient	I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. I lose my keys and my cellphone all the time.	Me diagnosticaron TDAH en la edad adulta. Pierdo las llaves y el celular todo el tiempo.
Patient	What kind of support can the school offer, such as extra time on tests?	¿Qué tipo de apoyo puede ofrecer la escuela, como tiempo adicional en los exámenes?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
Spanish (Español)	TDAH (trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad)
Chinese (中文)	注意力不足過動症
Korean (한국어)	주의력 결핍 과잉행동 장애
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Rối loạn tăng động giảm chú ý
Filipino (Tagalog)	ADHD
Portuguese (Português)	TDAH (transtorno de déficit de atenção e hiperatividade)
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	โรคสมาธิสั้น
Japanese (日本語)	注意欠如・多動症

Where you'll see it

chartreferralmedical recordEOB

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: F90 → Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Brain and nerves

All terms in this area: Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.