Tests used to diagnose ADHD

Disclaimer: Human Health is not recommending any specific medical treatment for any particular symptom, nor providing any other medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor regarding any medical concern. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a condition that affects the brain, and impacts thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Some of the characteristic symptoms of ADHD include feelings of restlessness or difficulty sitting still, difficulty maintaining focus for sustained periods of time, and difficulties with organizing and planning.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ADHD can be diagnosed from as young as 4 years old, although in some cases it has been diagnosed even earlier. Certain healthcare professionals, including primary care physicians, pshyciatrists, and psychologists, are trained to diagnose children and adults with ADHD.

As part of the diagnostic process, certain tests and criteria may be used to determine if a patient has ADHD, including clinical guidelines and rating scales. We’ve summarized some of the more common resources in this article.

It’s important to note that while these tests may help an individual identify the signs and symptoms of ADHD, these assessments require input and interpretation from professionals. Each individual’s experience with any health condition is unique, and should not be reduced to the results of a subjective criteria or scale.

General criteria

DSM-5 Criteria

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition), also called the DSM-5, contains clinical guidelines for the appropriate diagnosis of psychiatric conditions. It is published by the American Psychiatric Association, and as such the scope of this resource is implemented primarily within North America.

The guidelines specify the symptoms that can be attributed to ADHD, with specific information about how long and to what extent they have impacted the patient.

Click here to read a broader breakdown of the DSM-5 criteria for ADHD.

The ADHD Rating Scale-5 for Children and Adolescents assesses the DSM-5 criteria, as well as functional impairment. Learn more about this scale here.

ICD-11 Criteria

The International Classification of Diseases (11th Edition), is another set of clinical guidelines that clinicians may use to help inform a diagnosis of ADHD. This is a resource published by the World Health Organization.

The information about ADHD provided in ICD-11 is very similar to that published in the DSM-5, and is available for free online. Click here to see the ICD-11 criteria for ADHD.

Children and adolescents

Vanderbilt Assessment Scales (VAS)

The Vanderbilt Assessment Scales (third edition) are a set of behavioral rating surveys that both parents and teachers can use to assess the presence of ADHD symptoms in a child, and the impairment that present symptoms are causing the child. It is appropriate for use in children from 6–12 years old.

They are based on the DSM-5 criteria, and also help to screen for other conditions that are commonly diagnosed in people with ADHD, including OCD, anxiety, and depression.

You can see examples of the types of questions and information included on the scale by visiting the National Institute for Children’s Health Quality website, where copies of the first edition of the scales are available.

ACTeRS

The ADHD Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale (second edition), also known as ACTeRS, can help identify some of the core symptoms of ADHD. The 24 questions in the survey assess a variety of factors, including oppositional behavior, difficulty with attention and social skills, and hyperactivity.

The scale can be used by teachers, parents, or as a self-assessment tool, and interpretation of results is also separated by sex.

Learn more about the ACTeRS scale here.

Conner’s 4th Edition

This behavior rating tools assess ADHD from ages 6–18. It is available as a self-assessment, as well as for parents and teachers.

The long-form version contains questions that aim to identify the symptoms of ADHD and commonly co-occurring conditions in children and adolescents. The ADHD Index and short-form scales are more specific to core ADHD symptoms, and do not include the additional questions about executive function and impairment.

Click here to read more about the Conner’s assessment from the publisher.

Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBDRS)

The DBDRS assesses disruptive behavior in children and adolescents aged 4–14, and can be used to aid in the diagnosis of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. The survey can be completed by parents or teachers.

The results can be interpreted in two ways, by either counting the number of present symptoms that may indicate a disruptive disorder, or by comparing the individual’s scores to expected norms.

The DBDRS is available online. Click here to view the survey and read more.

The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale–Parent form (WFIR-P)

WFIR-P is a 50 item parent survey that assesses 6 domains that may be affected by emotional or behavioral problems. These include family, school and learning, life skills, child’s self-concept, social activities, and risky activities.

Click here to see the WFIR-P.

Adults

Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS)

The CAARS is available in observer and self-report formats, and comprises a variety of scales, including a screener, short- and long-form versions. CAARS assesses domains including inattention / memory problems, impulsivity / emotional liability, hyperactivity / restlessness, and problems with self-concept.

For more information about CAARS, click here.

Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS)

Developed by the World Health Organization, the ASRS is commonly used in primary care due to its wide accessibility and brief length. It is available as an 18-item survey or 6-item short-form screening tool. It is based on the DSM-5 criteria as well as adapted items for adults with ADHD specifically.

Learn more about the ASRS here.

Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale

This measure includes an 89-item survey that assesses domains impacted by impairments to executive functioning, including time management, organization and problem solving, self-restraint, self-motivation, and self-regulation of emotion.

It includes both self-report and observer options, as well as short- and long-form surveys, and the scoring can be tailored to gender- or age-specific populations.