Published on September 14, 2023; Last Updated on April 13, 2024

Many people might have ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but they might not even know it. That's because the things they feel or go through when they have ADHD can seem like when they're just really stressed out.

Yes, everyone feels stressed at some point in their lives. What makes ADHD symptoms different from a typical stressful feeling is how they can harm the person's ability to act, think, and talk at home, school, work, and in society in general. If they've felt frustrated like this, it could be ADHD. A doctor can help figure out if they have ADHD.

But, even when they want to get a formal diagnosis, they may not be able to get it.

Why? Many people don't have easy access to a doctor trained to help them with an ADHD diagnosis. Many people don't have health insurance. Many people can't afford their co-pay. 

In most countries, people might have to wait weeks, months, or even years to get an appointment with a trained doctor for an ADHD diagnosis. For example, BBC reported in 2020 that in the UK, some wait up to 5 years for an ADHD evaluation by a trained healthcare provider. Yes, that’s YEARS!

That’s why it’s important to have “something” to fill the gap while waiting for an official diagnosis by a healthcare professional.

Enter the Self-Report Screening tool for ADHD in adults!

The Self-Report Screening tool for ADHD can fill in the gap.

It's free, quick, and easy to answer.

You do it yourself.

You can complete it anywhere at any time.

Experts in ADHD approved it.

The Self-Report Screening tool can be used as a starting point to help recognize the signs and symptoms of ADHD. 

Before we dive deeper into what a Self-Report Screening tool is about, please keep in mind these two (2) things:

1. The Screening tool is not a replacement for consultation with a trained healthcare professional. Only a clinical evaluation can accurately diagnose you for ADHD.

2. Regardless of the results of your responses to the Screening tool, if you have concerns about a diagnosis of ADHD, please tell your concerns to your doctor.

🚨Make sure to read the section at the end of this article on “What Do You Do Next After You’ve Completed the Screening Tool?” In that section, I give you several tips on using the Screening tool to support you when talking about your health with your doctor, family, and friends.

How Do You Find Out If You Have ADHD?

In general, you can find out if you have ADHD by completing: 

1. A Self-Report Screening tool for ADHD in adults (available below) and

2. A Clinical Evaluation for ADHD with a trained healthcare professional.

In this article, I talk about the first step - Completing a Self-Report Screening for ADHD in adults.

Many people do not know about the Self-Report Screening tool! Please spread the word and you might help someone who needs it.

What Is The Self-Report Screening Tool For ADHD?

The Self-Report Screening Tool for ADHD is FREE!

It's quick to complete - it takes about 2 to 5 minutes.

It's short - only six (6) questions.

It can be easily scored (see scoring system below).

ADHD experts approved it.

It's called "Self-Report" because you answer it yourself based on your own experiences (instead of providing information from your doctors, family, and friends, for example).

How Do You Get A Copy Of The Screening Tool For ADHD?

You can get it here! Currently, two (2) types of Screening tools are available, and they are called: 

1. ASRS-5 (the updated version) - Unfortunately, this is currently available with permission for academic and research use only. Request permission here.

2. ASRS-V1.1 (the older version)

Click this here to access these Screening tools for free. You only need to answer one of them.

If you need a translation of these Screening Tools in a different language, check out the list of available languages that the World Health Organization has translated and available here.

What Do You Do After You Get A Copy Of The Screening Tool for ADHD?

After you get the Screening tool using the link above, here are your next steps to find out if you likely have ADHD:

1. Answer the Screening tool.

2. Score your responses. You can jump to the section below and read the instructions on how to score your answers.

3. Your score will tell you if you likely have ADHD or if you likely do not have ADHD.

🧠 In case you have ADHD and are not interested in any more information about the Screening Tool, I wanted to let you know: 🛑You can STOP reading here if you think you have enough information to complete the Screening tool (and you do!). It’s okay. There’s no rule you have to read it all. 🤪 Translations in other languages and scoring instructions are available below if needed.

MORE INFORMATION, IF NEEDED

If you want to learn more about these Screening tools, keep reading! I’m a proud nerd and hyperfocused on researching the information below. I wanted to share it with whoever is interested. I won’t be offended if you don’t read them. Really! 😜🥰

Who Created These Screening Tools and Why?

I did not create these Screening tools. 😆

The World Health Organization (WHO) created these Screening tools. It's a well-known and respected organization globally.

They developed these Screening tools to help healthcare professionals screen their patients for ADHD.

The patient's responses to these Screening tools may suggest that the patient needs a more thorough Clinical Evaluation for ADHD with a trained healthcare professional.

How Can These Screening Tools Help You?

Your responses to the Screening tool can help you:

1. Decide if you should see a doctor for an ADHD evaluation.

2. Convince your doctor to assess you for ADHD (more on that below).

3. Explain to your family why you want to see a doctor for an ADHD diagnosis.

What Is ASRS-5?

ASRS-5 stands for "Adult ADHD Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5." 

This Screening tool has six (6) questions. Each of the questions asks how often the symptom occurred over the past six (6) months. 

Available responses are "never, rarely, sometimes, often, and very often."

According to the World Health Organization, ASRS-5 "can detect the vast majority of adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder cases in the general population with high sensitivity and specificity." This means that this Screening tool is very accurate.

ASRS-5 was created six years ago, in 2017. This is the most updated Screening tool as of 2023.

Even though it was made available six years ago, many people still do not know it exists. Please help spread the word by sharing this information on your social media, email, or by telling your family or friends who might need this.

Some Technical Information About ASRS-5

Here is some technical information about ASRS-5 that you don't need to know to complete the Screening tool. 😁 So you can skip to the next section below, if you'd like.

But if you're a nerd like me, curious, and want to know, I've included them here. Enjoy!

ASRS-5 is based on the new criteria for adult ADHD in DSM-5. That's why it's the updated version of the older screening tool called ASRS V1.1.

DSM-5 is the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It’s a reference book on mental health and brain-related conditions. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is responsible for writing, editing, reviewing, and publishing this book. It’s the main guide for mental health providers in the US. It contains explicit details and examples of signs and symptoms of mental health and brain-related conditions. It was updated in 2013 after over 10 years of work by hundreds of international experts. The latest version (the DSM-5-TR) was published in 2022.

DSM-5 has reduced the number of required symptoms and later-required age of onset for ADHD. This means the likelihood of scoring positive for ADHD should increase using the new ASRS-5 Screening tool.

The ASRS screening scale was developed by two board-certified psychiatrists (L.A.A. and T.J.S.) working with a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory group to generate one fully structured question for each DSM-IV Criterion A1-A2 symptom of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity plus 11 non–DSM-IV symptoms of deficits in higher-level executive function believed to be relevant to adult ADHD.

If you'd like to read the complete research paper about how the ASRS-5 was developed, the scientific journal JAMA Psychiatry published it on April 5, 2017. The official citation and the link to the article is this: Ustun B, Adler LA, Rudin C, et al. The World Health Organization Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Screening Scale for DSM-5. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(5):520–526. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.0298 

What Is ASRS-V1.1?

ASRS-V1.1 stands for "Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale-V1.1 Screener." 

It's the older version of the Screening tool and was first published 18 years ago, in 2005.

This Screening tool is based on the criteria in DSM-IV.

ASRS-V1.1 has 2 different tests: 

1. Screener - similar to ASRS-5 with only six (6) questions designed to screen ADHD in adults

2. Symptoms Checklist - a longer test composed of 18 questions and requires permission to use.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also developed this Screening tool. Specifically, the WHO work group with the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative version of the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) developed it. Additional background information about the ASRS-V1.1 Screening tool is available here.

Would you like to read the research paper about how the ASRS-V1.1 was developed? You can read the article published by on January 21, 2005, titled "The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population." The official citation and the link to the article is this: KESSLER, R., ADLER, L., AMES, M., DEMLER, O., FARAONE, S., HIRIPI, E., . . . WALTERS, E. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): A short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 35(2), 245-256. doi:10.1017/S0033291704002892.

Who Can Complete ASRS-5 and ASRS-V1.1?

Both Screening tools are designed for adults (ages 18 and over) with an IQ in the normal range (IQ of more than 80).

What Are The Limitations Of ASRS-5 and ASRS-V1.1 Screeners?

ASRS-5 (the current version) and ASRS-V1.1 (the older version) Screeners are tools only.

They are not the complete diagnostic tests. 

That means you still need to talk to a trained healthcare provider to get a diagnostic assessment, even if the result of your Screener is positive for ADHD.

ASRS-5 or ASRS-V1.1 Screeners can be done at home or completed as part of your appointment for an ADHD diagnostic or in a primary care waiting room.

Are ASRS-5 and ASRS-V1.1 Available In Other Languages?

Yes!

Both are available in other languages that you can access here. Some of these language include:  

• English

• Italian

• Turkish

• German

• Portuguese - Brazil

• Danish

• Romanian

• Serbian

Because the ASRS-5 is available only in select languages, you can complete the ASRS-V1.1 (the older version) in the language you are comfortable with. The ASRS-V1.1 has been translated into many languages, which I listed below. 

The translations were done using the standard World Health Organization translation and back-translation protocol through an unrestricted educational grant from the Ely Lilly Company. Cultural validations of these translations are limited. You can read additional background information on ASRS-V1.1 here.

The English version of ASRS-V1.1 is available here.

The languages that ASRS-V1.1 has been translated into are listed below:*

• Arabic

• Chinese (Mandarin)

• Chinese (Traditional)

• Dutch

• Finnish

• French

• German

• Hebrew

• Italian

• Japanese

• Norwegian

• Portuguese

• Portuguese - Brazil

• Russian

• Serbian

• Spanish (for Mexico & US.)

• Spanish

• Swedish

• Thai

• Urdu

These ASRS-V1.1 translations can be accessed and downloaded here.

*The list of translations above is only for the Screener test (not the comprehensive 18-Question Symptoms Checklist).

Which Screener Tool Should You Use?

If you are fluent in reading any of the languages the ASRS-5 has been translated into, you can answer the ASRS-5 Screening tool because it is the most updated.

If you’d like to read and answer in a different language that is not available for ASRS-5, you can answer the ASRS-V1.1 Screening tool in the language that you are most comfortable with. Don’t worry that it is not as up-to-date as the ASRS-5 Screening tool. The ASRS-V1.1 is still based on valid criteria in DSM-IV, which health professionals accept. Also, it’s better that you understand the questions fully in your preferred language so you can give your best answer and get an accurate score.

How Does ASRS-5 Look Like?

How Do You Score Your Responses To ASRS-5?

ASRS-5 has 6 questions.

Each question has 5 choices:

• Never

• Rarely

• Sometimes

• Often

• Very Often

Each response has the following score:

• Never - 0

• Rarely - 1

• Sometimes - 2

• Often - 3

• Very Often - 4

After you answer all 6 questions in the Screener tool, add the scores of your responses.

The meaning of your total score: 

• A score of 14 or higher means you likely have ADHD.

• A score of 13 and below means you likely don't have ADHD.

If you likely have ADHD, remember: To confirm if you truly have ADHD, you still need a full clinical assessment of ADHD by your clinician.

If you likely don't have ADHD, remember: if you feel "something is wrong" or "something is not right," still consult your doctor. You might not have ADHD, but you may have other conditions that require your doctor's attention.

Although the ASRS-5 Screener can be an effective tool to diagnose ADHD in adults, it cannot rule out other medical conditions that may impact an ADHD diagnosis.

How Does ASRS-V1.1 Look Like?

How Do You Score Your Responses To ASRS-V1.1?

ASRS-V1.1 also has 6 questions. 

Each question also has 5 choices:

• Never

• Rarely

• Sometimes

• Often

• Very Often

ASRS-V1.1 has a different scoring system than ASRS-5.

For ASRS-V1.1, some responses have shaded areas, as you will see when you look at the test. 

Add the number of checkmarks of your responses that appear in the darkly shaded area.

• Four (4) or more checkmarks mean you likely have ADHD.

• Three (3) or fewer checkmarks mean you likely don't have ADHD.

If you likely have ADHD, remember: To confirm if you truly have ADHD, you still need a full clinical assessment of ADHD by your clinician. 

If you likely don't have ADHD, remember: if you feel "something is wrong" or "something is not right," consult your doctor. You might not have ADHD, but you may still have other conditions that require your doctor's attention.

Although the ASRS-V1.1 screener can effectively diagnose ADHD in adults, it cannot rule out other medical conditions that may impact an ADHD diagnosis.

What Do You Do Next After You've Completed the Screening Tool?

I briefly mentioned above that your responses to the Screening tool can help you:

1. Decide if you should see your doctor for an ADHD diagnosis;

2. Convince your doctor to assess you for ADHD;

3. Explain to your family why you want to see a doctor for an ADHD diagnosis.

Here's why.

Some people who try to tell their doctors that they might have ADHD are often ignored by their doctors. The conversation can sound like this:

Patient: "Doctor, I think I have ADHD."

Doctor: "Why do you say that?"

Patient: "Because I've been feeling…" And the patient tells the doctor their symptoms.

Doctor: "Did you have these problems as a child?"

Patient: "I don't know. Not really, I guess. I don't remember."

Doctor: "You don't have ADHD. You're fine."

The patient goes home feeling discouraged even though they feel something is wrong and they feel they need help.

This can also happen when people try to talk to their family about their ADHD symptoms.

This example makes me feel sad, especially since it happens often. 

Some doctors are not well-informed about ADHD (like some lawyers are not well-informed about other laws). 

Many families are not familiar with ADHD at all.

Stigma about ADHD and mental health still exists everywhere.

Some doctors still falsely believe that you must have problems in school as a child for you to have ADHD as an adult. That's not true based on extensive, updated research.

Some people are also not good at describing their feelings - whether they're telling their doctors or family. Mental health symptoms are complicated and can be confusing to explain.

Here's what you can do to help YOURSELF when talking to your doctor:

1. Take your responses to the Screening tool when you visit your doctor. Make sure you bring all 3 pages (including the cover page, the actual questions and answers, and the additional information on the last page).

2. When you tell your doctor you think you have ADHD, show your doctor your responses to the Screening tool.

3. If your doctor is familiar with the Screening tool, they know it is credible.

4. Suppose your doctor is unfamiliar with the Screening tool. In that case, they can read the information provided with the Screening tool to get better informed. Once they see that the World Health Organization created it and there is a published article, they can read it thoroughly to evaluate its accuracy. The Screening tool and your responses can help support your feeling that you might have ADHD. 

The goal is for your doctor to consider your symptoms more credible now that you have the Screening tool to back you up. 

You can do the same when talking to your family: 

1. You can show them your responses to the Screening tool. 

2. You can explain that the World Health Organization, a well-known international organization, created it. 

3. You can tell them that based on your responses to the Screening tool, it would help you to see a doctor for a complete evaluation for ADHD. 

Hopefully, your family can consider your symptoms more believable because the Screening tool can back you up. 

I say "hopefully" because I understand the cultural and societal stigma about ADHD. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I immigrated to the US when I was in high school. I have experienced cultural and societal stigma because of my ADHD, and I still do.

Despite that, I am a thriving ADHD Mom, TEDx Speaker, and lawyer. I have embraced my ADHD since my diagnosis as an adult over two decades ago. It took a long time, but I got here.

You can, too.

I am here to support those who want to embrace their ADHD.

I am here for you. You are not alone. 🥰🙏

Did you try this ADHD Screening Tool? What did you learn about yourself after you took it? Was it helpful or not?

P.S. Special thanks to and inspired by “Embrace Autism.”

P.P.S. For sources and in-depth discussion on this and similar topics, click to connect here: ADHD Simplifiers Community.