What ADHD looks like in adults
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is not only about restless children. In adults it often shows up as unfinished projects, trouble getting organized, forgotten appointments, putting off tasks that need a lot of thought, and an inner restlessness. Many adults live with ADHD for years without knowing it and blame themselves for “laziness”.
How the screener works
The test uses Part A of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) — six questions about the past 6 months. For each, choose how often it applies to you: never, rarely, sometimes, often or very often. Each question has an official “shaded” zone; four or more answers in it mean your symptoms are highly consistent with adult ADHD.
We use the screener unchanged: the questions, all answer options and the scoring are as published by the authors.
What to do with the result
- Positive result. See a psychiatrist or neurologist experienced with adult ADHD and bring your result. They will also check for anxiety, depression and sleep problems, which can look similar.
- Negative result. Your answers are not typical of ADHD. If focus or restlessness still bothers you, it is still worth discussing with a professional.
About the scale
Kessler R. C., Adler L., Ames M. et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 2005, 35(2), 245–256. Copyright © New York University and President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.