Are online ADHD screenings reliable?

Online ADHD screenings based on validated clinical instruments, such as the DSM-5 symptom checklist, have demonstrated reasonable sensitivity for identifying individuals who may have ADHD. However, no self-report screening is a substitute for a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Studies show that DSM-5-aligned self-assessments correctly identify elevated symptom levels in the majority of cases, but they also produce false positives — particularly in people with anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders that can mimic ADHD symptoms. The value of a screening lies in its ability to organize your observations and prompt a clinical conversation, not in providing a definitive answer.

How does this screening compare to the ASRS?

The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1) is a 6-question screener developed by the World Health Organization. Our screening is more comprehensive, using all 18 DSM-5 criteria organized into the two primary symptom domains: inattention (9 questions) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (9 questions). The ASRS is designed as a brief initial screen, while our tool provides a more detailed symptom profile that can be more useful in clinical conversations. Both tools are based on the same underlying diagnostic framework.

Is my screening data stored or shared?

No. Your responses are processed entirely in your browser. We do not store your individual answers, your results, or any identifying information on our servers. There is no account creation required, no email collection before seeing results, and no data transmitted to third parties. Your screening is completely private. We use anonymous, aggregated analytics to understand site usage patterns, but these cannot be linked back to any individual's screening responses.

Can I show my screening results to my doctor?

Yes, and many clinicians find it helpful when patients bring structured symptom information to an appointment. After completing the screening, you can save or print your results page. Having your symptom profile organized by DSM-5 criteria gives your doctor a concrete starting point for discussion rather than relying solely on your verbal description. Many clinicians will administer their own validated tools during the evaluation, but your self-assessment can help guide the conversation and ensure nothing is overlooked.

What if I disagree with my screening results?

Screening results reflect your self-reported responses at a single point in time. If the results don't match your experience, several factors may be at play. You may have over- or underreported symptoms due to how you interpret the questions. Your symptoms may fluctuate depending on your current environment, stress level, or medication. Some people minimize their symptoms due to long-standing coping strategies, while others may attribute non-ADHD difficulties to ADHD. In any case, a clinical evaluation can provide a more nuanced assessment that accounts for your full history, collateral information, and differential diagnosis.

Free online ADHD screening: what it measures, how it works, and what to do with your results

An online ADHD screening is a structured self-assessment designed to evaluate whether your symptoms align with the diagnostic criteria for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is not a diagnosis. It cannot replace the judgment of a trained clinician. But when built on validated clinical frameworks, an online screening can serve as a meaningful first step — one that helps you recognize patterns, organize your observations, and decide whether professional evaluation is worth pursuing.

Our screening is based on the full 18-item DSM-5 symptom checklist for ADHD, covering both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity domains. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete, requires no account creation, and provides instant results with a detailed breakdown of your symptom profile. This page explains exactly how the screening works, what it measures, how it compares to clinical tools, and how to use your results effectively.

What our online ADHD screening measures

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) defines ADHD through two symptom clusters, each containing 9 specific criteria. Our screening evaluates all 18 criteria across both domains:

Inattention domain (questions 1-9)

These questions assess difficulties with sustained focus, organization, task completion, and working memory. Specific criteria include failing to give close attention to details, difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or activities, not seeming to listen when spoken to directly, failing to follow through on instructions, difficulty organizing tasks, avoiding tasks requiring sustained mental effort, losing things necessary for tasks, being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, and being forgetful in daily activities.

Hyperactivity-impulsivity domain (questions 10-18)

These questions assess restlessness, impulse control, and behavioral regulation. Specific criteria include fidgeting or squirming, leaving one's seat in situations where remaining seated is expected, running or climbing in inappropriate situations (or, in adults, feelings of restlessness), inability to engage in leisure activities quietly, being "on the go" or acting as if "driven by a motor," talking excessively, blurting out answers before questions are completed, difficulty waiting one's turn, and interrupting or intruding on others.

How scoring works

For each of the 18 questions, you rate how often you experience the symptom using a 5-point scale: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, or Very Often. Each response is scored from 0 to 4, producing a maximum possible score of 36 per domain and 72 overall.

Beyond the raw score, the clinically meaningful threshold is based on symptom count. The DSM-5 specifies that for adults (age 17 and older), at least 5 symptoms rated as "Often" or "Very Often" in either domain suggest that further evaluation is warranted. For children and adolescents, the threshold is 6 symptoms. Our screening applies these thresholds to your responses and clearly indicates whether your symptom count meets DSM-5 criteria in one or both domains.

Your results page provides:

Your total score and domain-specific scores
The number of symptoms meeting clinical frequency thresholds in each domain
An indication of which ADHD presentation your profile suggests (predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or combined)
Context for interpreting your scores, including what they do and do not mean

How this compares to clinical screening tools

Several validated screening instruments exist for ADHD, and it's worth understanding where our tool fits in the landscape:

ASRS-v1.1 (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale): A 6-item screener developed by the World Health Organization. It uses a subset of the most predictive DSM-IV-TR criteria and is widely used in primary care for quick screening. Our tool is more comprehensive, covering all 18 DSM-5 criteria rather than a subset.
Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS): A comprehensive clinical tool that includes self-report and observer-report forms. It evaluates ADHD symptoms plus associated features like emotional lability and self-concept problems. This is typically administered and scored by clinicians as part of a full evaluation.
DIVA 5.0 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults): A structured interview designed for use by clinicians. It evaluates both current and childhood symptoms and is considered one of the gold-standard diagnostic tools. Unlike our screening, DIVA requires clinical administration.
Vanderbilt Assessment Scales: Primarily used for children and adolescents, completed by parents and teachers. Not directly comparable to our adult-focused self-report tool.

Our screening is most closely aligned with the full DSM-5 symptom checklist and uses the same criteria that clinicians evaluate during diagnostic assessment. The key difference is that we rely on self-report rather than clinical observation, which means results should be treated as a starting point rather than a conclusion.

What an online screening can and cannot tell you

It's important to be clear about the boundaries of any self-report screening, including ours.

What a screening CAN do:

Help you recognize patterns in your attention, behavior, and impulse control
Quantify your symptom severity in a structured way
Identify whether your symptoms cluster in the inattention domain, the hyperactivity-impulsivity domain, or both
Provide a concrete document to bring to a clinical appointment
Motivate you to seek professional evaluation if your results are elevated
Offer reassurance if your symptom levels are within normal ranges

What a screening CANNOT do:

Diagnose ADHD — only a licensed clinician can do this after comprehensive evaluation
Rule out other conditions that mimic ADHD (anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, thyroid dysfunction, trauma)
Assess whether symptoms were present in childhood (a DSM-5 requirement)
Evaluate functional impairment across multiple life domains
Account for cultural, environmental, or contextual factors that affect symptom presentation
Replace the clinical judgment that comes from professional training and experience

Privacy and data handling

We designed our screening with privacy as a foundational principle. Your responses are processed entirely within your browser using client-side JavaScript. No answer data, scores, or results are transmitted to our servers or any third party. There is no account required, no email gate before results, and no tracking of individual screening sessions.

We use anonymous site analytics to understand overall traffic patterns, but these are entirely separate from screening functionality and cannot be linked to individual users or their responses. You can take the screening as many times as you want with complete privacy.

When an online screening is most useful

An online screening provides the most value in these situations:

You suspect you might have ADHD but aren't sure whether your experiences are "enough" to warrant professional evaluation. A screening helps calibrate your self-perception against standardized criteria.
You want to prepare for a clinical appointment. Bringing structured symptom data to your first visit gives your clinician a head start and ensures you don't forget to mention important symptoms.
Someone you trust has suggested you might have ADHD and you want to explore that possibility privately before discussing it further.
You're a student noticing academic struggles that don't match your abilities, and you want to determine whether ADHD could be a contributing factor.
You've been diagnosed with anxiety or depression but treatment hasn't fully resolved your symptoms, and you wonder whether ADHD might be playing a role.

When you need more than an online screening

An online screening is not appropriate as the sole basis for treatment decisions. You should seek in-person clinical evaluation if:

Your screening results suggest elevated symptoms and you want a formal diagnosis
You're considering medication, which requires a prescription from a licensed provider
You have co-occurring conditions (anxiety, depression, learning disabilities) that may complicate diagnosis
Your symptoms are causing significant impairment in your work, relationships, or daily functioning
You need documentation for workplace or academic accommodations

How to use your results in a clinical conversation

If your screening results are elevated and you decide to seek professional evaluation, here's how to make the most of your results:

Save or print your results page so you have a concrete reference during your appointment.
Note specific examples from your daily life that correspond to each symptom area. Clinicians find real-world examples more informative than abstract symptom descriptions.
Consider your history. The DSM-5 requires that symptoms were present before age 12. Think about your childhood experiences — report cards, parent observations, and early school difficulties can all be informative.
Be honest about the impact. Clinicians need to understand not just whether symptoms exist, but whether they cause meaningful impairment in your life.
Mention other conditions. If you've been diagnosed with or treated for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or other conditions, share this information. It helps clinicians distinguish ADHD from look-alike conditions.