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Can you chek my adhd

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ADHD screening self-assessment symptoms adults 2025

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I now have enough information from authoritative textbooks to give you a thorough, accurate answer. Here it is:

Important Disclaimer First

I am an AI - I cannot diagnose ADHD or any medical condition. Only a qualified clinician (psychiatrist, psychologist, or GP) can do that through a proper assessment. What I can do is walk you through what ADHD actually is, the official diagnostic criteria, and what the evaluation process looks like so you can have an informed conversation with a doctor.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting the prefrontal cortex - the brain region responsible for executive function, attention regulation, impulse control, and emotional regulation. It affects approximately 5-9% of children and persists into adulthood in 50-70% of cases. It occurs about twice as often in males, though females more often present with the inattentive type.
  • Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, p. 419-421
  • Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice, p. 1407

The Official DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria

To be diagnosed with ADHD under DSM-5, you need symptoms from one or both of the following groups:

Group A - Inattention (5+ symptoms for adults, 6+ for children under 17):

  • Frequently fails to pay close attention to details / makes careless mistakes
  • Difficulty sustaining attention on tasks or activities
  • Seems not to listen when spoken to directly
  • Fails to follow through on instructions / doesn't finish tasks
  • Difficulty organizing tasks and activities
  • Avoids or dislikes tasks requiring sustained mental effort
  • Frequently loses things necessary for tasks (keys, phone, papers)
  • Easily distracted by unrelated stimuli
  • Forgetful in daily activities

Group B - Hyperactivity/Impulsivity (5+ symptoms for adults, 6+ for children under 17):

  • Fidgets with hands/feet, squirms in seat
  • Leaves seat when expected to remain seated
  • Runs or climbs in inappropriate situations (in adults: feeling of restlessness)
  • Unable to play or engage in leisure activities quietly
  • "On the go," as if "driven by a motor"
  • Talks excessively
  • Blurts out answers before a question is finished
  • Difficulty waiting their turn
  • Interrupts or intrudes on others

The Three Presentations:

  1. Combined - symptoms from both groups
  2. Predominantly Inattentive - mainly attention difficulties
  3. Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive - mainly hyperactivity/impulsivity

Additional Requirements for Diagnosis:

  • Symptoms must have been present before age 12
  • Symptoms must occur in at least 2 settings (e.g., home AND work/school)
  • Symptoms must cause meaningful impairment to functioning
  • Symptoms are not better explained by another condition (anxiety, mood disorder, seizure disorder, thyroid problems, etc.)
  • Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, p. 419-420

How ADHD Is Properly Evaluated

According to clinical guidelines, a proper ADHD evaluation includes:
  1. Detailed clinical interview - personal and family psychiatric history, developmental history
  2. Multi-setting informants - reports from home, work, or school
  3. Validated questionnaires - such as the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1), which is the most widely used validated screening tool
  4. Medical history review - to rule out conditions mimicking ADHD (thyroid problems, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, seizures, vision/hearing issues)
  5. Cardiac assessment - especially before starting stimulant treatment
No specific lab test is diagnostic of ADHD - history and clinical judgment are the foundation.
  • Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice, p. 1435

Quick Self-Screening (Not Diagnostic)

The WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) is a validated 6-item Part A screener. Scoring 14+ on Part A suggests your symptom profile is consistent with ADHD and warrants professional evaluation.

What Should You Do?

  1. See your GP first - describe your specific concerns and how long you've had them
  2. Ask for a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist for formal assessment
  3. Bring examples of how symptoms affect your daily life (work, relationships, organization, focus)
  4. Consider completing the ASRS screener beforehand and sharing the results with your doctor
Are you asking about symptoms you're experiencing yourself? If you share more details about what you're noticing, I can help you think through whether they might be worth discussing with a doctor.
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