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ADHD Self-Assessment (ASRS)

The WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale screens for ADHD symptoms in adults. This is a screening instrument — not a diagnostic tool.

📋 WHO ASRS v1.1
📊 Score interpretation
🧠 ADHD in adults explained
🔍 Conditions that mimic ADHD

ASRS v1.1 Part A Screener (WHO)

Over the last 6 months, how often have you experienced each of the following:

1. How often do you have difficulty concentrating on what people say to you, even when they are speaking directly?
2. How often do you leave your seat in meetings or situations where you are expected to remain seated?
3. How often do you have difficulty unwinding and relaxing when you have time to yourself?
4. When you're in a conversation, how often do you find yourself finishing other people's sentences?
5. How often do you put things off until the last minute?
6. How often do you depend on others to keep your life in order and attend to details?
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Quick Answer

The ASRS is a WHO-validated screening tool for adult ADHD — not a diagnosis. Scores of 0-13 indicate low probability, 14-21 moderate, and 22-24 high. A high score means a clinical evaluation is warranted, not that you have ADHD. Many symptoms overlap with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and burnout.

Written by Ash K · Last updated: June 2026 · Sources cited below

This assessment is based on the WHO Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) — a validated screening tool developed by Kessler et al. at Harvard Medical School and published in Psychological Medicine (2005). It screens for ADHD symptoms in adults. It does not diagnose ADHD.

Only a qualified healthcare professional — typically a psychiatrist, psychologist, or ADHD specialist — can diagnose ADHD through comprehensive clinical evaluation including interview, medical history, cognitive testing, and assessment of symptom onset.

What the ASRS Measures

The ASRS Part A consists of six items that screen for the symptom domains most predictive of adult ADHD diagnosis. These six questions cover inattention (difficulty concentrating, disorganization, forgetfulness) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (restlessness, interrupting, difficulty waiting).

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Key Takeaway: This is a screening tool, not a diagnosis. The ASRS identifies whether a full clinical evaluation may be warranted — it cannot confirm or rule out ADHD on its own. Many ASRS symptoms (difficulty concentrating, restlessness, procrastination) also occur in anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, burnout, and normal life stress.

Answer based on the past six months. Select the frequency that best matches your experience: never/rarely, sometimes, often, very often, or almost always. There are no right or wrong answers — honest self-reflection produces the most useful results.

ASRS Part A Score Interpretation

0-13Low probabilityNo evaluation needed14-21Moderate probabilityConsider clinical evaluation22-24High probabilitySchedule ADHD evaluation

Understanding Your ASRS Score

Your Part A score maps to one of three probability ranges, established through the original validation study.

ScoreInterpretationRecommended next step
0–13Low probability of ADHDSymptoms not suggestive of ADHD; no evaluation needed unless other concerns exist
14–21Moderate probabilityConsider scheduling evaluation with a mental health professional
22–24High probabilitySchedule clinical evaluation with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or ADHD specialist
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Note: Screening positive does not equal diagnosis. Conversely, screening negative doesn't rule out ADHD — false negatives occur, particularly in women, people with high IQ, and those with primarily inattentive presentations who have developed compensatory strategies.

ASRS Screening vs Clinical Diagnosis — Key Differences

📋 This Screening Tool (ASRS)• Identifies possible ADHD symptoms• Takes 5 minutes, self-report• Cannot rule out other conditions• First step — not final answer🩺 Clinical Diagnosis• Comprehensive clinical interview• Developmental history review• Rules out anxiety, depression, sleep issues• 1-3 sessions with qualified professional

What ADHD Actually Looks Like in Adults

Adult ADHD rarely looks like the childhood stereotype. Adults typically show more inattentive symptoms and less overt hyperactivity, according to clinical descriptions published in The Lancet.

Predominantly Inattentive Type is the most commonly missed presentation in adults. The experience is constant distraction, difficulty sustaining focus on unstimulating tasks, chronic disorganization, and "time blindness" — an impaired sense of how much time has passed.

You might start a project, fall down a research tangent, and realize four hours passed with zero progress on the main task. You misplace items, forget appointments despite writing them down, and struggle with multi-step instructions.

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Tip: Many adults with undiagnosed ADHD have been told their entire lives that they're "lazy," "unmotivated," or "not trying hard enough." These labels reflect a misunderstanding of how ADHD affects executive function. If you score moderate or high on this screening, a clinical evaluation can clarify whether these patterns have a neurological basis.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type shows up differently in adults than in children. Instead of running around classrooms, adults experience internal restlessness, difficulty sitting through meetings, interrupting conversations, making impulsive decisions, and struggling to wait their turn.

Combined Type includes features of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. This is the most common ADHD presentation overall.

ASRS Scoring: How the Assessment Works

The scoring system was established by Kessler et al. (2005) in a validation study that tested the ASRS against comprehensive clinical ADHD evaluations across a diverse adult population.

Each of the six Part A questions is scored 0–4 based on frequency. The total (0–24) is compared against thresholds that were statistically determined to best predict clinical ADHD diagnosis.

The original study found good sensitivity (68.7%) and specificity (99.5%) for the Part A screener — meaning it correctly identifies most people who have ADHD while producing very few false positives.

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Warning: Self-assessment tools can be influenced by your current mental state. If you're experiencing acute stress, sleep deprivation, burnout, or depression, your symptoms may overlap significantly with ADHD even if ADHD isn't the underlying cause. A clinical evaluation distinguishes ADHD from these overlapping conditions through detailed history-taking and, in some cases, neuropsychological testing.

Conditions That Can Mimic ADHD Symptoms (per Published Guidelines)

AnxietyDifficulty concentrating, restlessnessDepressionPoor focus, low motivation, fatigueSleep deprivationInattention, impulsivity, brain fogThyroid issuesDifficulty concentrating, mood changesNormal stressForgetfulness, disorganization

Conditions That Mimic ADHD Symptoms

Several conditions produce symptoms that overlap with ADHD. A qualified evaluator considers and rules out these alternatives during diagnosis.

Anxiety disorders cause difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and racing thoughts — symptoms that look like ADHD inattention and hyperactivity. The key difference: anxiety-driven concentration problems stem from worry; ADHD-driven concentration problems stem from insufficient dopaminergic signaling.

Depression causes difficulty concentrating, low motivation, forgetfulness, and fatigue — all of which overlap with ADHD inattentive symptoms.

Sleep disorders — particularly obstructive sleep apnea and chronic insomnia — produce executive function impairment, difficulty concentrating, and memory problems nearly identical to ADHD symptoms.

Burnout produces exhaustion, cynicism, concentration difficulties, and reduced efficacy that can closely resemble ADHD. Our burnout quiz screens for this specifically.

Thyroid disorders (particularly hypothyroidism) cause cognitive sluggishness, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating.

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Bottom Line: If you score moderate or high, schedule an evaluation with a qualified professional — don't self-diagnose. If you score low but still feel something isn't right, talk to your provider anyway. The ASRS is a screening tool with known limitations, and your lived experience is valid data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ASRS questionnaire?

The ASRS (Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale) is a screening tool developed by the World Health Organization and validated by researchers at Harvard Medical School. Version 1.1 Part A consists of 6 questions that screen for the most diagnostic ADHD symptoms in adults.

How do I score the ASRS?

Each of the 6 Part A questions is scored 0–4 based on symptom frequency. Total scores of 0–13 indicate low probability, 14–21 moderate probability, and 22–24 high probability of ADHD. These thresholds were established through clinical validation by Kessler et al. (2005).

What does the ASRS v1.1 Part A measure?

Part A covers the 6 symptoms most predictive of clinical ADHD diagnosis: difficulty organizing tasks, trouble sustaining attention, not listening, fidgeting, feeling restless, and difficulty waiting. Part B (12 additional items) provides supplementary information but is not required for initial screening.

Can this assessment diagnose ADHD?

No. The ASRS is a screening instrument. ADHD diagnosis requires comprehensive clinical evaluation including interview, medical history, assessment of symptom onset before age 12, ruling out other conditions, and evaluation of functional impairment across multiple life domains.

I scored high but I've never been diagnosed. Is that common?

Yes. Adult ADHD is significantly underdiagnosed, particularly in women, people with primarily inattentive presentations, and those with high IQ who developed compensatory strategies. Prevalence research suggests 2.5–5% of adults have ADHD, but many are never formally evaluated.

Sources

  1. Kessler RC, et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Psychol Med. 2005;35(2):245–256.
  2. Fayyad J, et al. The descriptive epidemiology of DSM-IV Adult ADHD. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord. 2017;9(1):47–65.
  3. American Psychiatric Association. DSM-5. 2013. ADHD diagnostic criteria.
  4. Simon V, et al. Prevalence and correlates of adult ADHD. Br J Psychiatry. 2009;194(3):204–211.

This screening tool does not diagnose ADHD or any other condition. If you have concerns about attention, focus, or executive function, consult a qualified healthcare professional.

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Medical Disclaimer

This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider with questions about your health.