ADHD self-assessment tests are all over the internet. The promise of a quick answer with minimal time required – Find Out if You Have ADHD in Two Minutes! – is definitely appealing. But are these ADHD tests accurate and helpful?
If you think ADHD may be impacting your (or your child’s) day-to-day life, ADHD self-assessments can offer interesting insight. But while a self-test might spark curiosity or start you down a path, it is not a diagnostic tool.
These online tools typically provide a high level evaluation of ADHD symptoms. This means they ask you a series of questions based on approved criteria for ADHD (from the DSM-5). Questions typically cover things such as:
Depending on your answers, the quiz will give you a sense of how closely your answers match the symptoms of ADHD and might tell you if your symptoms have a low, moderate or elevated match to ADHD symptoms. They cannot officially diagnose ADHD.
It’s important to understand that these tools – particularly those available online – vary significantly in quality and validity. As with all things medical, the internet should not replace advice from a doctor.
It takes a trained and licensed clinician to properly evaluate whether or not you (or your child) has ADHD. You cannot draw conclusions from tests that are not conducted by a regulated health professional.
A formal ADHD assessment is done by a trained and licensed clinician, usually a psychologist. It includes clinical interviews, standardized tests, and input from different sources (e.g., parents, teachers, or partners). You will receive more accurate and personalized results compared to an ADHD self-test.
Book an ADHD assessment:
A formal ADHD assessment will confirm whether or not you (or your child) have ADHD. You will also get detailed, personalized feedback about specific areas of strength and challenge, which can help determine what support would be most helpful.
