It’s easy to put what could be ADHD down to other things than recognise it. Often the symptoms become so “normal” that you shift the blame to other causes.
“I’m too busy", "I’m too tired", "my head is spinning.”
“I’m just disorganised". "It's because I’m so stressed out.”
For many unknowingly living with ADHD, shifting the blame means not being able to stop and consider perhaps not everyone experiences what you do. That maybe there's another way to understand what you’re experiencing. Some of you might feel you just aren’t good at various things, and see your symptoms as a personal failing.
What we know for sure is that ADHD and its symptoms are neurological. It's not your choice. It's because brains are all created differently. A brain with ADHD is usually capable of as many amazing things as other brains (sometimes even more!). But, like all amazing things, they can come with their own significant challenges.
World Health Organisation self-assessment tool
Research suggests that the symptoms of ADHD can persist into adulthood, having a significant impact on your relationships, careers, and even your safety. Because it's easy to misunderstand ADHD, many people who have it do not receive the appropriate treatment.
Part of the problem is that it can be challenging to diagnose, particularly in adults. Which is why the World Health Organisation and the Workgroup on Adult ADHD have developed a free self-screening tool to help people understand whether ADHD is impacting their lives. The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-5) tool is an instrument made up of the 18 DSM-V criteria.
It does not replace consultation with a qualified professional. It is not a formal assessment and doesn't provide a diagnosis, but it may support any decision to get an ADHD assessment done by a qualified health professional.
How it works
- This screener is designed to assess people 18 years or older who suspect they may have ADHD.
- It will ask you 18 questions and should take about five minutes to complete.
- The tool will rate your responses and at the end of the test you will get an indication of whether you should get a formal assessment for ADHD.
- Scoring 14 or higher on this self-screening tool is a good indication you would benefit from seeking a professional assessment and diagnosis.
- Once completed, you can download your answers and score and use this to support your assessment process.
When using the tool
- please make sure you are the only one answering the questions (somebody else answering with you could muddy the results.)
- select the answers that best describe how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past six months.
Getting your results
To get a copy of your results, complete the survey, view your score and hit the submit button. The page will refresh and you should see a 'You're done' message at the bottom with the option to download a pdf of your answers and score.
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