Adult ADHD test: a free online self-screener

Do I have ADHD?

Only a specialist can tell you, after a full assessment. They look at whether difficulties with attention, restlessness or impulsivity started in childhood, have carried on into adult life, show up in more than one setting, such as work and home, and cause real problems day to day. If that sounds familiar, speak to a GP.

These points reflect NICE guidance on diagnosing ADHD (NG87). Stress, anxiety, low mood and poor sleep can cause similar difficulties, which is why a quiz on its own can't answer the question. Our guide to ADHD in adults covers the signs in more detail.

What an ADHD questionnaire can and can't tell you

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) affects how people focus, organise themselves, manage time and control impulses. Everyone loses their keys or drifts off in a meeting sometimes. What matters is how often it happens, how long it has been going on, and how much it gets in the way of your life.

A self-screener like this one is a way to put words to what you've noticed. It can't diagnose ADHD or rule it out. Our statements are written for adults, and the result bands are a rough guide rather than a validated clinical cut-off.

ADHD quiz for women: what's different

The questions and the diagnostic criteria are the same for everyone. What can differ is how ADHD shows up. Women more often have inattentive symptoms, such as forgetfulness and disorganisation, rather than obvious hyperactivity, and may work hard to hide their difficulties. So ADHD in women is more often missed, or mistaken for anxiety or low mood.

When you answer, think about how things have been across your life, not just lately, and count the effort it takes to keep on top of things: the lists, reminders, late nights and double-checking. Perimenopause can affect memory and concentration too, so a clinician should look at the whole picture. Read more in our guides to ADHD in women and ADHD and menopause.

ASRS, WHO and the other ADHD questionnaires

If you have looked for an adult ADHD test you will have come across the ASRS — the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale, a screening questionnaire developed with the World Health Organization. It is the instrument behind many of the “WHO ADHD test” pages online, and clinicians sometimes use it as a starting point.

The screener on this page is not the ASRS. We have written our own plain-English statements instead, deliberately. Validated instruments are designed to be administered and scored in a specific way, and a copy of one pasted onto a website, scored automatically and read without context is not the same test any more — it just looks like it. We would rather be clear about what this is: a structured way to organise what you have noticed, before a conversation with someone qualified to assess it.

That applies to every online ADHD test, including this one. None of them can diagnose ADHD, whichever questionnaire sits underneath. A diagnosis requires a specialist assessment that looks at your history, your childhood, and the other things that can produce the same picture.

Inattentive, hyperactive, or both

ADHD is usually described as having three presentations, and the one people recognise least is the most commonly missed in adults.

• Predominantly inattentive — difficulty sustaining attention, losing track of tasks and belongings, drifting in conversations, starting more than you finish. Quiet rather than disruptive, which is why it is often spotted late, and why it is diagnosed later in women on average.
• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive — restlessness, talking over people, acting before thinking, difficulty sitting with nothing to do. In adults this often looks like inner restlessness rather than visible fidgeting.
• Combined — features of both, which is the most common presentation.

The screener above covers statements from both groups and reports them separately, so you can see which pattern is stronger for you. Our guide to inattentive ADHD goes into the quieter presentation in more detail, and ADHD in women covers why it is so often missed.

How is adult ADHD diagnosed in the UK?

ADHD should be diagnosed by a specialist with the right training, after a structured assessment. They will want to understand how you're affected now, whether the same patterns were there when you were growing up, and whether they cause real difficulty in more than one part of your life, such as work and home.

A good assessment also considers other explanations. Anxiety, depression, poor sleep, thyroid problems, stress and hormonal changes can all affect concentration and mood, and can sit alongside ADHD too. Our guide to adult ADHD assessment in the UK explains the process step by step.

What to do if your result suggests ADHD

Whatever your result, if these experiences are affecting your life, it's reasonable to talk to someone. You can speak to your GP, or start with a free consultation with our adult ADHD service. We'll talk through what you've noticed and, where appropriate, arrange a structured assessment with a specialist.

It can help to jot down a few real examples before your appointment, and to think about what you were like at school. If you can, ask a parent or someone who knew you as a child what they remember.

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