ADHD ASSESSMENTS

The ADHD Wheel

Directions: To see more clearly the impact that Attention Deficit Disorder may be having on your life, rate yourself on a scale from one to ten in terms of how well you feel you are managing that particular part of your life. A "1" would be at the circles center, and a "10" would be at the outer edge.

Next, taking the triangle/slices individually, draw a line across from side to side at that number value. Do this for all eight pieces. If you are like most people with AD/HD you will notice sections where the line is closer to the center and some that are stretched across the widest end.

The closer the line to the center of the circle, the more opportunity for growth you have and the more you will benefit from coaching.

Adult Self-Report Symptom Checklist


Please answer the questions below, rating yourself on each of the criteria shown using the scale on the right side of the page. As you answer each question, place an X in the box that best describes how you have felt and conducted yourself over the past 6 months.

Click here to see a more easily printed page.

  Never Rarely Some-
times		 Often Very Often
1. How often do you have trouble wrapping up the final details of a project, once the challenging parts have been done?          
2. How often do you have difficulty getting things in order when you have to do a task that requires organization? Blue Blue Blue          
3. How often do you have problems remembering appointments or obligations?          
4. When you have a task that requires a lot of thought, how often do you avoid or delay getting started?          
5. How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands of feet when you have to sit down for a long time?          
6. How often do you feel overly active and compelled to do things, like you were driven by a motor?          



Scoring: If four or more marks appear in the blue shaded boxes, you may have symptoms highly consistent with ADHD in adults and may want further investigation.

Is this your Child?

Key questions to help in diagnosing a child with ADHD.

A diagnosis of AD/HD is best made after a thorough evaluation of a child and the symptoms the child might be experiencing. AD/HD is usually identified when a child first starts school, although some symptoms may be present before the age of 7. To receive an accurate diagnosis, a health care professional will combine information about your child’s behavior at school, home and during their clinical evaluation. These 25 questions below will help you begin to see if AD/HD affects your child or family.

Place a check mark next to those statements that you answered with a “Yes”.

Click here to see a more easily printed page.

Your Child at School
  Real difficulty in learning to read, write, spell?
  Short attention span? Easily distracted?
  Two or more years developmentally delayed, immature? Prefers to play with younger children?
  Constantly in trouble for being slow to start work at school, for not getting things finished?
  Poor fine motor coordination? Large, messy handwriting?
  One who is last to get picked in recess because s/he cannot catch, hit a ball or kick straight?
  Never knows what the homework is?
  Homework is completed only with constant monitoring?
  Homework is incomplete and/or way below that which you feel your child is capable?
  Forgets to turn homework in?
Your Child’s Personal Challenges
  Has difficulty adapting to changes in routine?
  Is messy, disorganized, and chaotic?
  Easily frustrated, unhappy? Has a short fuse? Often angry?
  Has dramatic mood swings: one minute they are very excited, next down in the dumps for no apparent reason?
  Excessively fidgety, restless, touches everything, difficult to sit still?
Your child’s behavior at Home
 

Often very demanding and difficult to please?

  Destructive, whether unintentional or intentional?
  Prone to accidents?
  Contradicts or argues with what you say?
  Seems to be aware of only their needs. Insensitive to other people’s feelings, needs, desires?
  Acts without thinking?
  Seems unaware of consequences?
  Behavior stays the same despite reminding and punishment?
  Seems to be in “dangerous” situations frequently?
  Could be described as being defiant? Often the initiator or in the middle of conflict with siblings and other children?
  Unable or has difficulty recognizing their responsibility for their behavior?
  Seems oblivious to the chaos they create?
Your Child’s Health
  Prone to illness, ailments, infections, coughs, colds, minor accidents?
  Complains of being tired? Have dark circles under their eyes? Is excessively pale?
  Complains of “headaches” or gastrointestinal problems?
You and Your Feelings
  As a parent, do you feel misunderstood? Overwhelmed? Emotionally stressed to a breaking point and beyond?
  Do you consistently experience the challenge of loving your child, protecting them, and the frustration and despair at your child’s behaviors?
  Do you sometimes feel hopelessly inadequate as a parent, because you have tried everything and nothing has seemed to help?
  Do you feel you never have time to yourself because your child is overwhelmingly exhausting?
  At times, do you feel like you are walking on eggshells around your child?

Results:
 Less than 5 YES:
This number is low enough to suggest that it is unlikely that you have an AD/HD problem in your family.

Between 5-10 YES:
This number is high enough to suggest that there is an AD/HD problem. Further information is worth checking out. Not all children affected by AD/HD display the full range of behaviors. Some are more marginal than others.

Greater than 10 YES:
This number is high enough to suggest that there is a significant AD/HD problem in your family.