Take the Test

All right, y’all. Disclaimer time.

(First thing’s first: I have no idea why I just said “y’all.” I’m not from Texas. I never say “y’all.” But onward.)

The following is MY VERSION of a list of symptoms found in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association and used by health professionals to discuss and diagnose conditions of the mind). This test is in NO WAY intended to be a hard, fast, yes-you-have-it-or-no-you-don’t answer. Instead, I include it on my website to help you start to GAUGE your symptoms. If you score high on this test, the next step would be to consider making an appointment for a clinical diagnosis. If you DON’T check many boxes, but are still convinced you have ADHD, keep digging. ADHDers are notoriously bad at self-evaluation. You may need to do this test with a co-worker, spouse, or friend in order to get an accurate result. Alternatively, read my post about ADHD Signs and Symptoms to get a more thorough view of how ADHD can pop up on a daily basis.

RULES

1. Read the line-item. Check the box to the left if the statement applies to you. When you’re done, tally up your check-marks.
2. SCORING: For children, 6 check-marks are enough to warrent evaluation. For adults, that number drops to 5.
3. In addition to checking multiple boxes, the DSM-5 stipulates that your symptoms must exist in at least two settings (i.e. work and home.) If you have trouble in one setting, there is a chance your symptoms are environmental and should be addressed in another fashion.
4. Your symptoms must also have been present for at least 6 months and must not be better explained by another disorder.
5. Lastly, at least some of your symptoms must have surfaced before the age of 12. You may need to ask parents or former educators to assist you in making these recollections.

What Now?

Personally? I think this is where it gets REALLY, REALLY exciting.

If you have ADHD, your struggle has a NAME. Even better, it has a COMMUNITY. There are thousands of people out there that are so similar to you, it’s gonna be a little scary.

There are thousands MORE who are working every day to help you understand and work with your unique brain, a brain that, I think, is actually kinda cool.

So if you took this test and marked a lot of boxes (or even ALL of them), get hopeful. You’ve got options.

Here are just a few of them: