ADHD screening vs diagnosis
A questionnaire can organise what you notice. It cannot tell you that you have ADHD. This page draws a hard line between screening and diagnosis.
Educational information only - not medical advice and not a diagnosis.
Written by Jacqui Walker
BSc Psychology, MBPsS. ADHD screening and coaching - not a prescribing clinician.
Last reviewed 28 August 2026
What screening is
Screening is a structured self-report. You answer questions about how often something happens. You get a score. The score is a snapshot of how you described yourself on that day, not a medical finding.
ADHDNeuro’s free adult test is an 18-item questionnaire in the style of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1). The paid report is a written summary of those answers plus a 15-minute results review. Both are educational.
What diagnosis is
A diagnosis is a clinical judgement. In the UK, NICE guideline NG87 describes ADHD assessment as more than a rating scale: a full history, childhood evidence where available, and consideration of other explanations. In the US, a licensed clinician - often a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other qualified prescriber - does that work.
Jacqui Walker (BSc Psychology, MBPsS) provides screening and coaching. That is not the same role as a prescribing clinician or a diagnostic clinic.
What the report cannot be used for
- Showing a GP, doctor, psychiatrist, or psychologist
- NHS or insurance referrals, shared care, or prescriptions
- School, college, workplace, or disability paperwork
- Legal or benefits claims
If you want a medical opinion, speak to a qualified clinician in your country. Read the full wording on the screening report page.
Score bands we publish
Each of the 18 items is scored 0–4 (Never through Very Often). The total is 0–72.
- 0–24: lower band of self-reported traits
- 25–44: moderate band
- 45–72: higher band
A high score does not mean you have ADHD. A low score does not rule it out. Start with the free adult ADHD test, or read how the ASRS questionnaire works.