Adult ADHD Test: 19 Questions About How Your Mind Works
A free, private self-test written by a board-certified psychiatrist. It doesn't diagnose ADHD, but it shows you whether a professional evaluation makes sense.
About this test
- 19 original questions in four areas that a diagnosis depends on: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity, signs in childhood, and impact on your daily life.
- It's private. Your answers are scored in your browser. Nothing is sent, saved or shared.
- It's a starting point, not a diagnosis. Anxiety, depression and poor sleep can produce similar answers. Only a clinical evaluation can tell them apart.
- You're not alone in asking. About 15.5 million US adults have ADHD, and more than half were diagnosed as adults (CDC, 2024).
The test
19 questions about the last six months
For each statement, choose how often it describes you. Think about your usual self over the past six months, not just a bad week. Answer quickly; your first instinct is usually the most accurate.
01 · Method
What This Test Measures, and What It Doesn't
How it's built
ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition defined by persistent inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that starts in childhood and interferes with daily life. I wrote these 19 questions around the four things the DSM-5-TR requires for that diagnosis: eight on inattention, seven on hyperactivity and impulsivity, two on childhood and two on real-world impact. Each answer scores from 0 (never) to 4 (very often), for a total of 0 to 76.
What your result means
| Score | Result | What I'd suggest |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 19 | Few signs | Within what most people experience now and then |
| 20 to 38 | Some signs | Watch the pattern; consider stress and sleep first |
| 39 to 57 | Several signs | An evaluation makes sense |
| 58 to 76 | Many signs | I clearly recommend an evaluation |
The childhood and daily-impact questions carry the most clinical weight. A high score on inattention alone, with no signs in childhood, points me toward other explanations first.
Why it isn't a diagnosis
Self-tests can't separate ADHD from the conditions that imitate it: anxiety, depression, chronic sleep deprivation, thyroid problems or substance use. That's the job of a clinical evaluation.
In my practice, the self-test is where the conversation starts. The evaluation is where we find out what's really behind the distraction, and that answer changes the treatment.
02 · Next steps
What to Do With Your Result
- Few or some signs: look at sleep, stress and workload first. If the pattern has lasted years, not weeks, an evaluation can still clear it up.
- Several or many signs: book a professional evaluation. Bring your result and, if you can, old report cards or someone who knew you as a child.
- Compare your options before you book. Here's what adult ADHD testing costs in the US vs Tijuana, and how the evaluation itself works in this step-by-step guide.
- If you're diagnosed, treatment usually works well. If you live in the US, read which ADHD medications you can get in Mexico before you plan your visit.
03 · FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an online test diagnose ADHD?
No. An online test can show whether your experiences match common ADHD patterns, but a diagnosis requires a clinician to review your history, confirm the symptoms started in childhood and rule out conditions that look like ADHD.
How accurate are online ADHD tests?
They're useful for screening, not for confirming. Validated screeners like the WHO's ASRS pick up many adults with ADHD, but they also flag people whose symptoms come from anxiety, depression or poor sleep.
Is this the same as the ASRS?
No. The ASRS v1.1 is an 18-question screener developed with the World Health Organization. This test uses original questions built on the same DSM-5-TR criteria, plus childhood onset and daily impact, which a diagnosis also requires.
Are my answers saved?
No. The test runs in your browser. Your answers aren't sent to a server, stored or shared, and they disappear when you close the page.
What should I do if I score high?
Book an evaluation with a psychiatrist or psychologist. A high score isn't a diagnosis, but it's a strong reason to get one, especially if the difficulties go back to childhood and affect your work or relationships.
Can teenagers take this test?
It was written for adults. Teens can read it, but ADHD in adolescents should be evaluated with input from parents and teachers.
Keep reading
Related Pages
Dr. B. Ernesto Cedillo Ramírez, MD
Board-certified psychiatrist · Tijuana, Mexico
I trained in medicine and psychiatry at UNAM, with my psychiatry residency at Hospital Psiquiátrico Fray Bernardino Álvarez in Mexico City, and I'm board certified by the Consejo Mexicano de Psiquiatría. Adult ADHD is one of the conditions I treat most often, including many patients who cross from San Diego and Los Angeles.
Professional license (Céd. Prof.) 11206254 · Specialty license (Céd. Esp.) 13577158. Here's how to verify them.
Sources
References
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed., Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), 2022.
- Staley BS, et al. ADHD diagnosis, treatment, and telehealth use in adults. MMWR 2024;73(40). CDC via PubMed Central
- Kessler RC, et al. The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS): a short screening scale for use in the general population. Psychological Medicine, 2005;35(2):245-256.
- National Institute of Mental Health. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. nimh.nih.gov
Ready for a real answer?
A complete adult ADHD evaluation, 60 minutes, $125 USD, in English or Spanish. About 15 minutes from the San Ysidro border.
This self-test is educational and doesn't replace an individual medical evaluation. Last reviewed October 6, 2026.