ASRS v1.1: Adult ADHD Self‑Report Scale v1.1

The Adult ADHD Self‑Report Scale (ASRS) v1.1 is an 18‑item adult ADHD screening questionnaire developed with the World Health Organization. It asks how often ADHD-related symptoms have affected daily life over the past 6 months. Scores can indicate when a full clinical evaluation may be useful, but the ASRS does not diagnose ADHD.

The ASRS includes a short Part A screener and a longer Part B symptom checklist. The original paper form uses shaded response boxes in Part A; four or more shaded-box responses is commonly treated as a positive screen that should be followed by a comprehensive clinical evaluation.

Part A vs Part B: What's the difference?

• Part A (6 items): Short screener most predictive of ADHD diagnosis. Focuses on core symptoms with highest diagnostic accuracy.
• Part B (12 items): Additional symptom severity and functional impact. Provides broader clinical context.
• Both parts use identical 0–4 scoring ("Never" to "Very Often") over past 6 months.

Understanding ASRS Shaded Boxes Scoring

The original paper ASRS form uses shaded boxes to highlight clinically significant responses. If your answer falls in a shaded box, it counts toward a positive screen. Here's how the shaded thresholds work for Part A:

Traditional interpretation: If 4 or more of your Part A responses fall in shaded boxes, the screen is positive for ADHD. This online version also reports numeric Part A, Part B and total scores for easier tracking, but the shaded-box rule is the canonical quick-screen interpretation.

Why it matters: ADHD persists into adulthood for many people and can significantly affect relationships, career and quality of life. Yet adult ADHD is frequently under‑diagnosed. The ASRS offers a quick, self‑administered way to identify individuals whose symptom pattern warrants further evaluation. Studies report high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha ≈ 0.88) and strong concurrent validity (r ≈ 0.84). More recent factor analytic work confirms a two‑factor structure (inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity) with excellent reliability (α ≈ 0.95 for the full scale and ≈ 0.92 for each subscale).

Evidence & scoring: The canonical Part A scoring rubric counts how many of your six responses fall within the darkly shaded boxes — four or more shaded responses is a positive screen (Kessler et al., 2005). Some clinicians and researchers also report a numeric Part A score (sum of 0–4 ratings, range 0–24) for tracking change over time, but there is no consensus numeric cutoff for v1.1; the canonical positive screen remains the dichotomous shaded-box count. Part B (12 items, scored similarly, range 0–48) provides context about broader symptom severity. The combined 18‑item total (range 0–72) can be compared with normative data when used for population-level work.

Validation findings: The original WHO/Kessler validation (Kessler et al., 2005) reported the 6‑item screener at the dichotomous shaded-box cutoff achieves high specificity (≈99.5%) with moderate sensitivity (≈68.7%). Later workforce-validation work (Kessler et al., 2007) reported higher accuracy in employee samples. Adler et al. (2006) reported strong internal consistency (Cronbach's α ≈ 0.88) and inter-rater reliability (ICC ≈ 0.84) for clinical use. Reported numbers vary across populations and cutoffs; consult the primary literature for the cutoff and population most relevant to your use case.

Important note: The ASRS is a screening tool—it does not confirm or rule out ADHD. A positive screen should lead to a comprehensive clinical interview assessing childhood history, functional impairment and potential comorbidities. Clinicians may combine the ASRS with the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS) to evaluate retrospective childhood symptoms. If you or your patient scores in the high or very high range, consult a qualified healthcare professional for a full evaluation.

Crisis support: If you experience thoughts of self-harm or severe distress, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately.

Answer 18 questions about how often you have experienced specific ADHD‑related behaviours over the past 6 months. Each response is scored from 0 (Never) to 4 (Very Often). The first six questions (Part A) form the short screener. Add up the scores from those items to obtain a Part A score (range 0–24). Repeat the process for the remaining twelve questions to calculate a Part B score (range 0–48). Summing all 18 responses yields the total score (range 0–72).

After completing the questionnaire, compare your scores with the interpretive ranges below. Higher scores indicate greater frequency of ADHD symptoms. Remember that the ASRS is not diagnostic—use it to guide conversations with healthcare providers.

Part A (0–24 points):

• Low (0–9): Symptoms are below screening threshold. ADHD is unlikely, but monitor if functional impairments persist.
• Mild to Moderate (10–13): Some ADHD traits are present. Consider re‑testing or discussing with a clinician if impairments are significant.
• High (14–17): Positive screen. Your responses are consistent with the symptom pattern commonly reported by adults later evaluated for ADHD. The ASRS items map to DSM-IV-TR Criterion A symptoms; a current ADHD diagnosis is made by a clinician under DSM-5-TR and additionally requires evidence of onset before age 12, cross-setting impairment, and exclusion of other causes. A comprehensive evaluation is recommended.
• Very High (18–24): Strongly positive screen. Symptoms are frequent and likely cause significant impairment. Prompt clinical evaluation is warranted.

Part B (0–48 points):

• Low (0–19): Minimal additional symptoms.
• Mild to Moderate (20–26): Some broader ADHD symptoms. Monitor functioning and discuss concerns with a professional if needed.
• High (27–32): Clinically significant symptom burden. Seek a comprehensive evaluation.
• Very High (33–48): Symptoms are pervasive across settings. A diagnostic assessment is strongly advised.

Total Score (0–72 points):

• Low (0–30): Scores fall within the typical range of community adults.
• Mild to Moderate (31–39): Some trait elevations. Consider further screening or monitoring.
• High (40–49): Elevated symptom burden. Combined with a positive Part A shaded-box screen, this supports follow-up with a clinician.
• Very High (50–72): Extremely elevated symptoms. A detailed clinical evaluation is needed.

Using your results: A Part A score ≥14 or Part B score ≥27 suggests elevated ADHD symptom burden. Use the scores to facilitate discussions with a mental health provider. Always interpret results in the context of your personal history and current functioning.