Wondering if your difficulty focusing, restlessness, or impulsivity might be ADHD? While everyone occasionally struggles with attention or feels fidgety, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder involves persistent patterns that significantly interfere with daily functioning.
This evidence-based screening tool can help you understand your symptoms and whether professional evaluation might be worthwhile.
About This ADHD Screening Quiz
This self-assessment is based on the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-v1.1), developed by the World Health Organization and researchers at Harvard Medical School.
This self-assessment is intended for educational purposes and to help you reflect on ADHD-related behaviors. It is not a diagnostic tool — only a licensed clinician can confirm a diagnosis.
The quiz explores both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms that characterize ADHD in adults.
Understanding ADHD in Adults
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting how the brain develops and functions, particularly regarding executive functions like attention, impulse control, and activity regulation. While ADHD begins in childhood, many people don't receive diagnosis until adulthood.
Adult ADHD looks different from childhood ADHD. The hyperactivity that's obvious in children often becomes internalized restlessness in adults. Inattention might manifest as difficulty completing work projects, chronic disorganization, or struggling to manage daily responsibilities.
The Three Presentations of ADHD
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
This type involves difficulty sustaining attention, following through on tasks, and organizing activities. People with this presentation might seem dreamy, forgetful, or easily distracted but aren't necessarily hyperactive.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
This type involves fidgeting, restlessness, difficulty waiting, and acting without thinking. These individuals feel driven by internal motor that won't stop.
Combined Presentation
This is the most common type in adults, involving significant symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.
The ADHD Self-Assessment Quiz
How the Quiz Works
For each item, rate how often you have experienced the behavior in the past 6 months:
0 = Never | 1 = Rarely | 2 = Sometimes | 3 = Often | 4 = Very Often
Key Items: Questions 1–6 are especially important for screening purposes.
Questions
Part A – Key Screening Questions (1–6)
How often do you have difficulty concentrating on tasks like reading or working?
How often do you leave your seat when you’re expected to stay seated?
How often do you feel restless or fidgety?
How often do you have trouble focusing on conversations or instructions?
How often do you interrupt or intrude on others?
How often do you have difficulty finishing tasks or projects?
Part B – Additional Questions (7–18)
7. How often do you have trouble organizing tasks or activities?
8. How often do you avoid or procrastinate on tasks that require sustained mental effort?
9. How often do you lose or misplace things necessary for tasks (keys, wallet, documents)?
10. How often do you feel like your mind is constantly moving?
11. How often do you struggle to wait your turn in conversations or activities?
12. How often do you start projects but fail to finish them?
13. How often do you talk excessively or feel compelled to talk?
14. How often do you act without thinking about consequences?
15. How often do you feel internally restless when sitting still?
16. How often do you find it hard to prioritize tasks?
17. How often do you get easily distracted by external stimuli or unrelated thoughts?
18. How often do you blurt out answers or comments before a question is finished?
Scoring Your Responses
Count how many questions you answered 3 (Often) or 4 (Very Often).
Interpretation (Educational Purposes Only):
Few symptoms (0–5 items rated Often/Very Often):
Your responses suggest few ADHD-like behaviors. Occasional difficulties with focus or restlessness are normal.Some symptoms (6–9 items rated Often/Very Often):
You report multiple ADHD-like behaviors. Consider monitoring patterns and reflecting on whether these symptoms impact your daily life. Professional consultation may be helpful if symptoms interfere with work, relationships, or daily responsibilities.Many symptoms (10+ items rated Often/Very Often):
Your responses indicate multiple behaviors associated with ADHD. Professional evaluation is recommended to clarify whether ADHD or another condition may be contributing.
Key Screening Note: If you rated 3 or 4 (Often/Very Often) on four or more of the first six questions, this may indicate significant ADHD-related behaviors. Discuss these results with a licensed clinician for a proper evaluation.
Next Steps
Remember, this quiz is a reflection tool — it cannot replace a professional diagnosis.
Only a qualified clinician can confirm ADHD and recommend treatment.
If your results suggest ADHD-like behaviors, professional evaluation can help you access treatment and strategies to improve focus, organization, and overall quality of life.
How Common Is ADHD?
ADHD affects approximately 4-5% of adults in the United States, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This translates to about 10 million American adults living with ADHD.
Many adults with ADHD weren't diagnosed in childhood. Historically, ADHD was underdiagnosed in girls and women, who more often have the inattentive presentation that's less disruptive and therefore less noticeable.
Common ADHD Symptoms in Adults
Understanding how ADHD manifests in adults can help you recognize patterns in your own experiences.
Inattention Symptoms
Difficulty sustaining attention: Trouble staying focused on tasks, especially boring or repetitive ones. Your mind wanders during conversations, meetings, or while reading.
Easily distracted: External stimuli or internal thoughts constantly pull your attention away from what you're supposed to be doing.
Forgetfulness: Frequently forgetting appointments, deadlines, or daily tasks. Constantly losing keys, wallet, phone, or other items.
Difficulty organizing: Struggling to keep work or living spaces organized, having trouble managing time, or difficulty prioritizing tasks.
Avoidance of mental effort: Procrastinating on tasks that require sustained mental effort, like paperwork or detailed projects.
Not listening: People tell you that you don't seem to be listening even when you're trying to pay attention.
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms
Internal restlessness: Feeling like you need to be constantly busy or productive. Difficulty relaxing even when you have free time.
Fidgeting: Tapping feet, playing with objects, or needing to move even when sitting still is expected.
Talking excessively: Difficulty controlling how much you talk, especially in social situations. People may tell you that you dominate conversations.
Impulsive decisions: Making important decisions quickly without thinking through consequences, like impulsive purchases, job changes, or relationship decisions.
Difficulty waiting: Impatience in lines, during conversations, or when waiting for anything. Interrupting others frequently.
Blurting out: Saying things without thinking, which sometimes leads to foot-in-mouth moments or hurt feelings.
ADHD in Women
ADHD often looks different in women and girls, which contributes to underdiagnosis.
Women with ADHD are more likely to have:
Predominantly inattentive presentation (less obvious than hyperactivity)
Internalized symptoms like daydreaming and mental restlessness
Better developed compensatory strategies that mask symptoms
Co-occurring anxiety or depression
Women often describe feeling like they're "working twice as hard to accomplish half as much" or that they're constantly failing to meet expectations despite their efforts.
Hormonal changes during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause can affect ADHD symptoms, with many women reporting symptom worsening during certain hormonal phases.
When to Seek Professional Help
You should consider professional evaluation if:
Symptoms are present in multiple settings (work, home, social situations)
Symptoms have been present since childhood or adolescence
Symptoms significantly interfere with work performance or relationships
You've developed coping mechanisms that are no longer sufficient
You have unexplained difficulties despite good intelligence and motivation
You suspect ADHD but want accurate diagnosis to rule out other conditions
How Online Psychiatry Can Help with ADHD
Virtual psychiatric care through platforms like Blossom Health offers several advantages for ADHD treatment:
Quick access: Get evaluated and start treatment within days rather than waiting months for traditional psychiatry appointments.
Convenience: Attend appointments from home or work, which is especially helpful when ADHD makes getting to appointments challenging.
Medication management: Psychiatric providers can prescribe and monitor ADHD medications virtually, including controlled substances in most states.
Consistent care: Maintain regular treatment even when life gets chaotic—a common challenge with ADHD.
Insurance coverage: Most insurance plans cover online psychiatry at the same rate as in-person visits.
The Bottom Line
If your screening results suggest ADHD, remember that a diagnosis can be the first step toward positive change. ADHD isn't a character flaw or excuse—it's a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition that responds very well to treatment.
The most important next step is a comprehensive evaluation by a healthcare provider experienced in diagnosing and treating adult ADHD. Proper diagnosis ensures you receive appropriate treatment rather than struggling unnecessarily.
With the right combination of medication, behavioral strategies, and support, most adults with ADHD can dramatically improve their functioning and quality of life. Many describe finally being able to reach their potential after years of struggling despite their best efforts.
If mental health symptoms, including ADHD are holding you back, consider reaching out to a platform like Blossom Health, where you can connect with licensed psychiatric providers who can evaluate, diagnose, and treat ADHD through convenient virtual appointments covered by most insurance plans.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult with your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication, treatment changes. If you're having thoughts of self-harm or experiencing a mental health crisis, seek immediate help by calling 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Never stop taking prescribed medications without consulting your doctor first, as discontinuation can cause withdrawal symptoms or worsening of your condition.
