About ADHD Test OnlineBuilt by adults with ADHD, for adults with ADHD
A free, private screening tool and educational library. We are not a clinic, and we do not diagnose. We exist to help you figure out whether a conversation with a professional is worth having.
Last reviewed: 2026-04-08
Why this site exists
ADHD affects roughly 4-5% of adults worldwide, according to research published through the World Health Organization. Many go years without answers, blaming themselves for patterns that have a neurological basis. Formal evaluation can be expensive, slow to access, or hard to navigate, depending on where you live.
We started ADHD Test Online to narrow that gap. The idea is simple: give people a free, private first step that respects medical boundaries. A twelve-question screening flow informed by established ADHD research, a plain-language result, and enough educational context to help someone decide whether to pursue a professional evaluation.
We are not affiliated with any drug company, hospital chain, or insurer.
What we offer
- Free adult screening. Twelve questions for adults 18+. No account required. You get an immediate score band and plain-language context. We do not sell your email; see our Privacy Policy.
- Educational content. Long-form articles, a searchable FAQ, and curated links to trusted organizations. We write for clarity and cite agency and peer-reviewed sources when we make clinical points.
- Guidance toward professional care. A screen is a starting point, not an endpoint. After you finish, we point you toward next steps. For evaluation and treatment, you need a licensed clinician who can review your full history.
Screening methodology
Our screener is informed by the World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) research program and common adult screening practice. The twelve on-site items map to attention, restlessness, and impulse patterns described in the DSM-5, the manual clinicians use alongside interviews and history.
The ASRS family includes validated short forms used globally. We use a twelve-question flow aligned with those frameworks and DSM-5 symptom domains. Cutoffs and labels on the site are for education. A clinician may use different tools, norms, or criteria in practice.
This tool is for screening only. It can suggest whether a full evaluation is worth pursuing. It does not replace neuropsychological testing, medical workup, or a licensed provider who knows your situation.
For more on ASRS-style instruments, see our ASRS FAQ and the FAQ hub.
Who we are
ADHD Test Online is an independent project run by a small team of adults who live with ADHD. We started from personal experience: suspecting something was off, not knowing where to begin, and finding that the path to answers was expensive, confusing, or both.
We are not clinicians. We do not claim clinical authority. What we bring is firsthand experience navigating the ADHD landscape as adults, combined with careful research and a commitment to honest, well-sourced information.
Editorial approach
Our articles are researched using clinical guidelines and peer-reviewed sources from organizations such as the WHO, CDC, NIMH, NHS, and APA. Each piece cites its sources inline and in a reference list so you can check the evidence yourself.
We use AI tools to assist with drafting and structuring content. Every article goes through human review for accuracy, tone, and medical responsibility before publication. We believe in being transparent about this: AI helps us write faster and more consistently, but a human editorial eye decides what gets published.
Our editorial team writes under named bylines. These are non-clinical writers and editors with backgrounds in health education, psychology, and ADHD advocacy. None of our writers hold themselves out as licensed clinicians. You can see who wrote each article on the article itself.
What we do not claim
We do not claim "medically reviewed by" status. Until we bring a licensed clinician onto our editorial team, we will not use that label. Articles include a sourcing transparency line so you know exactly how each piece was produced.
The full policy (source tiers, AI disclosure, correction process, and what we explicitly will not publish) lives on our editorial & sourcing policy. You can read the individual writer profiles on the Writers page.
Content standards
- Research first. We draw on peer-reviewed studies, government health agencies, and established ADHD literature. We do not promise certainty the science does not support.
- Plain language. Health content should be readable, not buried in jargon. We target a reading level around grades 6-8 for most articles.
- Responsible framing. We separate what research shows from what people with ADHD commonly report. We hedge mechanism claims (brain chemistry, genetics) with "research suggests" or "may" because the science is often still developing.
- Regular updates. We refresh major pages on a schedule and show a "last reviewed" date. If something looks off, tell us via Contact.
Where we get our information
Not all sources carry the same weight. We prioritize in this order:
- Tier A (primary): NIMH, CDC, NICE, NHS, WHO. Government health agencies with formal review processes.
- Tier B (supporting): Peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, PMC, Lancet, JAMA. Individual studies that back specific claims.
- Tier C (supplementary): CHADD, ADDitude, and similar advocacy organizations. Useful for community context, not as the sole basis for clinical claims.
Every citation in our articles must match the specific claim it supports. We link at the point of the claim, not just in a footnote list.
Important disclaimer
ADHD Test Online is an educational site. The screener is a screening tool for information only. It is not a medical diagnosis and not a treatment plan.
ADHD is diagnosed through a full clinical assessment by a qualified professional (psychiatrist, psychologist, or other licensed provider, depending on where you live). If you think you may have ADHD, please seek that level of care. Our Resources page lists trusted organizations and support starting points.
Read our full Disclaimer.
Ready to take the next step?
Take the free adult screener (about five minutes, private results), or keep learning in the FAQ and blog.