ADHD Screening Test for Children
Start the screening now — answer questions about your child's behaviour over the past 6 months. You will receive immediate guidance on whether a professional ADHD evaluation is recommended. The test takes approximately 10 minutes.
This parent-friendly screening questionnaire helps identify signs of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 4–17. Based on validated screening instruments, it evaluates patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity across home and school settings. For a comprehensive overview of the condition, see our guide to understanding ADHD in children.
Important: This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. A positive screen does not mean your child has ADHD — it means a comprehensive professional evaluation is warranted. Only a qualified clinical psychologist or developmental pediatrician can diagnose ADHD through detailed assessment including standardized testing, behavioral observation, and clinical interviews.
Book a Professional ADHD Assessment | Call: +91 95355 85588
Meet our child psychologists who specialise in this area.
How This Screening Works
Answer each question based on your child's behavior over the past 6 months. Consider whether each behavior is significantly more frequent or intense than what you observe in other children the same age. Rate each item as "Never/Rarely," "Sometimes," or "Often/Very Often." If your child is under 6, you may also want to review our guide on early signs of ADHD in toddlers for age-appropriate indicators.
Inattention Signs
Does your child often fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork? Do they have difficulty sustaining attention during tasks or play activities? Do they seem not to listen when spoken to directly? Do they fail to follow through on instructions or finish homework and chores? Do they have difficulty organizing tasks, materials, and belongings? Do they avoid or strongly dislike tasks requiring sustained mental effort (homework, reading)? Do they frequently lose things needed for activities (school supplies, toys, assignments)? Are they easily distracted by unrelated sights, sounds, or thoughts? Are they forgetful in daily activities and routines?
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Signs
Does your child fidget with hands/feet or squirm when seated? Do they leave their seat in situations where sitting is expected (classroom, dinner table)? Do they run or climb in situations where it's inappropriate? Are they unable to play or engage in activities quietly? Do they seem "driven by a motor" — always on the go? Do they talk excessively? Do they blurt out answers before questions are completed? Do they have difficulty waiting their turn? Do they interrupt or intrude on others' conversations or activities?
Interpreting Results
If you answered "Often/Very Often" to 6 or more items in either the Inattention section OR the Hyperactivity-Impulsivity section, and these behaviors have been present for at least 6 months and cause problems in two or more settings (home, school, social), a professional ADHD assessment is recommended. If you answered "Often/Very Often" to items in both sections, your child may have Combined Presentation ADHD — the most common type.
What Does This Screening Measure?
This ADHD screening evaluates three core symptom domains defined by the DSM-5:
- Inattention — difficulty sustaining focus, poor organisation, forgetfulness, distractibility, and avoidance of tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- Hyperactivity — excessive fidgeting, inability to stay seated, constant movement, difficulty playing quietly, and talking excessively
- Impulsivity — blurting out answers, difficulty waiting turns, interrupting others, and acting without considering consequences
The screening helps identify which presentation your child may have: Predominantly Inattentive (often missed, especially in girls), Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, or Combined Presentation (the most common type). Girls with ADHD are frequently overlooked because they tend to show inattentive rather than hyperactive symptoms — learn more about signs of ADHD in girls — why it's often missed.
Age Ranges: When Is ADHD Screening Valid?
This screening is designed for children aged 4–17 years. ADHD symptoms present differently across developmental stages:
- Ages 4–5: Hyperactivity and impulsivity are most visible — difficulty sitting for stories, constant movement, trouble waiting. Inattention is harder to assess because sustained focus expectations are lower at this age. See our guide on early signs of ADHD in toddlers for pre-screening indicators.
- Ages 6–9: School demands make inattention more apparent — careless mistakes, incomplete homework, difficulty following multi-step instructions. Hyperactivity may begin to reduce but impulsivity often persists.
- Ages 10–13: Executive function challenges become prominent — poor time management, disorganisation, difficulty planning ahead. Some children develop compensatory strategies that mask symptoms, particularly girls.
- Ages 14–17: Hyperactivity often transforms into internal restlessness. Academic demands increase and may overwhelm coping strategies. Co-occurring anxiety or depression frequently emerges.
If your child is younger than 4, speak with your paediatrician about developmental concerns. Some parents also find it helpful to understand is it ADHD or autism? as symptoms can overlap significantly.
What Happens After Screening?
If this screening suggests ADHD, the next step is a comprehensive professional assessment at Cadabam's CDC. Our ADHD evaluation includes a detailed developmental history interview with parents, standardized ADHD rating scales completed by parents AND teachers (Conners-3), cognitive testing (WISC-V) to rule out other causes, attention and executive function testing, screening for co-occurring conditions (anxiety, learning disabilities), and a comprehensive report with diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Treatment plans may include occupational therapy for ADHD, behavioural strategies, and medication management as appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ADHD be diagnosed from a screening test alone?
No. Screening tools identify children who may have ADHD and need further evaluation, but diagnosis requires a comprehensive professional assessment. ADHD symptoms overlap significantly with anxiety, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, and other conditions. Only a thorough clinical evaluation can differentiate these and provide an accurate diagnosis.
At what age can ADHD be screened?
ADHD can be reliably screened from age 4 onwards. Some signs may be apparent earlier, but the diagnostic criteria require symptoms to be present across multiple settings, which is difficult to assess before a child enters structured environments like preschool. At Cadabam's CDC, we can assess children from age 4 through adolescence.
My child has some ADHD signs but seems fine at school — should I still get assessed?
Yes. Some children — particularly girls and those with primarily inattentive ADHD — compensate effectively at school but struggle significantly at home, or vice versa. They may appear fine on the surface but are working much harder than their peers to maintain performance. A professional assessment can identify these "hidden" presentations. Learn more about ADHD signs specific to girls.
Can a parent diagnose ADHD with a self-assessment?
No. A self-assessment or screening tool identifies patterns that may indicate ADHD, but it cannot provide a diagnosis. ADHD diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a qualified professional — typically a clinical psychologist, developmental paediatrician, or child psychiatrist. The assessment must demonstrate that symptoms are present across multiple settings (home and school), cause functional impairment, and are not better explained by other conditions.
What is the difference between ADHD screening and diagnosis?
Screening is a brief process (5–10 minutes) that flags potential ADHD traits and helps parents decide whether professional evaluation is warranted. Diagnosis is a comprehensive clinical process (2–4 hours across 1–2 sessions) that includes standardised rating scales, cognitive testing, behavioural observation, clinical interviews, and differential diagnosis to rule out other conditions. Screening says "this is worth investigating"; diagnosis says "this is — or is not — ADHD."
How long does a full ADHD assessment take?
At Cadabam's CDC, a comprehensive ADHD assessment typically requires 2–3 sessions totalling 3–4 hours, spread over 1–2 weeks. This includes parent interviews, teacher questionnaire collection, cognitive testing (WISC-V), attention and executive function assessment, and co-morbidity screening. Results and a detailed report are typically provided within 7 days of the final session.
What professionals diagnose ADHD in children?
ADHD is diagnosed by clinical psychologists, developmental paediatricians, child psychiatrists, and pediatric neurologists. At Cadabam's CDC, our multidisciplinary team includes all of these specialists, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation that considers ADHD alongside potential co-occurring conditions such as anxiety, learning disabilities, and autism.
What age can ADHD be reliably screened?
ADHD can be reliably screened from age 4 onwards, when children enter structured environments that make symptom patterns more visible. Some indicators may be apparent earlier — see our guide on early signs of ADHD in toddlers — but formal screening and diagnosis before age 4 is less reliable because behaviours like inattention and high activity levels overlap significantly with typical toddler development.
Book a Professional ADHD Assessment | Call: +91 95355 85588
Medically reviewed by Archana Sagar, Rehabilitation Psychologist, Cadabam's CDC. Last reviewed April 2026.