Could It Be ADHD? Many parents notice these behaviors and wonder whether they are simply part of childhood or whether something more may be going on.
Children naturally have moments when they lose focus, become restless, or act before thinking. With ADHD, however, these patterns tend to persist over time, occur frequently, and interfere with everyday life at home, at school, or with friends.
This short parent screener can help you think more clearly about the behaviors you have been noticing.
It is not an ADHD diagnosis. Think of it as a starting point for deciding whether a professional conversation may be worthwhile.
Could Your Child Be Showing Signs of ADHD?
Think about your child’s behavior during the past six months.
For each statement, choose the answer that best describes how often the behavior occurs.
Never = 0
Sometimes = 1
Often = 2
Very Often = 3
Attention and Organization
1. Has difficulty staying focused on homework, reading, conversations, or other activities that require sustained attention.
2. Often seems not to listen, even when spoken to directly.
3. Starts tasks but frequently has difficulty completing them.
4. Has trouble organizing schoolwork, belongings, activities, or daily routines.
5. Frequently loses things needed for school or everyday activities.
6. Is easily distracted by sounds, objects, people, or unrelated thoughts.
7. Often forgets assignments, instructions, appointments, chores, or other responsibilities.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
8. Frequently fidgets, squirms, or has difficulty remaining seated when expected.
9. Often seems constantly “on the go” or has difficulty slowing down.
10. Talks excessively, blurts things out, or frequently interrupts others.
11. Has difficulty waiting their turn.
12. Frequently acts quickly without first considering what might happen.
These behaviors reflect common inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms associated with ADHD, but occasional examples of them are also normal in children who do not have ADHD.
Two Questions That Matter Just as Much
ADHD is not determined simply by how many behaviors appear on a checklist. How much those behaviors interfere with the child’s life is particularly important.
13. Are these behaviors creating noticeable difficulties?
- No
- A little
- Moderately
- Significantly
Think about school performance, homework, friendships, family routines, emotional well-being, and everyday responsibilities.
14. Do similar difficulties occur in more than one setting?
- Yes
- No
- Unsure
For example, are similar problems noticed both at home and at school, or during extracurricular activities and interactions with other people?
ADHD diagnosis requires evidence that symptoms are present in more than one setting and that they interfere with social, academic, or everyday functioning.
What Do Your Answers Mean?
Rather than relying on a simple numerical score, look at the overall pattern of your responses.
Few Concerns
If you answered Never or Sometimes to most questions and the behaviors are not causing significant problems in daily life, your responses may not indicate a strong ADHD-related pattern at this time.
However, if something about your child’s attention, behavior, learning, or emotional health is still concerning you, it is reasonable to discuss it with a healthcare professional.
Several Behaviors Stand Out
If you answered Often or Very Often to several questions, you may be noticing behaviors commonly associated with ADHD.
That does not mean your child has ADHD. It may mean that a professional evaluation could help determine why your child is struggling and what type of support may be appropriate.
Behaviors Are Frequent and Affect Daily Life
If many of these behaviors occur Often or Very Often, happen across different settings, and are noticeably interfering with school, relationships, family routines, or everyday functioning, a professional ADHD evaluation may be worth considering.
ADHD is only one possible explanation. Anxiety, depression, sleep problems, learning disorders, and other conditions can sometimes produce symptoms that resemble ADHD. This is one reason a comprehensive evaluation is important.
What Happens During an ADHD Evaluation?
There is no single test that can diagnose ADHD.
A professional evaluation typically considers the child’s symptoms, how long they have been present, when they began, how much they interfere with functioning, and whether similar behaviors occur across different environments.
Information may be gathered from parents, teachers, caregivers, and the child, depending on the child’s age. Healthcare professionals also evaluate whether another condition could better explain the symptoms.
That broader perspective is important because ADHD is more than simply being energetic, distracted, or forgetful.
When Should Parents Consider Seeking Help?
Consider speaking with a qualified healthcare professional if your child’s difficulties with attention, organization, impulsivity, or hyperactivity:
- Have continued for several months
- Seem more pronounced than expected for their age
- Occur in more than one environment
- Interfere with school performance
- Create frequent conflict at home
- Affect friendships or social interactions
- Make everyday responsibilities unusually difficult
The goal is not simply to put a label on the behavior.
The goal is to understand what is happening and what may help.
Important Disclaimer
This questionnaire is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a diagnostic test and cannot determine whether a child has ADHD. ADHD diagnosis requires a comprehensive professional evaluation that considers symptoms, developmental history, functional impairment, behavior across multiple settings, and other conditions that could produce similar symptoms. If you are concerned about your child’s behavior, development, learning, or mental health, consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Get a Clearer Picture of What May Be Going On
If your answers raised concerns about your child’s attention, impulsivity, organization, or activity level, the next step does not have to be complicated.
A professional conversation can help you better understand what you are seeing and determine whether additional evaluation or support is appropriate.
Get strategies tailored to your child’s unique mind.
Schedule an ADHD consultation with New Mentality.
Call 704.799.1270
Sources
- New Mentality, PC, American Academy of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Assessment Scales, AAP Vanderbilt Parent-Informant Form, AAP ADHD Toolkit AAP, School-aged children and ADHD screening tools
