Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Assessment
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can persist into adulthood and affect attention, concentration, organisation, time management, emotional regulation, impulse control, relationships, and occupational functioning.
Many adults remain undiagnosed despite experiencing lifelong difficulties with procrastination, distractibility, forgetfulness, restlessness, inconsistent performance, emotional dysregulation, or difficulties maintaining routines. Adult ADHD frequently co-occurs with anxiety, depression, burnout, and executive functioning challenges, making comprehensive assessment particularly valuable.
An evidence-based ADHD assessment can provide diagnostic clarity, increase self-understanding, guide treatment planning, and support applications for workplace accommodations or educational adjustments.
Our Adult ADHD assessments are conducted by experienced psychologists and utilise internationally recognised clinical interviews, self-report measures, and objective attention testing instruments.
Assessment Options
Option 1 – Comprehensive Adult ADHD Assessment
Fee: $600 (Inclusive of Psychological Report)
Assessment Administration
This assessment consists of:
60-Minute Clinical Interview
Conducted by a psychologist, the interview explores:
- Childhood behavioural patterns
- Academic history
- Occupational functioning
- Attention and concentration difficulties
- Executive functioning abilities
- Emotional regulation
- Organisation and planning skills
- Impulsivity
- Hyperactivity symptoms
- Family history
- Current functional impairment
Online Assessment Battery
Following the interview, questionnaires will be emailed to the client for completion.
Assessment measures include:
DIVA 5.0
Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults
ASRS
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale
CAARS
Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scale
WFIRS
Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale
BIS-11
Barratt Impulsiveness Scale
Wender Utah Rating Scale
Retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms.
Why These Measures Were Selected
ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that extends beyond attention difficulties alone. Adults with ADHD may present with executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, impaired organisation, impulsivity, and significant functional impairment.
This assessment battery was selected because it evaluates multiple dimensions of ADHD functioning.
DIVA 5.0
The Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA 5.0) is a semi-structured interview based on DSM criteria and is widely used internationally for adult ADHD diagnosis.
It evaluates:
- Childhood symptoms
- Adult symptoms
- Functional impairment
- Symptom persistence across settings
Research demonstrates good reliability and diagnostic utility for adult ADHD assessment.
ASRS
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and provides an efficient and well-validated screening measure for adult ADHD symptoms.
It assesses:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
Studies indicate strong sensitivity and specificity in identifying adult ADHD.
CAARS
Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales are among the most extensively researched ADHD instruments.
CAARS provides information regarding:
- Inattention
- Hyperactivity
- Emotional lability
- Self-concept
- Impulsivity
The instrument is highly useful for differentiating ADHD from other psychological conditions.
WFIRS
ADHD affects functioning, not merely symptoms.
The Weiss Functional Impairment Rating Scale evaluates difficulties across:
- Employment
- Education
- Relationships
- Self-concept
- Daily living skills
- Emotional functioning
Functional impairment is an important component of ADHD diagnosis under DSM-5.
BIS-11
Impulsivity represents a core feature of ADHD.
The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale assesses:
- Motor impulsivity
- Cognitive impulsivity
- Non-planning behaviours
Research consistently demonstrates elevated impulsivity among adults diagnosed with ADHD.
Wender Utah Rating Scale
ADHD is considered a neurodevelopmental condition with onset during childhood.
The Wender Utah Rating Scale helps identify historical ADHD symptoms and supports the developmental history component required for diagnosis.
Suitable For
Option 1 is recommended for:
- Adults seeking diagnostic clarification
- University students
- Professionals experiencing workplace difficulties
- Individuals struggling with concentration and organisation
- Clients requiring a comprehensive clinical assessment
- Adults with suspected long-standing ADHD symptoms
Benefits
- Comprehensive multi-dimensional assessment
- Evaluates both symptoms and impairment
- Examines childhood and adult functioning
- Cost-effective diagnostic pathway
- Provides detailed recommendations and diagnostic report
Option 2 – Extended Comprehensive Adult ADHD Assessment
Fee: $950 (Inclusive of Psychological Report)
Assessment Administration
Option 2 includes everything contained in Option 1 plus:
Conners Continuous Performance Test – Third Edition (CPT-3)
The CPT-3 is a computerised assessment of sustained attention and inhibitory control.
The task typically takes approximately 14 minutes to complete.
The assessment evaluates:
- Sustained attention
- Vigilance
- Inattention
- Response consistency
- Impulsivity
- Processing speed
- Variability in responding
How Option 2 Differs from Option 1
While Option 1 relies primarily on clinical interviews and validated rating scales, Option 2 incorporates objective behavioural testing.
The CPT-3 provides measurable performance data regarding attentional functioning that complements subjective symptom reports.
This combination offers increased diagnostic confidence and can be particularly useful in more complex presentations.
Suitable For
Option 2 is recommended for:
- Adults seeking the highest level of diagnostic confidence
- Complex presentations
- Cases involving diagnostic uncertainty
- Clients with overlapping anxiety or mood symptoms
- University accommodation requests
- Workplace accommodation applications
- Individuals wanting objective evidence of attentional functioning
Benefits
- All benefits of Option 1
- Includes objective attention testing
- Provides behavioural evidence beyond questionnaires
- Greater diagnostic precision
- Stronger support for accommodations and documentation
Option 3 – Focused ADHD Assessment
Fee: $450 (Inclusive of Psychological Report)
Assessment Administration
Option 3 consists of:
DIVA 2.0 Interview
A structured DSM-based interview evaluating ADHD symptoms across childhood and adulthood.
Conners CPT-3
A computerised assessment examining attentional performance and inhibitory control.
How Option 3 Differs from Other Options
Option 3 is designed as a shorter and more streamlined assessment pathway.
Rather than using multiple questionnaires and functional measures, it combines:
- A structured clinical interview
- An objective attention assessment
This approach focuses on identifying core ADHD symptoms and observable attentional difficulties while reducing assessment burden.
Suitable For
Option 3 may be appropriate for:
- Individuals seeking a shorter assessment process
- Clients with budget considerations
- Preliminary ADHD evaluations
- Adults wanting rapid diagnostic clarification
- Individuals primarily interested in attentional functioning
Benefits
- More affordable assessment option
- Shorter testing process
- Includes objective performance testing
- Reduced questionnaire burden
- Efficient pathway for ADHD screening and diagnosis
Comparison of Assessment Options
| Assessment Component | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Interview | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| DIVA 2.0 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ASRS | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| CAARS | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| WFIRS | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| BIS-11 | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Wender Utah | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| CPT-3 | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Functional Impairment Analysis | ✓ | ✓ | Limited |
| Objective Attention Testing | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diagnostic Breadth | High | Very High | Moderate |
| Assessment Duration | Moderate | Extended | Short |
| Fee | $600 | $950 | $450 |
Which Assessment Should I Choose?
Option 1
Suitable for most adults seeking a comprehensive ADHD assessment that evaluates symptoms, functional impairment, impulsivity, and developmental history.
Option 2
Recommended for individuals wanting the most comprehensive assessment available, including objective attention testing to strengthen diagnostic confidence.
Option 3
Ideal for those seeking a shorter and more affordable assessment pathway while still benefiting from a structured diagnostic interview and objective performance assessment.
Scientific Support for Assessment Selection
The selected assessment battery reflects current best practices in adult ADHD evaluation and incorporates instruments with substantial empirical support.
The DIVA 2.0 has demonstrated excellent diagnostic validity and is widely recognised as one of the leading structured interviews for adult ADHD.
The ASRS developed by the World Health Organization is among the most extensively validated adult ADHD screening tools.
CAARS remains one of the most researched adult ADHD rating scales internationally.
The CPT-3 provides objective measurement of attentional functioning and response inhibition, helping clinicians evaluate performance patterns commonly associated with ADHD.
WFIRS contributes important information regarding real-world impairment, which is essential for DSM-5 diagnosis.
The Wender Utah Rating Scale assists clinicians in establishing childhood onset, a key diagnostic criterion for ADHD.
BIS-11 provides additional insight into impulsivity, which is frequently elevated in adults with ADHD.
References
Kooij, J. J. S., et al. (2010). European Consensus Statement on diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD. European Psychiatry, 25(4), 190–197.
Kessler, R. C., Adler, L., Ames, M., et al. (2005). The World Health Organization Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). Psychological Medicine, 35(2), 245–256.
Conners, C. K., Erhardt, D., & Sparrow, E. (1999). Conners’ Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS). Multi-Health Systems. Weiss, M. D. (2000). WFIRS: Measuring impairment in ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders.
Patton, J. H., Stanford, M. S., & Barratt, E. S. (1995). Factor structure of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51(6), 768–774.
Ward, M. F., Wender, P. H., & Reimherr, F. W. (1993). The Wender Utah Rating Scale: An aid in retrospective diagnosis of childhood ADHD. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150(6), 885–890.
Epstein, J. N., et al. (2003). Continuous Performance Tests are sensitive to ADHD in adults. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 25(4), 527–541.
Other Links
Child ADHD Assessment