ASRS Explained: Adult ADHD Screening with the WHO Part A Screener
What the ASRS v1.1 Part A measures, how scoring works, adults 18+ only, pairing with PHQ-9/GAD-7, and why screening is not diagnosis.
If you have searched for ADHD in adults, ADHD self-test, or do I have ADHD, you are not alone. Many adults discover attention and impulse patterns only after years of being told they are “lazy” or “scattered.” The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) Part A is a short, validated screener developed by the World Health Organization with Harvard and NYU researchers. It takes about five minutes and is widely used in primary care and digital health—but it is a screening tool, not a diagnosis.
What the ASRS Part A measures
The Part A screener includes six questions about the past six months:
- Finishing project details after the hard work is done
- Getting organized for tasks that require structure
- Remembering appointments and obligations
- Avoiding or delaying tasks that need deep thought
- Fidgeting when seated for long periods
- Feeling driven or overly active, like a motor
Each item uses a five-point frequency scale from Never to Very Often. Official scoring converts answers to binary flags; four or more flags suggests a result highly consistent with ADHD and warrants follow-up with a licensed clinician.
How to interpret ASRS Part A results
| Part A flags (0–6) | Typical screening interpretation |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | Negative screen |
| 4–6 | Highly consistent with ADHD — clinical follow-up recommended |
The screener has high specificity (few false positives) but moderate sensitivity—some people with ADHD will screen negative. Never treat a score as a diagnosis. Structured clinical interviews (for example DIVA-5) remain the standard for evaluation.
Who should use ASRS?
ASRS Part A is validated for adults 18 and over. It is not validated for children or adolescents (pediatric tools such as Vanderbilt/NICHQ are used instead). If you are under 18, speak with a parent, guardian, or school counselor.
Pair ASRS with mood and anxiety screeners
ADHD overlaps with depression and anxiety—endorsement can inflate in those conditions. Context matters:
- PHQ-9 when low mood and motivation dominate
- GAD-7 when worry and restlessness dominate
- WSAS when work, home, or relationships are slipping
Read ADHD and mental health for the broader picture and early mental health screening for why repeat measurement helps.
When to seek professional help
Seek urgent help for self-harm thoughts. Schedule clinical evaluation when Part A is positive (≥4 flags), when childhood-onset attention and impulse patterns persist into adulthood, or when functioning at work or home is impaired despite self-help strategies.
Complete the ASRS Part A screener on One Mental Hub (adults 18+). View sample screening results. See instrument licenses for WHO attribution.
Limitations
ASRS does not rule out sleep apnea, thyroid disease, anxiety, depression, or substance use that can mimic ADHD. It does not replace a full psychiatric assessment. The 18-item full ASRS Symptom Checklist is a separate instrument—One Mental Hub ships Part A only in line with published licensing guidance.
Attribution
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) © World Health Organization. Developed by Kessler RC, Adler L, Ames M, et al. (2005).