Free online ADHD test for children & teens
This 15‑question test takes around 3–5 minutes to complete and is based on DSM‑5 ADHD criteria, the clinical framework used by paediatricians and child psychiatrists in the UK and recognised within NICE guidance for diagnosing ADHD.
It’s designed as a first screening step, to help parents and carers explore whether a child’s behaviour may warrant a full ADHD assessment.
Complete our online children’s ADHD self-screening test
Who is this test for?
Children aged 7–12
This test should be completed by a parent or carer. The questions ask about behaviour you see day to day, across different situations.
Try to base your answers on a typical week, not an unusually difficult one or an especially good one.
Teenagers aged 13–17
Either a parent or the young person themselves can complete the test. Some teenagers prefer to be involved, while for others a parent completing it first feels less loaded. Either approach is fine.
If you complete it together, be prepared for the conversation that might follow.
Children under 7
ADHD assessment in very young children is a specialist area. If your child is under 7, speak to your GP or health visitor first. They can refer you to the appropriate developmental pathway.
If you’re looking for a test for yourself rather than for a child, our adult autism test is designed for adults.
What happens after you complete the test?
Once you’ve answered all 15 questions, you’ll receive a clear explanation of what that result may indicate.
If the result suggests your child could have ADHD, we’ll refer you to information that explains what a full assessment involves and how to book a free, no‑obligation consultation with our team to talk it through.
This result does not diagnose ADHD, but it can help clarify whether an assessment is worth pursuing.
Your privacy
This test is confidential and your answers cannot be linked to you or your child. We store your answers securely and don’t share them with anyone.
What this test can’t tell you
This ADHD self-screening test for children and teens doesn’t give you a diagnosis. A high score does not mean your child has ADHD. A low score does not rule it out.
DSM‑5 criteria capture the most clinically significant ADHD behaviours, but ADHD does not look the same in every child. A 15‑question questionnaire, however well designed, cannot replace the judgement of a clinician who has spent time with your child and your family.
How to read your child’s result
May have behaviours associated with ADHD
The behaviours you’ve described are consistent with ADHD and a full clinical assessment is worth considering.
Before a diagnosis is made, a specialist needs to rule out other explanations. Anxiety and sleep problems in particular can produce very similar behavioural patterns. They also need to confirm that the difficulties have been present for a significant period of time and across more than one setting, usually home and school.
Unlikely to have ADHD, but you’re not reassured
Some children with ADHD do not score highly on short questionnaires. This is particularly true for children who are academically able, compliant in class or working extremely hard to keep up.
In these cases, ADHD may show up as a gap between potential and output, or as exhaustion, irritability and emotional overwhelm after a day of sustained effort. If this result doesn’t reflect what you experience day to day, that mismatch itself is meaningful and worth discussing with a clinician.
What ADHD actually looks like in children
ADHD has three clinical presentations or types, and only one of them matches the stereotype most people have heard of before.
- The hyperactive‑impulsive type is the most visible. This is the child who struggles to stay seated, calls out frequently, acts before thinking and has difficulty waiting their turn. This presentation is usually picked up early, because the behaviours are often most noticeable.
- The inattentive type is much easier to miss. These children are often quiet and non‑disruptive. They appear to be listening but lose track of instructions, forget what they’ve just been told, misplace belongings and struggle to complete tasks without support. Teachers may describe them as dreamy, distracted or behind where they should be.
- The combined type, which includes features of both, is the most common.
Understanding which presentation fits your child matters because it affects where difficulties appear and what support is most effective.
From screening test to full assessment
This test provides a snapshot based on 15 questions. A full ADHD assessment is a clinical evaluation that draws information from multiple sources.
It typically involves:
- Questionnaires completed by parents and school
- Detailed clinical interview
- Direct time with your child
The clinician looks at how your child functions across home, school and social settings, instead of behaviour in one place on one day.
The outcome is a formal written report. It’s used to put school support in place, support EHCP applications, justify exam access arrangements and guide decisions about therapy or medication.
Book free consultationFAQs
For younger children, there’s no need to make this a formal conversation. You’re simply observing their behaviour and using this to answer the questions in this test.
For teenagers, transparency usually works better. Framing it as wanting to understand what’s hard for them, rather than using diagnostic language, often feels more accessible and relatable.
Yes, in fact, bright children are among the most likely to be missed. Intelligence can compensate for ADHD symptoms for years, especially in structured environments. Difficulties often only become visible when academic and organisational demands exceed that ability to compensate.
Not necessarily. School sees your child in a structured setting with clear expectations and external regulation. ADHD often shows up most clearly outside that structure, during homework, free time or at the end of the day. Both perspectives are valid and a clinician needs to hear about both.
Yes, inattentive ADHD does not involve obvious hyperactivity. It involves difficulty sustaining attention, forgetfulness, losing things and struggling to follow through on tasks. Girls are diagnosed at lower rates than boys, partly because inattentive ADHD is quieter and easier to overlook.
In younger children, ADHD often appears as impulsive behaviour and visible restlessness. In teenagers, physical hyperactivity may reduce, but executive function difficulties become more impactful. Planning, prioritising, managing time, and sustaining effort can be far more challenging, and are often misinterpreted as lack of motivation.
Yes, the overlap is well‑established. ADHD mainly affects attention regulation and impulse control, while autism primarily affects social communication and sensory processing. When both are present, understanding how they interact is important. A combined assessment looks at both together.
A diagnosis is the starting point for accessing support. Depending on need, this may include SEND support, an EHCP application, classroom adjustments or exam access arrangements such as extra time. Schools are legally required to make reasonable adjustments, and our reports are written in a format they can act on.
Medication is one option, but only if your clinician and you agree it’s suitable for you. It can be very effective for some children, but it’s always considered alongside behavioural strategies and school support. If medication is recommended, our clinicians can handle the full process of prescribing, titration and regular reviews. Find out more about accessing ADHD medication with Xyla.
Yes, your GP cannot diagnose ADHD, but a completed DSM‑5‑based screening tool provides a structured starting point for discussion and referral. NHS waiting times for child ADHD assessment are long in many areas, which is why many families explore private ADHD assessments.
Child ADHD assessments start from £750, with combined ADHD and autism assessments also available. We offer Klarna Pay in 3 so you can split the cost of an assessment into 3 interest-free payments.
The clinical assessment typically lasts around two and a half hours. From free consultation to written report, the full process can be completed in as little as 14 days depending on your and the clinician’s availability.