Symptoms have to be lifelong and cross-situational
Adult ADHD diagnosis requires several symptoms to have been present before age 12 and to show up in more than one setting — work and home, not just the job you hate. A high screener score during a single chaotic quarter is far weaker evidence than the same score alongside a school history of the same pattern.
- • Onset before age 12 is a diagnostic requirement
- • Symptoms must appear in two or more settings
- • Impairment matters as much as symptom frequency
What else produces the same score
Sleep debt, thyroid problems, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress all degrade working memory and task initiation. A competent evaluation rules those out before landing on ADHD, which is exactly why a screener is a starting point rather than an answer.
FAQ
Is this an ADHD diagnosis?
No. It is a screener. Diagnosis requires a structured clinical interview, developmental history, and ruling out other causes.
Why does it ask about the last six months?
Diagnostic criteria require symptoms to be persistent rather than situational, so short screeners use a six-month window.
Can adults develop ADHD later in life?
Current criteria treat ADHD as neurodevelopmental, with symptoms present in childhood even if they were never identified. Adult-onset attention problems usually point elsewhere.
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