According to MedlinePlus, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), is characterized by symptoms such as a child not sitting still, acting without thinking and not finishing things they started. If these behaviors last for more than six months and lead to problems at home and school, ADHD may be present. Evaluation by a trained professional is required to diagnose. A number of screening tools are available that combine feedback from the parent, teacher and sometimes a clinician to assist in diagnosis.
ADDES-3
According to the Massachusetts General Hospital, the ADDES-3 tool is based upon the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) a manual that provides diagnostic criteria for mental disorders such as ADHD. The ADDES-3 diagnoses ADHD based upon primary observation of student behaviors, using two subscales that focus on inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors. The ADDES-3 question rating scale for parent and school versions is 0 (not developmental appropriate for age) to 5 (observed one to several times per hour). An evaluation and scoring rating sheet combines the parent and school scores to identify the potential presence of ADHD.
ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-IV)
The ADHD-IV is a questionnaire that helps diagnose ADHD and measures any improvements from treatments. The ADHD-IV 18 criteria steps are linked directly to the 18 DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The DSM-IV defines ADHD as the presence of six or more symptoms related to either inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity over a six-month period that are disruptive and inappropriate for developmental age. The 18 items in the questionnaire are rated on a scale of never or rarely, sometimes, often or very often. The total score, the sum of all items, is used to provide the final diagnosis.
ADD-H: Comprehensive Teacher's Rating Scale and Parent Form (ACTeRS)
The ACTeRS tool is for use with youths between 6 and 14 years old. Teachers and parents complete a form containing 24 questions. ACTeRS assesses attention, hyperactivity, oppositional behavior and social skills. The tool is useful for both screening or treatment response.
SNAP-IV Rating Scale-Revised (SNAP-IV-R)
The SNAP-IV scale is a free questionnaire developed to assess ADHD symptoms, oppositional defiant disorders and aggression. Questions are to be completed by a parent and teacher. The SNAP-IV questionnaire contains criteria from the 18 DSM-IV criteria and other rating scales. The questions are rated on a scale of not at all, just a little, quite a bit and very much. The questionnaire includes a scoring checklist to determine cutoff scores for ADHD and other disorders.
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale
The Vanderbilt ADHD scale was developed for children between 6 and 12 years old. The scales provide ratings for ADHD symptoms and academic and behavioral performance issues. According to Massachusetts General Hospital, it is not meant for diagnosis, unlike many of the other tools, but rather is beneficial in the identification of symptoms and performance-related issues in various settings, such as home, classroom and other social environments. The scale is to be completed by both a parent and teacher.
