Do I Have ADD? ADHD QUIZ Tries To Give You an Answer

Anybody who knows me knows that I have a shrine dedicated to Dr. Edward Hallowell in my library. I have read and reread his books multiple times and loaded them up with so many commentary-filled color Post-It flags that my bookshelf sags from their rainbowy weight. So when I learned that Dr. Hallowell had apps available for the iPhone, I jumped at the chance to download them. They're also available for Android. The first one I'm going to share with you today is ADHD Quiz.

ADHD Quiz is a self-assessment quiz, so if you were hoping to find out how many ADHD kids it takes to screw in a lightbulb, you'll be disappointed*. But if you were hoping to give yourself a once over to see if you have AD/HD, then you'll be pleased.

First, you are greeted with a choice between a short quiz and a long quiz. Short Quiz is "adapted from the 18-question symptom checklist called the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1)". Long Quiz's analysis is based on Dr. Hallowell's observations over the past several decades. Short Quiz is comprised of six short questions. Scores are ranked on a scale with "Often" and "Very Often" getting a full point. Get a score of four or more, and the app recommends you see a professional for further testing. I scored 6 out of 6. I may have a problem.

Once you have completed the assessment, the app reveals the "Next Steps" and "Resources" sections. "Resources" gives you links to websites with more information on ADHD. My favorite, though, is "Next Steps". It is simply excellent. There is a 7 step list of diagnosing ADHD, and then there are 24 "Top Tips for Adult ADHD". "Next Steps" is so good, I wish it was accessible from the main screen. The tips are so good they should be available as a poster.

In the top right corner you can select "For Children" which is also filled with excellent advice. Unfortunately, none of this advice is accessible from the main screen of the app. It is only accessible once the test is completed.

Long Quiz has 125 questions to pinpoint your diagnosis with more detail. There is a sense of humor in the questions posed—some subtle, some overt—which helps them not be boring. The assessment of ADHD is made by how high your percentage of "Yes" answers was (Mine was 82%). The Long Quiz also shows the "Next Steps" and "Resources" sections at the end, but 125 questions are a lot to answer just to access a list of resources. Fortunately, there is a "Results" button at the top right, so the quickest way to the "Next Steps" is to start the Long Quiz, then skip to the end.

Overall, I enjoyed the app and found it very useful, especially the "Next Steps" resources. However, the app is text heavy and not laid out well, especially hiding the excellent resources behind the assessments. In this regard, I didn't find the app ADHD friendly. Ironic. It's also a bit thin for a $1.99 app.

I would hope that the developers address these shortcomings in the near future. In the meantime, if you are looking for a useful ADHD assessment test with ADHD resources for adults and children, then I recommend ADHD Quiz.


*Wanna ride bikes?