You Took the ASRS. Now What Do the Numbers Mean?
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS v1.1) is the most widely used ADHD screening tool in the world. Developed by the World Health Organization, it’s what most clinicians hand you as a first step when ADHD comes up. But the scoring isn’t as simple as adding up points — and the results don’t mean what most people assume they mean.
Let’s break down what your score actually tells you, what it doesn’t, and what comes next.
How the ASRS Is Structured
The ASRS has 18 questions split into two parts:
Part A (Questions 1–6): This is the screener. These six questions were specifically chosen because they’re the most predictive of clinical ADHD. Four or more shaded responses in Part A is considered a positive screen.
Part B (Questions 7–18): These 12 additional questions provide more detail about your symptom profile. They don’t change whether the screen is positive or negative, but they help paint a fuller picture for clinical assessment.
Each question uses a 5-point frequency scale: Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often, Very Often. But here’s what catches people off guard — different questions have different scoring thresholds. For some questions, answering “Sometimes” counts as a positive response. For others, only “Often” or “Very Often” counts. The shading on the questionnaire shows you which responses are clinically significant for each specific item.
Interpreting Your Part A Screener Score
Part A is pass/fail for screening purposes:
- 0–3 shaded responses: Negative screen. Your responses don’t suggest ADHD based on the six most predictive items. This doesn’t definitively rule out ADHD, but it means the highest-yield screening questions didn’t flag significant symptoms.
- 4–6 shaded responses: Positive screen. Your symptom pattern is consistent with ADHD and warrants further clinical evaluation. The ASRS Part A screener has a sensitivity of about 68.7% and specificity of 99.5%, meaning it’s very good at confirming ADHD when it flags positive.
A positive screener is not a diagnosis. It’s a signal that says “this deserves a closer look from a professional.”
Understanding Your Total Severity Score
Beyond the Part A screener, looking at your total score across all 18 items gives additional context. When scoring for severity (rather than screening), each item receives 0–4 points based on frequency:
- 0–16: Low symptom burden
- 17–23: Moderate symptom burden
- 24–36: High symptom burden
- 37+: Very high symptom burden
Higher scores generally correlate with greater functional impairment, but individual variation is significant. A person scoring 25 with strong coping mechanisms might function better day-to-day than someone scoring 20 without those strategies.
Inattentive vs. Hyperactive-Impulsive: Your Symptom Profile
Questions 1–4 and 7–11 map to inattentive symptoms. Questions 5–6 and 12–18 map to hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Comparing scores between these two domains tells you which presentation you lean toward:
- Predominantly Inattentive: Higher inattentive scores. Difficulty sustaining attention, organization problems, forgetfulness, losing things. This is the presentation most commonly missed in adults, especially women.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive: Higher hyperactive-impulsive scores. Restlessness, difficulty waiting, interrupting, fidgeting, talking excessively.
- Combined: Elevated scores in both domains. This is the most common presentation overall.
Knowing your pattern helps clinicians tailor treatment. Inattentive-predominant ADHD might benefit more from organizational strategies and medication that specifically targets focus, while hyperactive-impulsive presentations might emphasize impulse control techniques and physical activity.
What the ASRS Can’t Tell You
The ASRS has real limitations worth understanding:
- It’s a screener, not a diagnostic tool. A positive result means “get evaluated,” not “you have ADHD.” Diagnosis requires clinical interview, history review, and ruling out other explanations.
- It measures current symptoms only. ADHD is defined by lifelong patterns. If your concentration problems started six months ago after a stressful life event, that’s more likely depression or anxiety than ADHD.
- Other conditions can inflate scores. Anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, thyroid problems, and even chronic stress can produce ADHD-like symptoms. Our DASS-21 can help screen for co-occurring anxiety and depression.
- Self-report has inherent blind spots. People with ADHD sometimes underestimate their symptoms because their dysfunction is their “normal.” Conversely, someone going through a rough patch might overreport symptoms.
What to Do With Your Results
If your screen was positive: Schedule an evaluation with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or neuropsychologist experienced in adult ADHD. Bring your ASRS results. The evaluation will include clinical interview, developmental history, possibly cognitive testing, and assessment for co-occurring conditions.
If your screen was negative but you’re still struggling: A negative ASRS doesn’t mean nothing is wrong. Consider screening for anxiety, depression, or sleep disorders — all of which can mimic ADHD symptoms. Or seek evaluation anyway if your gut says something is off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I show my ASRS results to my doctor?
Absolutely — that’s exactly what it’s designed for. Clinicians take ASRS results seriously because it’s a validated, widely recognized tool. Bringing a completed screening saves time and demonstrates that you’ve thought this through.
I scored high on Part A but my Part B scores are low. What does that mean?
Part A captures the most predictive symptoms, so a positive Part A screen is clinically meaningful regardless of Part B. Lower Part B scores might suggest a milder overall presentation or that your ADHD primarily manifests in the specific domains covered by Part A. Discuss the full pattern with your evaluator.
Should I retake the ASRS after starting treatment?
Yes. The ASRS is commonly used to track treatment response. Clinicians often have patients complete it before treatment, at 4–6 weeks, and periodically thereafter. A 25–30% reduction in total score generally indicates a meaningful treatment response.
