Search results
The NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scales are used by health care professionals to help diagnose ADHD in children between the ages of 6- and 12-years. NICHQ is proud to have published the first edition in 2002 and has been at the forefront of supporting children and families affected by ADHD.
- Publications
How to scale up primary care transformation: what we know...
- Mission
The National Institute for Children's Health Quality is a...
- Current Initiatives
Leading change across the country. W orking passionately...
- Resources
Our Quality Improvement (QI) courses have helped thousands...
- Publications
The initial assessment scales, parent and teacher, have 2 compo-nents: symptom assessment and impairment in performance. On both the parent and teacher initial scales, the symptom assess-ment screens for symptoms that meet criteria for both inattentive (items 1–9) and hyperactive ADHD (items 10–18).
- 1MB
- 10
The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale (VADRS) is an assessment tool specifically designed to evaluate symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents.
- Overview
- What’s in a typical ADHD rating scale?
- Checklists for adults and children
- Scoring the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale
- Scoring the Conners CBRS
- Scoring the SNAP-IV Rating Scale
- What happens next?
- Takeaway
Overview
For almost 50 years, ADHD rating scales have been used to help screen, evaluate, and monitor the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adults. Rating scales are considered essential for ADHD diagnosis in children. Many different types of scales are available. Ideally, you or one of the following people will complete the forms:
•your child
•parents
•caregivers
•teachers
ADHD rating scales are available for children, teenagers, and adults. Questionnaires can take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to complete. You can find them online for free or sold for up to $140. While anyone can fill out a rating scale, only your doctor can provide an accurate diagnosis of ADHD.
Common ADHD rating scales for children include the:
•Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), which is for children ages 6 to 18
•Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scale, which is for teenagers
•Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV Questionnaire (SNAP-IV), which is for children ages 6 to 18
•National Institute for Children’s Health Quality (NICHQ) Vanderbilt Assessment Scale, which is for children ages 6 to 12
For children, there’s the CBCL. This checklist screens emotional, behavioral, and social problems. It covers many conditions from autism to depression. The Centers for Disease Control has a shortened checklist for signs or symptoms of ADHD.
If someone shows six or more symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity and impulsivity, they may have ADHD. Those symptoms must be considered inappropriate for the age and have been present for more than six months. If your child has scored 6 or more, bring the list to a doctor. Be sure to have another parent, teacher, or caregiver fill out the checklist too.
Many healthcare professionals use the NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessment Scale Diagnostic Rating Scale to help diagnose ADHD. The scale is meant for children ages 6 to 12, but people in other age groups can use it, if applicable. Different forms are available for parents and teachers. Both forms screen for symptoms of ADHD and inattention. The parent assessment scale has a separate section for conduct disorder, or antisocial behavior while the teacher assessment scale has an extra section on learning disabilities.
There must be six counted behaviors with a score of 2 or 3 out of the nine questions for inattention or hyperactivity to meet DSM-5’s criteria for ADHD. For the performance questions, there must be a score of 4 of higher on two questions, or a score of 5 on one question, for the results to indicate ADHD.
The Conners CBRS is for assessing children ages 6 to 18. It’s specially formatted to help determine if:
•the student qualifies for inclusion or exclusion in special education
•the treatment or intervention is effective
•ADHD is a concern
•response to the treatment is positive
•what treatment plans may work best
The SNAP-IV rating scale contains nine questions regarding inattention and nine regarding hyperactivity and impulsivity. For each item, or behavior, you note the frequency from not at all to very much. These responses are ranked on a scale of 0 to 3. Once you add up the scores for each section, you divide the number by 9 to determine an average.
On the Snap-IV scale, teachers can rate a child who scores above 2.56 as inattentive. For parents, the figure is 1.78. A score on the hyperactive and impulsive questions of 1.78 for teachers and 1.44 for parents indicates a need for further investigation for ADHD.
ADHD may last for the rest of your child’s life, although most people report that symptoms improve as they age. The condition is manageable, however. Standard ADHD treatments involve one or more of the following:
•medication
•education
•therapy
•counseling
People with ADHD often take stimulant drugs like Adderall or Ritalin to balance the chemicals in their brain. Your doctor should ask if you have any heart conditions or a family history of heart conditions before prescribing any medication. Ask your doctor about any potential side effects.
Many healthcare professionals use ADHD rating scales to help form a diagnosis. Since rating scales are subjective, it’s best to have people from different settings like a teacher or a doctor fill out the tests too. Bring your rating scale to a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis if the scores indicate the likelihood of ADHD.
Most children with ADHD have their first encounter for care within their primary clinician’s practice—their “medical home.” These tools help you prepare for that encounter and beyond: readying your staff, screening, diagnosis, treatment, ongoing follow-up, and negotiating insurance payments for every step your patients need.
Mar 8, 2023 · 3 min read. If you suspect you or your child might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), your doctor has several ways to make a diagnosis. One is an ADHD rating scale,...
Oct 15, 2019 · If a child has scored 6 or more, it’s time to have them screened for ADHD by a doctor. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) screens for emotional, social, and behavioral abnormalities in...
