Vanderbilt ADHD Assessment

The Vanderbilt ADHD Assessment form digitizes the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale, one of the most widely used parent- and teacher-report instruments for evaluating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children ages 6 to 12. Developed at Vanderbilt University, this assessment aligns directly with DSM-5 diagnostic criteria and covers two core symptom domains: inattention (difficulty sustaining attention, not listening, losing things, being easily distracted) and hyperactivity-impulsivity (fidgeting, leaving seat, running or climbing inappropriately, talking excessively, interrupting). Each symptom is rated on a four-point frequency scale from never to very often.

Beyond the core ADHD symptom items, the Vanderbilt scale includes screening items for common comorbid conditions including oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, and anxiety or depression. A performance section assesses academic achievement, classroom behavior, organizational skills, and peer relationships, providing the functional impairment evidence required for a DSM-5 ADHD diagnosis. The digital version automatically tallies symptom counts and performance impairment scores, helping clinicians determine whether DSM-5 thresholds are met for predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, or combined presentation.

This template is essential for pediatric practices, child psychiatry clinics, developmental-behavioral pediatrics, and school-based health centers. The Vanderbilt is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a first-line ADHD assessment tool and is freely available for clinical use. The form supports both initial diagnostic evaluation and ongoing medication monitoring by tracking symptom severity and side effects over time. Having both parent and teacher versions available ensures that symptom documentation spans multiple settings, a key diagnostic requirement for ADHD.