There is no single test for ADHD. No blood test, brain scan or online quiz can tell you whether you have it. In Ireland, as elsewhere, adult ADHD is diagnosed through a clinical assessment by a qualified specialist. That means a structured interview about your life now and in childhood. It also draws on someone who knew you growing up, and checks for other explanations.
What most people mean by an "ADHD test" is the first step: a short screening questionnaire. The best known is the World Health Organization's Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS). A high score is a reason to be assessed. It is not a diagnosis.
You can get assessed in two ways. Through the HSE, you start with your GP. Privately, you choose and pay a provider yourself. This page explains each step and what a screening result really tells you. It then points you to our detailed guides on each route.
Not in the way there is a blood test for diabetes. The HSE's adult model of care draws on the UK guideline body NICE. Its ADHD guideline (NG87) is clear: "A diagnosis of ADHD should not be made solely on the basis of rating scale or observational data." Rating scales are "helpful added tools", but a clinician makes the diagnosis.
A 2025 review of adult ADHD in World Psychiatry reached the same conclusion from the research side. It found no ancillary test or biomarker accurate enough to diagnose ADHD. It also said no evidence supports routine use of MRI, SPECT or PET brain scans, or EEG, in an ADHD assessment. They can occasionally help rule out something else.
You may come across computer-based attention tests such as QbTest. NICE recommends QbTest only as an option to help diagnose ADHD in people aged 6 to 17. It is not part of NICE's recommendations for adults.
The Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale was developed alongside the World Health Organization's Composite International Diagnostic Interview. It is open-access, and the current version (ASRS v1.1) is hosted by the Harvard Medical School team behind the US National Comorbidity Survey.
The HSE's model of care for adult ADHD (January 2021) uses two self-rating questionnaires before referral to a specialist clinic:
The model of care says a positive result on both is needed to move on to a full assessment. It uses two scales to reduce false positives.
Screening questionnaires are designed to catch people who should be looked at more closely. They are not designed to confirm anything. The research on the ASRS shows why.
Two practical points follow:
Searching "ADHD test" brings up two different things. Free questionnaires are mostly versions of the ASRS or similar checklists. Paid "online assessments" range from a full clinical service by video to little more than a questionnaire.
A free questionnaire can help you put words to what you experience. ADHD Ireland publishes a self-quiz of this kind. It says plainly that it is "for educational purposes only" and "not a substitute for a clinical diagnosis".
Paid services are where to be careful. ADHD Ireland's guidance for people choosing an assessment makes several points:
Online delivery itself is not the problem. What matters is what happens in the assessment, and who carries it out.
NICE sets out what an adult assessment should include. A specialist bases the diagnosis on:
For a diagnosis, NICE says symptoms must meet DSM-5 or ICD-11 criteria. They must cause at least moderate impairment and happen often, in two or more important settings such as home, work or study. The assessment should also look at coexisting conditions and your physical health.
HSE adult ADHD clinics use a structured interview called the DIVA (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults). ADHD Ireland describes a minimum acceptable assessment as one that uses recognised criteria, takes more than one session, and covers both adulthood and childhood. It should use standardised questionnaires and collateral information. It should explore other reasons for the difficulties, such as anxiety, autism, trauma or dyslexia.
For a step-by-step account of the appointment itself, see what happens at an adult ADHD assessment.
According to ADHD Ireland's guidance:
The public route starts with your GP. Under the HSE model of care, your GP refers you to your local adult mental health team. The team first looks for any other mental health condition, because these are common alongside ADHD and can mimic it. You then complete the two questionnaires. If both are positive, you are referred to the adult ADHD clinic for full assessment and a feedback session.
Adult ADHD teams are still being set up and do not yet cover every area. Waits vary widely. For what the public wait looks like now, read adult ADHD in Ireland: what the wait actually looks like. Our page on whether you need a GP referral covers what to ask your GP to include.
Private assessments are carried out by psychiatrists or psychologists, in person or online. Prices, what is included and whether a GP letter is needed all vary. Our overview of adult ADHD assessment in Ireland covers costs and questions to ask before you book.
A private diagnosis from a properly qualified clinician is a real diagnosis. How smoothly it works afterwards depends on the quality of the report. Your GP also decides whether to continue any prescription. We explain this in is a private ADHD diagnosis accepted in Ireland?
The NHS route also starts with a GP. The GP asks about your symptoms, considers other explanations, and may refer you to a specialist such as a psychiatrist. The NHS says waits vary and can run to several months or years. In England, the Right to Choose scheme may let you choose a clinic with a shorter wait through your GP. The assessment itself follows the same NICE guideline described above.
The NHS notes that people with ADHD are at higher risk of suicide. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call 112 or 999, or go to your nearest emergency department. You can call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time. You can also text 50808 for free 24/7 support.
No. An online questionnaire can tell you whether an assessment is worth pursuing. A diagnosis needs a clinician to take a full history, including your childhood, and rule out other explanations. A proper assessment can be delivered by video, but it is much more than a questionnaire.
It is a good first filter, not a verdict. It misses some people with ADHD, and in mental health clinics many positive screens turn out not to be ADHD.
Your GP can listen, consider other causes and refer you. Under the HSE model of care, screening is done by your local adult mental health team and diagnosis at an adult ADHD clinic. ADHD Ireland says most GPs cannot diagnose ADHD and start medication on their own.
No. A 2025 review in World Psychiatry found no biomarker accurate enough to diagnose ADHD. It found no evidence for routine brain scans or EEG in assessment. A doctor may order tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
Possibly. NICE says adults treated for ADHD in childhood who still have impairing symptoms should be referred to adult psychiatric services for assessment. Talk to your GP. Bring any childhood reports you have.
Proco is preparing a clinician-led adult ADHD assessment service in Ireland. It is not open yet; our assessments page and assessment FAQs describe the plans.
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot assess your individual situation. Talk to your GP about whether an ADHD assessment is right for you.
Reviewed by: Proco Team
Last updated: November 2026