A One-Minute ADHD Test

Test design, scoring, and interpretation

• Several commenters criticize the vague frequency answers (“often”, “very often”), arguing these mean different things to different people and lack a clear reference frame.
• Others note it’s explicitly a screening tool, not a diagnostic one, meant only to suggest when a full assessment is warranted.
• Confusion over scoring: some had to cross‑reference another site to learn that “gray box” answers count; worry that seeing the scoring will bias self‑administration.
• Some feel many questions (e.g., losing track of tasks, trouble finishing projects) describe “normal life in a world of distractions,” so the very high post‑test probability quoted (e.g., 87.5% at 4/6) seems implausible.
• One thread praises the article for explaining sensitivity, specificity, and base rates, but others still find it hard not to self‑diagnose once they see the numbers.

Access to diagnosis and care

• Experiences vary widely: some in Europe report year‑long waits, high out‑of‑pocket costs, or no local specialists; others get appointments within weeks, fully reimbursed.
• US care is described as “worse” and expensive even with insurance; shortages and restricted prescriptions are mentioned in multiple countries.

Lived experience, coping, and late diagnosis

• Multiple adults diagnosed in their 30s–40s describe lifelong struggles, masking, low self‑esteem, and relief after diagnosis; knowing “it’s not just laziness” is itself helpful.
• Others score high on the screener yet function well and reject the label, saying they don’t feel impaired or in need of treatment.
• Coping mechanisms—phones, alarms, rigid calendaring, “run club” exercise, structuring work around last‑minute adrenaline—can both hide and highlight symptoms.
• Parents of ADHD children note that awareness and diagnosis change expectations and reduce harmful “more discipline” advice.

Debate over medicalization and medication

• One camp sees ADHD as overdiagnosed and culturally constructed to sell stimulants and enforce school compliance; another counters with neurodevelopmental framing, genetic evidence, and strong medication effects.
• Some worry about overmedication and using diagnoses to absolve parents, while others emphasize large underdiagnosed populations and the severe cost of going untreated.
• Recurrent theme: labels and meds should be used when there is clear suffering or functional impairment; knowing the label can help, but not everyone must pursue treatment.