Assessment Instruments: Behavioral Checklists
Margaret V. Austin, Ph.D., edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.Step 1: An Assessment of Academic, Social, and Emotional Functioning
Because information is gathered from so many sources, one professional must guide and coordinate this evaluation process. It is usually a psychologist. Once sufficient information is gathered, the evaluator will examine details about the child's functioning in different areas of life. The checklists, detailed history, and the clinical interviews, will be compared to typical children of similar age, culture, and, developmental level. This comparison enables the evaluator to sort out what is normal and what is not, given a particular child's age and culture. This evaluation process also provides clues about the best treatment approach.
Assessment instruments: Behavioral checklists completed by multiple reporters:
Self-report instruments are questionnaires and checklists that identify ADHD symptoms in both children and adults. Self-report instruments are generally a series of questions people answer about their own symptoms, thoughts, and feelings. Behavioral checklists are sometimes referred to as "report-by-other" scales. As the name suggests, these scales are filled out by a person who spends a significant amount of time with the child suspected of having ADHD. Teachers, and family members, spend a significant amount of time observing the child. Therefore, they possess key information that aids the evaluation process.
Once observations and reports are completed, the child's scores are compared to average scores of children in the same age group. This helps to identify what is average and ordinary, and what is not. Higher scores on both types of scales indicate a higher degree of ADHD-associated symptoms.
Clinicians use standardized rating scales to gain hard-to-observe detailed information. Guidelines suggest that behavior checklists are an important part of a comprehensive assessment. However, reports of this type can only tell part of the story. Clinical guidelines suggest gathering information from many sources. The following is a list of some commonly used checklists along with descriptive information about each. Links to information about these checklists can be found in the Resource List.
ACTeRS
ACTeRS is a rating scale used to identify ADHD and ADD children, teens, and adults (with and without hyperactivity). It evaluates four factors: 1) hyperactivity, 2) oppositional behavior, 3) attention, and 4) social skills. It comes in three versions: 1) teacher report, 2) parent report, and 3) self-report for teens and adults. The children's version is designed for kindergartners through eighth graders. There are paper and pencil, and computerized formats. It was developed at the University of Illinois Institute for Child Behavior and Development. It can be used as a part of the diagnostic process or to evaluate medication response (www.metritech.com).
Brown Attention Deficit Disorder Scales - Adolescent Version
This 40-item, self-report measure is a quick way to screen for adolescent ADD (a specific type of ADHD LINK). The instrument highlights 6 key abilities:
1. Sustains attention;
2. Sustains effort to complete tasks;
3. Active and organized during work tasks;
4. Recalls learned material;
5. Utilizes short-term memory; and,
6. Ability to regulate moods.
Connors' Rating Scales - 3rd Edition
This instrument was one of the first rating scales developed to evaluate children and adolescents with ADHD. The Connors' system includes scales for parents/caregivers, teachers, and adolescents. Parent and teacher forms can be used for children and adolescents ages 3 to 17, while the adolescent form can be used for children ages 12 to 17. The 80-item parent form includes questions about behavioral symptoms in categories such as oppositional defiance, social problems, anxiety and inattention.
Copeland Symptom Checklist for Attention Deficit Disorders - Child and Adolescent Version
This checklist determines whether a child or adolescent has symptoms characteristic of ADHD; the severity of symptoms; and, which functional areas are most affected. The checklist addresses 10 key areas, including: emotional difficulties, peer relationships, family-interaction issues, maturity level, distractibility, activity level, impulsivity, degree of compliance, attention-seeking behaviors, and cognitive and visual-motor achievement.
The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale
The Vanderbilt Assessment Scale has two components: symptom assessment and an assessment of impaired functioning at home, school, and other social settings. The parent rating scale version contains 55-items. The teacher version has 43-items and focuses on behavioral observations at school. This rating scale is used by professionals to screen for ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, anxiety, and depression in children.
The Wender Utah Rating Scale
The Wender Utah Rating Scale is useful for retrospective analysis of childhood symptoms. The questions require people to look back over time and identify ADHD symptomatology from their past. This is a 61-item survey that is often used to clarify the diagnosis of adult ADHD.
Resources
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Articles
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Childhood ADHD Overview
- Introduction to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Signs & Symptoms of ADHD
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Attention Difficulties
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Hyperactivity
- ADHD Signs and Symptoms: Impulsivity
- Are There Different Types of ADHD?
- The Social, Educational, Financial & Occupational Impact of ADHD
- What are the Legal Rights of Caregivers and Their Children with ADHD (USA)?
- A Positive Spin: Is There Anything Good about ADHD?
- Signs of ADHD in Children at Home
- Signs of ADHD in Children at School
- Signs of ADHD in Children in Peer Relationships
- How Do I know if My Child Needs an ADHD Evaluation?
- What Should I Do If I Think My Child Might Have ADHD?
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ADHD Discoveries and Controversies
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research
- ADHD: New and Exciting Brain Research - Part II
- Neurotransmitter Changes with ADHD
- Executive Functions
- Neurodiversity: Is ADHD a True Mental Disorder?
- ADHD Statistics
- Cultural and Gender Differences in Prevalence Rates
- Should Children with ADHD Be Medicated?
- New and Promising Areas of Research
- Causes of ADHD in Children
- ADHD or Another Condition?
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Diagnosis of ADHD in Children
- Who Can Diagnose ADHD?
- How Does ADHD Multi-Source Assessment Work?
- Assessment Instruments: Behavioral Checklists
- Assessment Instruments: Intelligence Tests
- Assessment Instruments: Achievement Tests (or Academic Tests)
- Assessment Instruments: Tests of Attention
- Assessment Instruments: Memory and Other Common Tests
- Step 2: Clinical Interviews
- Step 3: Physical Exam and Medical History
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ADHD Treatment in Children
- Multimodal ADHD Treatment Approach
- ADHD Medications
- Treating ADHD with Stimulant Drugs
- Commonly Prescribed ADHD Stimulant Medications
- Treating ADHD with Non-Stimulant Drugs
- Risks of ADHD Medication
- Risks of ADHD Medications - Part II
- Benefits of ADHD Medication
- Side Effects of ADHD Medications
- Medication Decisions and Medication Management
- How Long Should ADHD Medication Treatment Last
- Psycho-Education about ADHD and Its Management
- Family Therapy
- Individual and Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy for the Child with ADHD
- Skills Training
- Social Skills Training and Coaching
- Supports
- Alternative ADHD treatment: What Does NOT Work?
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Family and Personal Supports
- Effective Disciplinary Techniques
- Learn about Resources and Be Proactive
- Manage Stress, Self-Regulation & Provide Order
- Develop Routines, Organization and Expectations
- Communicate and Collaborate with Schools
- Express Confidence in Your Child's Abilities
- Help Children Improve Social Skills and Peer Relationships
- Avoid Homework Battles and Monitor Medication
- I Think I have ADHD. What should I do?
- I Think I Have ADHD - Part II
- Famous People with ADHD
- Adult ADHD Overview
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Diagnosis of Adult ADHD
- How is Adult ADHD Diagnosed?
- Diagnostic Challenge 1: Looking into the Past
- Diagnostic Challenge 2: ADHD versus Similar Disorders
- Diagnostic Challenge 2 - Part II
- Diagnostic Challenge 3: ADHD Symptoms
- Diagnostic Challenge 3 - Part II
- Diagnostic Challenge 4: A Concealed Disorder
- Specialized Tests and Tools
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Adult ADHD Treatment
- ADHD Medication Treatment
- Stimulant and Non-Stimulant Drugs for Adult ADHD
- Medication Timing, Dosage, Monitoring, and Duration of Treatment
- Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Adult ADHD Medications
- Psychotherapy for ADHD
- Coaching/Supported Employment for Adult ADHD
- Social Skills Training for Adult ADHD
- Psycho-Education and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- ADHD Resources and References
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Childhood ADHD Overview
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Questions and Answers
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- How to get off Focalin
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- Attention Deficit Disorder
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
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- Making ADD Work
- Medicating Children
- Mind Fields
- New Look at ADHD: Inhibition, Time, and Self-Control
- Non-Drug Treatments for ADHD
- Overcoming ADHD
- Parenting Children With ADHD
- Reclaiming Our Children
- Rethinking ADHD
- Ritalin is Not the Answer Action Guide
- Ritalin Nation
- Running on Ritalin
- Should I Medicate My Child?
- Taking Charge of ADHD, Revised Edition
- The Explosive Child
- The Gift of Adult ADD
- The Little Monster
- The Science of ADHD
- Thumbsucker
- Treating ADHD and Comorbid Disorders
- What Would Joey Do?
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Links
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- Nutrition in Support of ADHD Treatment
- Behavioral Therapy: What it is and finding a therapist
- Project-Based Learning and ADHD
- Conditions May Mimic ADHD
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- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part I
- Treating ADHD in the African American Community
- How to Build Self-Motivation in Teens with ADHD
- Goal Setting and Keeping for the ADHD Brain
- Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- ADHD in Preschoolers: What to Look For and How to Help
- FYI on ADHD Evaluations
- Teaching Grit, Perseverance and Frustration Tolerance to Students with ADHD
- Does my Child Have ADHD?
- How to Start Eating Well When You Have ADHD
- 5 Solutions for Common ADHD Social Struggles
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Understanding and Applying the Science of Time Management
- ADHD Medication and College Students: Prevent Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion
- Improve Homework Time with Strategies That Work For ADHD
- Student Voices: What Really Matters to Young Adults With Learning and Attention Issues
- 5 Ways Nutrition can Impact ADHD Symptoms
- 3 Tips for Adjusting to a New Diagnosis of ADHD
- Creating the Best Learning Environment for Students with ADHD
- ADHD & Executive Functioning
- Department of Education Guidance Broadens Understanding of 504 Rights for Kids with ADHD Part II
- Ask The Expert: Neurofeedback Treatment for ADHD
- ADHD and Suicide Risk Factors
- The Choice is in the Details: Medication Options for ADHD
- Understanding and Supporting Young Adults with ADHD
- Helping Your Young Adult Become Independent
- Creating Structure and Routines for Children with ADHD
- When You and Your Child Have ADHD - Communication Skills to Resolve Conflict
- Guidance for Uncertain Times: Navigating Relationship Challenges
- Guidance for Uncertain Times: Mindful Parenting
- Couples with ADHD: Creating Caring Connection amid the Chaos
- Disclosure and Workplace Accommodations for Individuals With ADHD
- A Summer At Camp
- Self-Advocacy Tips For Teens With ADHD
- ADHD and Curbing Impulsive Spending to Help Your Relationship
- ADHD: Signs, Symptoms, Research
- ADHD & Risk of Adult Drug Use
- Health and Life Expectancy in ADHD
- Focus on ADHD
- Pediatrics: ADHD and Food Allergies
- ADHD: It's a Family Affair
- Does Your Child Have ADHD?
- ADHD in Children
- Living with ADHD
- Rise in ADHD Cases in Children
- Why is Dating Difficult When You Have ADHD
- Video Games, Screens, and ADHD A Potent Mix
- Ask the Expert Helping Children with ADHD LD Conquer Chronic Stress
- Ask the Expert: Mindfulness, Stress, & Emotion
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Ask the Expert Educator Edition: ADHD & Executive Functioning
- Ask the Expert - Academic Evaluations - What Parents Need to Know
- ADHD and Sibling Relationships
- Medication Treatment for ADHD
- Using Time Out
- Treating Childhood ADHD
- ADHD-friendly Summer Family FUNdamentals
- Preparing Older Teens for the Road Ahead
- Tips for Teachers: Tailoring homework to make a difference
- Your Active Preschooler: Could it be ADHD?
- Tips for Teachers: Creating a positive dialogue with parents of students with ADHD
- Helping Parents & Kids Understand the Social & Emotional Aspects of ADHD
- Social and Emotional Concerns of Children with ADHD: Strategies to Help
- Holiday Gifts for Children with ADHD
- Behavior Management and Combined Treatment for Children with ADHD
- Setting Realistic School Expectations for Students with ADHD
- On Their Own: Helping College Students with ADHD
- Children's Communication Challenges: Is it Attention, Language or Both?
- Out-of-School: Parenting During the Summer
- ADHD in the Workplace: Finding Success
- Emotions and Motivation in ADHD
- The Role of Medication in Managing Children's ADHD Symptoms
- Top Tips for Combating Stigma and Addressing Myths about ADHD
- Facts and Myths about ADHD
- What To Do If Your Child Has ADHD?
- How Common is ADHD?
- Children, Meds, and Heart Safety: A Tale of ADHD and Public Health
- ADHD & Your Child’s Transition to College
- Your Teen with ADHD: Challenges and Strategies for Success
- Ask the Expert - No more homework battles
- A Frontline to ADHD
- Understanding Girls with ADHD
- What is ADHD?
- What To Do When Your Child With ADHD is Bullied
- Stop the Chaos! Tips for Creating a Peaceful Household When Mom has ADHD
- Is It ADHD?
- Ask the Expert - What else can I do? Complementary approaches to ADHD treatment
- All in a row: Getting your kids with ADHD organized
- Your Student With ADHD Was Admitted to College, Now what?
- Evidence-based treatment for ADHD in young children
- Home life when Mom or Dad has ADHD: Succeeding with your family
- How does technology affect ADHD?
- Diagnosing ADHD
- Helping Your Child Successfully Handle Change
- Recognizing challenging behaviors in young children: Could it be ADHD?
- Classroom Managment Supports for ADHD Behaviors in Preschool Settings
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- What Everyone Should Know about ADHD
- Make Learning Exciting: Apps for Executive Functioning
- Teenagers, ADHD, and Substance Abuse
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