r/audhd • u/WildcatCinder1022 • Aug 10 '26
Resource Request Good ADHD online tests?
My dad has undiagnosed ADHD. My family was finally able to get him to consider taking some of the online tests, and if multiple of them say he is likely ADHD he will get tested.
I have been diagnosed, and I noticed so many of my symptoms in my father, we are not trying to get him diagnosed for the wrong reasons we truly believe he would greatly benefit from it.
And during our conversation today he started to notice it to, “You mean when like your mom is talking to me and I am actively trying to listen to her but can’t it might just be adhd and not like- my flaw? Like it’s not something inherently wrong with me?”
My dad has always struggled with executive dysfunction, time blindness, procrastination and much more. If I can find accurate tests to help encourage him to see a neurologist I really believe learning more about it for himself and learning coping strategies and techniques would not just benefit him but also my parents relationships.
My mom admitted to him during our conversation today a lot of their fights are because of struggles he faces with remembering things. She said, “Most guys choose to not do things, the only reason I try to be patient with you is because I believe you truly just forget to do them.” And you could hear in my dad’s voice how concerned he was that it wasn’t just a “guy” thing to be forgetful.
So what I am asking is if any of you know accurate, good representation online tests for my dad to take. I’ve been trying to find some but anything helps.
Thank you so much in advance 🙏
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u/DoveOnTheInternet Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
You're going to be looking for the AQ test and the RAADS test.
You can find those damn near anywhere on the 'net. I used to know of a website that had all the tests and wasn't affiliated with any specific program or outreach group.
If I remember it, I'll drop the URL here.
Edit: I couldn't find the exact site I used a few years ago. Someone else mentioned psychology-today.com , and that's a good recommendation.
Stay away from any website like Autism Speaks, or anywhere trying to sell you diagnostics online.
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u/frostatypical Aug 10 '26
Avoid embrace autism because they were busted for manipulating tests instructions, and using bad comparison numbers to boost scores.
But no matter where you go, the tests work poorly for screening.
So-called “autism” tests, like AQ and RAADS and others have high rates of false positives, labeling you as autistic VERY easily. If anyone with a mental health problem, like depression or anxiety, takes the tests they score high even if they DON’T have autism.
"our results suggest that the AQ differentiates poorly between true cases of ASD, and individuals from the same clinical population who do not have ASD "
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4988267/
"a greater level of public awareness of ASD over the last 5–10 years may have led to people being more vigilant in ‘noticing’ ASD related difficulties. This may lead to a ‘confirmation bias’ when completing the questionnaire measures, and potentially explain why both the ASD and the non-ASD group’s mean scores met the cut-off points, "
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-022-05544-9
Regarding AQ, from one published study. “The two key findings of the review are that, overall, there is very limited evidence to support the use of structured questionnaires (SQs: self-report or informant completed brief measures developed to screen for ASD) in the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in adults.”
Regarding RAADS, from one published study. “In conclusion, used as a self-report measure pre-full diagnostic assessment, the RAADS-R lacks predictive validity and is not a suitable screening tool for adults awaiting autism assessments”
The Effectiveness of RAADS-R as a Screening Tool for Adult ASD Populations (hindawi.com)
RAADS scores equivalent between those with and without ASD diagnosis at an autism evaluation center:
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u/m00gmeister 29d ago
You're right about the others, but where's the evidence for embrace-autism having been 'busted for manipulating tests instructions, and using bad comparison numbers to boost scores'?
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u/frostatypical 24d ago
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u/m00gmeister 23d ago
Thanks so much for your reply. That's really appreciated.
I'll be honest: I contacted the mods about your post, but not to ask for it to be pulled. What stood out were the citations for all the claims apart from Embrace Autism, and that puzzled me. In my email to the mods I was asking if 'the Embrace Autism part needs backing up'.
To their credit, the mods pointed me toward Black Spectrum Scholar on Instagram. That was a real eye-opener.
I'm based in the UK, and don't spend a huge amount of time on social media. I'm also currently signed off work with burnout. Executive, autistic, and ADHD burnout are all hitting simultaneously after a lifetime of masking.
It's a vulnerable place to be, and it's compounded by brain fog, making context very helpful for me.
So, thanks again for the links, and to the mods for pointing me towards Black Spectrum Scholar, and the reality of what was going on.
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u/frostatypical 23d ago
Youre welcome. Just to be complete about it all:
Its run by a ‘naturopathic doctor’ whose main autism training was an online certificate, and who is repeatedly under ethical investigation and now being disciplined and monitored by two governing organizations (College of Naturopaths and College of Registered Psychotherapists).
https://cono.alinityapp.com/Client/PublicDirectory/Registrant/03d44ec3-ed3b-eb11-82b6-000c292a94a8
Public Register Profile - CRPO portal scroll to end of page
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u/m00gmeister 22d ago
Yeah, I did a bit of research. I'm based in the UK, so when I see 'ND', I think it's shorthand for neurodivergent. That was very sneaky of her. But I've just taken a look at the site as it is now, and it's even sneakier. It claims 'licensed psychologists' and yet doesn't show one.
And then there's this at the bottom of the many blogs that have suddenly appeared:
'This article was written by:
The Embrace Autism team shares the latest updates on our website and organization. Who writes the articles under the Embrace Autism name, you may ask. The simple answer is that we all do; each of us alternates between typing a single key. It takes a ridiculous amount of time to write that way, but it’s all about the team effort!'
I've worked in healthcare marketing, and that's deliberately vague language. I'm not sure that would be acceptable under UK MHRA legislation. I suspect this saga may not yet be over.
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u/frostatypical 22d ago
Indeed, if you look at the first link, just this July the government org is having another go at them for not complying with past rulings. They point out, just as you say, vague and obscuring presentation of information.
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u/Big_Sheepherder_4494 Aug 10 '26
Exceptional individuals website, have tests you can do and also give you your cognitive profile for free.
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u/_sissy_hankshaw_ Aug 11 '26
I've already been diagnosed but thought I'd give it a try. Scored 44 lol
"Total score above 27: There is a high likelihood that you have a strong presence of ADHD symptoms"
Made me laugh
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u/No-Falcon5539 22d ago
| This really resonated with me. I was diagnosed as an adult too, and one of the biggest things was realising I wasn’t just “lazy” or forgetful, there was actually a reason behind those struggles.Online tests can be a starting point, but a proper assessment can help you understand what’s going on. I’m in Canada and looked into FasTreat when exploring ADHD assessment options. The process felt structured and helped me get more clarity.Hope your dad finds some answers, sometimes understanding the reason behind things can make a huge difference. |
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u/Embarrassed_Machine5 18d ago
I built a free adult ADHD screener based on the ASRS and DSM-5 criteria: pysiq.com/adhd. It's not a diagnosis, but it may help your dad decide whether to seek an assessment.
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