(page 1 of 2)

Vanderbilt ADHD Teacher Rating Scale

Child’s Name ............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Date of Birth ......................................................................................Grade ...................................Today’s Date ..........................................
Completed by .................................................................................................... Subject Taught (if applicable) .........................................

Each rating should be considered in the context of what is appropriate for the age of the child. If you have
completed a previous assessment, your rating should reflect the child’s behavior since you last completed a form.

Symptoms Never Occasionally Often Very Often

1. Does not pay attention to details or makes

careless mistakes, such as in homework 0 1 2 3

2. Has difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or activities 0 1 2 3

3. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly 0 1 2 3
4. Does not follow through on instruction and fails to
finish schoolwork (not due to oppositional behavior 0 1 2 3
or failure to understand)
5. Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities 0 1 2 3
6. Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks
0 1 2 3
that require sustained mental effort
7. Loses things necessary for tasks or activities
(school assignments, pencils, or books) 0 1 2 3

8. Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli 0 1 2 3

9. Is forgetful in daily activities 0 1 2 3
10. Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat 0 1 2 3
11. Leaves seat when remaining in seated is expected 0 1 2 3
12. Runs about or climbs excessively when remaining
0 1 2 3
seated is expected
13. Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure
0 1 2 3
activities quietly
14. Is “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor” 0 1 2 3
15. Talks too much 0 1 2 3
16. Blurts out answers before questions have been completed 0 1 2 3
17. Has difficulty waiting his or her turn 0 1 2 3
18. Interrupts or intrudes in on others (butts into
0 1 2 3
conversations or games)
19. Loses temper 0 1 2 3
20. Actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’
requests or rules 0 1 2 3

21. Is angry or resentful 0 1 2 3

22. Is spiteful and vindictive 0 1 2 3
23. Bullies, threatens, or intimidates others 0 1 2 3
24. Initiates physical fights 0 1 2 3
25. Lies to obtain goods for favors or to avoid obligations
0 1 2 3
(“cons” others)
26. Is physically cruel to people 0 1 2 3
27. Has stolen items of nontrivial value 0 1 2 3
28. Deliberately destroys others’ property 0 1 2 3

PRIMARY CARE PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH 29

(page 2 of 2)

Vanderbilt ADHD Teacher Rating Scale

Child’s Name ............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Today’s Date ........................................................................................

Symptoms Never Occasionally Often Very Often

29. Is fearful, anxious, or worried 0 1 2 3

30. Is self-conscious or easily embarrassed 0 1 2 3
31. Is afraid to try new things for fear of making mistakes 0 1 2 3
32. Feels worthless or inferior 0 1 2 3
33. Blames self for problems, feels guilty 0 1 2 3
34. Feels lonely, unwanted, or unloved; complains
0 1 2 3
that “no one loves him/her”
35. Is sad, unhappy, or depressed 0 1 2 3

Performance Problematic Average Above Average

Academic Performance
Reading 1 2 3 4 5
Mathematics 1 2 3 4 5
Written Expression 1 2 3 4 5
Classroom Behavior
Relationship with Peers 1 2 3 4 5
Following Directions/Rules 1 2 3 4 5
Disrupting Class 1 2 3 4 5
Assignment Completion 1 2 3 4 5
Organizational Skills 1 2 3 4 5

Comments:

For Office Use Only

SYMPTOMS:
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 1-9: ..........................
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 10-18: ..........................
Total symptom score for questions 1-18: ..........................
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 19-28: ..........................
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 29-35: ..........................

Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale was developed by Mark L. Wolraich, MD.
Reproduced and format adapted by R. Hilt, MD and PAL with permission.

30 PRIMARY CARE PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH

 (page 1 of 2)

Vanderbilt ADHD Parent Rating Scale

Child’s Name ............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Date of Birth ......................................................................................Grade ...................................Today’s Date ..........................................
Completed by ....................................................................Relationship to child: Mom Dad Other .......................................

Each rating should be considered in the context of what is appropriate for the age of your child.
When completing this form, please think about your child’s behaviors in the past 6 months.

Symptoms Never Occasionally Often Very Often

1. Does not pay attention to details or makes careless

0 1 2 3
mistakes, such as in homework
2. Has difficulty sustaining attention to tasks or activities 0 1 2 3
3. Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly 0 1 2 3
4. Does not follow through on instruction and fails to
finish schoolwork (not due to oppositional behavior or 0 1 2 3
failure to understand)
5. Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities 0 1 2 3
6. Avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that
0 1 2 3
require sustained mental effort
7. Loses things necessary for tasks or activities
(school assignments, pencils, or books) 0 1 2 3
8. Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli 0 1 2 3
9. Is forgetful in daily activities 0 1 2 3
10. Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat 0 1 2 3
11. Leaves seat when remaining in seated is expected 0 1 2 3
12. Runs about or climbs excessively when remaining
0 1 2 3
seated is expected
13. Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure
0 1 2 3
activities quietly
14. Is “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor” 0 1 2 3
15. Talks too much 0 1 2 3
16. Blurts out answers before questions have been completed 0 1 2 3
17. Has difficulty waiting his or her turn 0 1 2 3
18. Interrupts or intrudes in on others
0 1 2 3
(butts into conversations or games)
19. Argues with adults 0 1 2 3
20. Loses temper 0 1 2 3
21. Actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’
0 1 2 3
requests or rules
22. Deliberately annoys people 0 1 2 3
23. Blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior 0 1 2 3
24. Is touchy or easily annoyed by others 0 1 2 3
25. Is angry or resentful 0 1 2 3
26. Is spiteful and vindictive 0 1 2 3
27. Bullies, threatens, or intimidates others 0 1 2 3
28. Initiates physical fights 0 1 2 3
29. Lies to obtain goods for favors or to avoid obligations
0 1 2 3
(“cons” others)
30. Is truant from school (skips school) without permission 0 1 2 3
31. Is physically cruel to people 0 1 2 3

PRIMARY CARE PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH 31

(page 2 of 2)

Vanderbilt ADHD Parent Rating Scale

Child’s Name ............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Today’s Date ........................................................................................

Symptoms Never Occasionally Often Very Often

32. Has stolen things of nontrivial value 0 1 2 3

33. Deliberately destroys others’ property 0 1 2 3
34. Has used a weapon that can cause serious harm
0 1 2 3
(bat, knife, brick, gun)
35. Is physically cruel to animals 0 1 2 3
36. Has deliberately set fires to cause damage 0 1 2 3
37. Has broken into someone else’s home, business, or car 0 1 2 3
38. Has stayed out at night without permission 0 1 2 3
39. Has run away from home overnight 0 1 2 3
40. Has forced someone into sexual activity 0 1 2 3
41. Is fearful, anxious, or worried 0 1 2 3
42. Is afraid to try new things for fear of making mistakes 0 1 2 3
43. Feels worthless or inferior 0 1 2 3
44. Blames self for problems, feels guilty 0 1 2 3
45. Feels lonely, unwanted, or unloved; complains
0 1 2 3
that “no one loves him/her”
46. Is sad, unhappy, or depressed 0 1 2 3
47. Is self-conscious or easily embarrassed 0 1 2 3

Performance Problematic Average Above Average

Academic Performance
Reading 1 2 3 4 5
Mathematics 1 2 3 4 5
Written Expression 1 2 3 4 5
Classroom Behavior
Relationship with Peers 1 2 3 4 5
Following Directions/Rules 1 2 3 4 5
Disrupting Class 1 2 3 4 5
Assignment Completion 1 2 3 4 5
Organizational Skills 1 2 3 4 5

For Office Use Only Comments:

SYMPTOMS:
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 1-9: ..................
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 10-18: ..................
Total symptom score for questions 1-18: ..................
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 19-26: .................. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 27-40: .................. Scale was developed by Mark L. Wolraich, MD.
Reproduced and format adapted by R. Hilt, MD
Number of questions scored as 2 or 3 in questions 41-47: .................. and PAL with permission.

32 PRIMARY CARE PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH

Scoring the Vanderbilt ADHD Scales
The Vanderbilt rating scale is a screening and information gathering tool which can assist with making an ADHD
diagnosis and with monitoring treatment effects over time. The Vanderbilt rating scale results alone do not make
a diagnosis of ADHD or diagnose any other disorder — one must consider information from multiple sources to
make a clinical diagnosis. Symptom items 1-47 are noted to be significantly present if the parent or teacher records
the symptom as “often or very often” present (a 2 or 3 on the scale). The “performance” items at the end are felt
to be significant if the parent or teacher records either a 1 or 2 on each item.

Parent Version Teacher Version

Predominantly Inattentive Subtype Predominantly Inattentive Subtype
Requires 6 or more counted behaviors on items Requires 6 or more counted behaviors on items
1 through 9 and a performance problem (score of 1 1 through 9 and a performance problem (score of 1
or 2) in any of the items on the performance section. or 2) in any of the items on the performance section.
Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Subtype Predominantly Hyperactive/Impulsive Subtype
Requires 6 or more counted behaviors on items Requires 6 or more counted behaviors on items 10
10 through 18 and a performance problem through 18 and a performance problem (score of 1 or
(score of 1 or 2) in any of the items on the 2) in any of the items on the performance section.
performance section. Combined subtype
Combined Subtype Requires 6 or more counted behaviors each on
Requires 6 or more counted behaviors each both the inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity
on both the inattention and hyperactivity/ dimensions.
impulsivity dimensions. Oppositional defiant and conduct disorders
Oppositional-defiant disorder Requires 3 or more counted behaviors from
Requires 4 or more counted behaviors on items questions 19 through 28.
19 through 26. Anxiety or depression
Conduct disorder Requires 3 or more counted behaviors from
Requires 3 or more counted behaviors on items questions 29 through 35.
27 through 40.
The performance section is scored as indicating some
Anxiety or depression
impairment if a child scores 1 or 2 on at least 1 item.
Requires 3 or more counted behaviors on items
41 through 47.

PRIMARY CARE PRINCIPLES FOR CHILD MENTAL HEALTH 33