What Is the Conners Rating Scale for ADHD?

What Is the Conners Rating Scale?

The Conners Rating Scale is a questionnaire used to assess ADHD symptoms in people of all ages—children, adolescents, and adults. Each question asks about specific behaviors, like how often someone has trouble staying focused or how easily they get frustrated. The questionnaire is filled out by parents, teachers, and sometimes the individual themselves, depending on their age.

Here are some examples of questions the Conners Rating Scale asks:

• How often do you struggle with temper outbursts?
• How often do you fail to pay close attention to details?
• How often do you feel restless?
• How often do you fail to follow through on instructions?
• How often do you forget to listen when spoken to directly?
• How often do you struggle to stay seated?

One of the key benefits of the Conners Rating Scale is that it doesn’t just look at whether someone has ADHD; it also helps determine how severe the symptoms are and what specific challenges the person is facing. This can be helpful in figuring out the best approach for treatment. Additionally, it can help identify other co-occurring conditions or behavioral concerns, such as anxiety, depression, or learning difficulties, making it a useful tool for comprehensive assessment and support.

What Does the Conners Rating Scale Measure?

The Conners Rating Scale measures a range of behaviors and symptoms associated with ADHD. It examines different areas, such as inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional regulation. It also asks questions about an individual’s sleep difficulties and social struggles. Additionally, the scale includes questions that help doctors identify other issues that often occur alongside ADHD, like anxiety, depression, oppositional behavior, and learning difficulties.

The Conners scale measures the following symptoms:

• Hyperactivity
• Inattentiveness
• Impulsiveness
• Social difficulties
• Sleep issues
• Compulsive behaviors
• Emotional difficulties
• Aggressive behavior
• Perfectionism
• Separation anxiety
• Problems with math or language

How Doctors Use the Conners Rating Scale

Doctors often use the Conners Rating Scale to help identify ADHD and other behavioral concerns in children and adolescents. The process usually begins with a doctor asking the parents, teachers, and sometimes the child themselves (depending on the age) to fill out a questionnaire. The answers are then scored, and the results are compared to what is considered typical behavior for children of the same age and gender.

Doctors look at these scores to determine if the behaviors reported are consistent with ADHD or other issues. It’s not a standalone diagnostic tool but rather one of several tools doctors might use, alongside other assessments and observations, to determine the best way to help the individual manage their symptoms.¹

How Does the Rating System Work?

The Conners Rating Scale includes a series of statements about behaviors, emotions, and difficulties that the person may be experiencing. Each statement is rated on a scale from 0 to 3 to show how often the person notices a certain symptom or behavior. A “0” means you never notice it, while a “3” indicates it happens very often.

Once all the answers are in, they’re converted into a standardized score, known as a T-score. This score helps the doctor see how the results compare to what’s typical for someone of the same age and gender. If the T-score is below 60, it is usually unlikely that the individual has ADHD. A score above 60 might suggest ADHD, and if it’s over 70, it could indicate more serious symptoms.^{2, 3}

Conners Rating Scale Limitations

The main limitation of the Conners Rating Scale is that it’s just one tool among many, and current best practices suggest using multiple assessments and methods to accurately diagnose ADHD in kids, teens, and adults. While research shows that the Conners Rating Scale is reliable and does a good job of measuring the severity and presence of ADHD symptoms, it’s most effective when used alongside other evaluation tools.

Other tests recommended in addition to the Conners Rating Scale include:¹

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence test, fourth edition – WAIS-IV
• Reynolds Adaptive Intelligence Test – RAIT
• Reynolds Intellectual Assessment Scales – RIAS
• Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Tests
• The Test of Variables of Attention – TOVA
• The Evaluate Visual and Auditory Attention Test – IVA-2
• The MOXO d-CPT test of attention

How to Find Professional Support for a Child With ADHD

To find a professional for ADHD testing, start by checking a local therapist directory for nearby providers who accept your health insurance, especially if cost is a concern. You might also consider online ADHD treatment services that offer remote testing and consultations, which can be a great option if there aren’t local providers available or if you prefer virtual sessions. As you search, look for therapists who describe themselves as neurodiversity-affirming or ADHD-friendly. This way, you’re more likely to find someone who truly understands and supports your unique needs.

Be careful with web-based tests that promise to diagnose ADHD. A lot of these online tests aren’t scientifically reliable or valid, so they probably won’t be taken seriously by doctors or therapists who specialize in ADHD. It’s much better to go through a trained healthcare professional who can provide a thorough evaluation using proven methods. This way, you can be sure the diagnosis is accurate and reliable.

Free ADHD Worksheets

This collection of four worksheets provides practical tools and strategies for managing ADHD symptoms. Find the one you need or download all the worksheets in this collection here.

Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals Download

ADHD Focus Plan Download

Challenging Negative Self-Talk Download

How to S.T.O.P. Impulsivity Download