Table of Contents
Instructions:
Next to each question mark how often the following applies to your child.
| Never | Occasionally | Often | Very Often | |
| Does not pay attention to details or makes careless mistakes, for example homework | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has difficulty attending to what needs to be done | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Does not follow through when given directions and fails to finish things | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Avoids, dislikes, or does not want to start tasks that require ongoing mental effort | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Loses things needed for tasks or activities (assignments, pencils, books) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is easily distracted by noises or other things | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is forgetful in daily activities | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Leaves seat when he is suppose to stay in his seat | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Runs about or climbs too much when he is suppose to stay seated | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has difficulty playing or starting quiet games | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor” | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Talks too much | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Burts out answers before questions have been completed | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has difficulty waiting his/her turn | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Never | Occasionally | Often | Very Often | |
| Interrupts or bothers others when they are talking or playing games | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Argues with adults | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Loses temper | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Actively disobeys or refuses to follow an adults’ requests or rules | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Bothers people on purpose | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehaviors | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is touchy or easily annoyed by others | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is angry or bitter | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is hateful and wants to get even | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Bullies, threatens, or scares others | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Starts physical fights | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Lies to get out of trouble or to avoid jobs (i.e., “cons” others) | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Skips school without permission | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is physically unkind to people | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has stolen things that have value | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Destroys others’ property on purpose | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has used a weapon that can cause serious harm (bat, knife, brick, gun | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Is physically mean to animals | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has set fires on purpose to cause damage | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Has broken into someone else’s home, business, or car | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Never | Occasionally | Often | Very Often | |||||
| Has stayed out at night without permission | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Has run away from home overnight | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Has forced someone into sexual activity | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Is fearful, nervous, or worried | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Is afraid to try new things for fear of making mistakes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Feels useless or inferior | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Blames self for problems, feels at fault | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Feels lonely, unwanted, or unloved; complains that “no one loves | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Is sad or unhappy | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Feels different and easily embarrassed | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| Rate how your child is doing in school overall | ||||||||
| ||||||||
| Problem | Slight Problem | Average | Okay | Above Average | ||||
| How is your child doing in reading? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How is your child doing in writing? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How is your child doing in math? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How does your child get along with you? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How does your child get along with brothers and sisters? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How does your child get along with others his/her own age? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
| How does your child do in activities such as games or team play? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||
Description
Validity and Reliability
Interpretation
Developer
Number Of Questions
References
Wolraich, M, Lambert, W., Doffing, M., Bickman, L., Simmons, T., Worley, K., (2003). Psychometric Properties of the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale in a Referred Population, Journal of Pediatric Psychology, Volume 28, Issue 8, 1, Pages 559–568
Becker, S. P., Langberg, J. M., Vaughn, A. J., & Epstein, J. N. (2012). Clinical utility of the Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic parent rating scale comorbidity screening scales. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 33(3), 221.
Developer Reference:
Wolraich, M. L., Hannah, J. N., Baumgaertel, A., & Feurer, I. D. (1998). Examination of DSM-IV critieria for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a county- wide sample. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 19, 162– 168.
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-parent-rating-scale-vadprs/
Mohammed looti. "Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-parent-rating-scale-vadprs/.
Mohammed looti. "Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS)." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-parent-rating-scale-vadprs/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS)', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/vanderbilt-adhd-diagnostic-parent-rating-scale-vadprs/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS)," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS). PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.