by Gerald J Spadafore and Sharon J Spadafore
Purpose: ADHD Determination
Age Range: Ages 5 through 19
Age Range: Ages 5 through 19
Admin: Individual
Time: Approx 15 minutes
Description:
The Spadafore Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (S-ADHD-RS) provides a quick, easy and accurate way to tell not only whether a child shows ADHD behaviours, but also indicates the severity of the problem behaviours. School psychologists and teachers will find this type of information useful when devising effective IEPs for 5 to 19 year olds.
The S-ADHD-RS utilizes a 50-item questionnaire to yield information about three behavioural clusters: impulsivity/ hyperactivity, attention, and social adjustment. Unlike the current DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) criteria, which require observations in three settings, the S-ADHD-RS utilizes only one setting the classroom, where negative consequences of ADHD are most critical. The S-ADHD-RS assessment procedure is linked to appropriate intervention strategies (provided in the manual).
Administration and Scoring:
The scoring protocol is easy to use; for each item, response choices are made on a 5-point (Likert-type) scale, thus quantifying the severity of the behaviour in question. The observations are completed by the classroom teacher, and ADHD diagnosis is made by school psychologists using the S-ADHD-RS in conjunction with other data. Separate age-based norms for boys and girls convert raw scores to percentile ranks. Standard- ization data was obtained from 760 students and included students in regular classrooms as well as in special education and Chapter 1 placements.
Author: Gerald J. Spadafore, Sharon J. Spadafore

The Spadafore Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale (S-ADHD-RS) provides a quick, easy and accurate way to tell not only whether a child shows ADHD behaviours, but also indicates the severity of the problem behaviours. School psychologists and teachers will find this type of information useful when devising effective IEPs for 5 to 19 year olds.
The S-ADHD-RS utilizes a 50-item questionnaire to yield information about three behavioural clusters: impulsivity/ hyperactivity, attention, and social adjustment. Unlike the current DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) criteria, which require observations in three settings, the S-ADHD-RS utilizes only one setting the classroom, where negative consequences of ADHD are most critical. The S-ADHD-RS assessment procedure is linked to appropriate intervention strategies (provided in the manual).
Administration and Scoring:
The scoring protocol is easy to use; for each item, response choices are made on a 5-point (Likert-type) scale, thus quantifying the severity of the behaviour in question. The observations are completed by the classroom teacher, and ADHD diagnosis is made by school psychologists using the S-ADHD-RS in conjunction with other data. Separate age-based norms for boys and girls convert raw scores to percentile ranks. Standard- ization data was obtained from 760 students and included students in regular classrooms as well as in special education and Chapter 1 placements.
Author: Gerald J. Spadafore, Sharon J. Spadafore





