Introduction
The Vanderbilt questionnaire organises an observer's account of a child's attention, activity and behaviour. The 55 questions on this page also include emotional concerns and everyday performance, so the form covers more than distractibility alone.
A child's behaviour can differ between classroom routines, homework and unstructured time. Specific examples and information from more than one setting help explain a rating. Difficulties with academic work and relationships add a different kind of information from the frequency of an individual behaviour.
Vanderbilt is distinct from the adult ASRS self-report. When the main concern is fear or worry rather than attention, the children's anxiety questionnaire addresses that topic more directly. Choosing by the child's situation and the person providing the answers is more useful than choosing by question count.
Instructions
Consider the context of what is appropriate for the age of your child. How would you rate your child’s behaviors in the following areas over the past 6 months:
This is not a standard self-report test
Observer-rated; combine parent, teacher, and clinical information
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-181
- Items scored
- 55
- Result indicators
- Total score / Interpretation band when available
Score interpretation bands
- 0-43Low range
Your score falls in the lower range for this screening tool.
- 44-88Mild range
Your score falls in a mild or lower-middle range. Consider the result alongside your current context.
- 89-133Moderate range
Your score falls in a moderate range. If the symptoms are distressing, consider speaking with a qualified professional.
- 134-181Higher range
Your score falls in a higher range for this screening tool. This is not a diagnosis, but it may be worth discussing with a clinician.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 55 questions
- Administration
- Observer-rated
- Intended audience
- Parents, teachers, and clinicians rating attention, activity, behavior, and functioning in school-age children, commonly ages 6-12
Sources
Related tests
Explore related screening tools in the same topic area.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRSv1.1)
The adult ASRS questionnaire asks about attention, organisation, restlessness and impulsive behaviour in everyday situations.
Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS)
The Spence questionnaire asks children about fears, worries and situations that feel uncomfortable.
Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire (ASSQ)
ASSQ collects observations of a school-age child's social communication, interests and behaviour.