DIVA-5 ADHD Assessment
Diagnosing ADHD in adults is very different from diagnosing ADHD in children. Many adults have developed strategies that hide their difficulties, making questionnaires alone unreliable. The DIVA-5 (Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults – Fifth Edition) is a structured clinical interview that systematically examines every diagnostic criterion for ADHD, using real-life examples from both childhood and adulthood.
It is one of the most widely recognised diagnostic interviews for adult ADHD and forms a key part of our Gold Standard assessment for students aged 18 years and over.
The DIVA-5 does far more than ask whether ADHD symptoms are present today.
It explores when those symptoms first appeared, how they have changed over time, and whether they have caused significant difficulties across education, work and everyday life, all essential requirements for a robust ADHD diagnosis.
What Is the DIVA-5?
The DIVA-5 is a structured clinical interview developed specifically for diagnosing ADHD in adults.
Rather than asking students to rate themselves on a questionnaire, an Educational Psychologist works through each ADHD symptom individually, exploring detailed examples from the student’s own experiences.
The interview examines both:
- current functioning
- childhood behaviour
This developmental approach is essential because ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. Evidence must show that symptoms were present during childhood, even if they were not recognised at the time.
What Does It Assess?
The DIVA-5 examines every diagnostic criterion required for an adult ADHD diagnosis.
Inattention
The interview explores difficulties such as:
- sustaining attention
- organisation
- forgetfulness
- losing important items
- following through on tasks
- distractibility
Each symptom is discussed using real-life examples rather than simple ratings.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Students are asked about behaviours including:
- restlessness
- impulsive decision-making
- interrupting others
- difficulty relaxing
- excessive talking
- acting without thinking
Again, every symptom must be supported by evidence from everyday life.
Childhood History
One of the most important parts of the interview is establishing whether ADHD characteristics were present before the age of 12.
The interview explores school experiences, family life and childhood behaviour in a structured and systematic way.
Functional Impairment
The DIVA-5 also examines how ADHD affects everyday functioning, including:
- education
- employment
- relationships
- daily organisation
- confidence and self-esteem
A diagnosis depends not only on symptoms being present but also on those symptoms causing meaningful impairment.
What Makes the DIVA-5 Different?
Many ADHD questionnaires ask whether a symptom occurs.
The DIVA-5 asks for evidence.
For every symptom that is identified, students are asked to describe specific examples from their own lives.
This produces a far richer clinical picture than simple rating scales.
It also allows our Educational Psychologists to distinguish genuine ADHD from other conditions that can produce similar difficulties, including anxiety, depression, sleep problems and specific learning disorders.
How It Fits Into our Gold Standard Assessment
The DIVA-5 is one part of a comprehensive adult ADHD assessment.
Its findings are interpreted alongside every other assessment in the Gold Standard battery.
For example:
- MOXO Continuous Performance Test provides objective measures of attention, impulsivity and timing.
- WAIS-IV evaluates cognitive ability, including working memory and processing speed.
- WIAT-III identifies any co-occurring learning difficulties.
- Conners 3 and SNAP-IV, where appropriate, provide additional behavioural evidence from people who know the student well.
- RISB explores emotional wellbeing and the impact ADHD may have had on confidence and self-concept.
Together, these assessments allow us to distinguish ADHD from other conditions and identify additional needs that may require support.
What the Results Mean
Many adults seeking assessment have spent years developing strategies that successfully compensate for ADHD.
School routines, family support and exceptional intelligence often mask underlying difficulties until the demands of university or professional training become overwhelming.
The DIVA-5 helps reconstruct that developmental history.
By examining childhood alongside current functioning, it allows us to determine whether longstanding ADHD characteristics have been present throughout life or whether another explanation better accounts for the current difficulties.
From Assessment to Practical Support
A comprehensive ADHD assessment provides much more than a diagnosis.
Depending on the findings, recommendations may include:
- examination access arrangements
- university disability support
- Disabled Students’ Allowance recommendations
- workplace adjustments
- executive functioning strategies
- time management support
- coaching and organisational techniques
Where additional conditions such as dyslexia, anxiety or autism are also identified, recommendations are integrated into a single, coordinated support plan.
Expert Clinical Interpretation Matters
The DIVA-5 is a structured clinical interview, but reaching an accurate diagnosis requires far more than simply asking a series of questions.
Our HCPC-registered Educational Psychologists explore each symptom in depth, seeking clear examples from both childhood and adult life while considering alternative explanations for the student’s experiences.
The interview is interpreted alongside objective attention testing, cognitive assessment, academic attainment and behavioural evidence before any diagnostic conclusions are reached.
This integrated approach ensures that every diagnosis is evidence-based, clinically robust and aligned with DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 diagnostic criteria.
Your DIVA-5 Assessment and Report
Where screening assessments and the presenting profile indicate that a comprehensive adult ADHD assessment is appropriate, the DIVA-5 forms part of the Global Education Testing Gold Standard battery for students aged 18 years and over.
Your report includes:
- A detailed clinical interview covering every ADHD diagnostic criterion
- Integration with cognitive, academic and attention assessments
- Diagnostic conclusions based on DSM-5-TR and ICD-11 criteria
- Documentation supporting university disability services and examination access arrangements where appropriate
- Practical recommendations for education, work and everyday life
- Identification of any co-occurring conditions requiring additional support