Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-25)
Retrospective assessment of childhood ADHD symptoms for adult diagnosis.
Last reviewed: July 2026
- Full name
- Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS-25)
- Measures
- The WURS-25 was developed by Ward, Wender, and Reimherr (1993) to address a core requirement of ADHD diagnosis: evidence of childhood-onset symptoms.
- Format
- 25 items · ~7 min · Self-report (retrospective)
- Score range
- 0 to 100
- Reliability
- Ward et al. (1993): a total of 46 or higher correctly identified 86% of adults with ADHD, 99% of non-clinical adults and 81% of adults with depression.
- Population
- Adults aged 18+ recalling their childhood behaviours (up to age 12).
- Interpretation
- 0–29Below 30
- 30–45At or above 30
- 46–100At or above 46
Scoring & Interpretation
Each item scored 0 (Not at all / Very slightly) to 4 (Very much). Total score: sum of 25 items, range 0–100. The developers publish two cut-offs: 30 or higher best identifies ADHD in a community setting, and 46 or higher in a clinical setting (Reimherr et al., 2022). No other bands are published.
| Score Range | Severity | Clinical Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–29 | Below 30 | Below both published cut-offs; does not rule out childhood ADHD |
| 30–45 | At or above 30 | At or above the community cut-off; gather corroborating childhood history |
| 46–100 | At or above 46 | At or above the clinical cut-off; supports, and does not establish, childhood onset |
- Ward et al. (1993): a total of 46 or higher correctly identified 86% of adults with ADHD, 99% of non-clinical adults and 81% of adults with depression.
- Reimherr et al. (2022; 137 adults with ADHD, 228 with depression or anxiety, 120 non-clinical controls): 30 or higher, sensitivity 91% and specificity 92% against non-clinical controls; 46 or higher, sensitivity 62% and specificity 86% against depression and anxiety.
ClientForms publishes a standing audit of scoring and interpretation cut-offs across the whole catalogue: scoring accuracy audit.
When to Use This vs Alternatives
| Instrument | Measures | Items | Reach for it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| WURS-25 This page | Childhood ADHD, retrospective | 25 | The comprehensive option you are reading about |
| ASRS | ADHD symptom frequency (screen) | 6–18 | You need to assess CURRENT ADHD symptoms. The ASRS measures symptom frequency over the past 6 months; the WURS-25 measures CHILDHOOD symptoms recalled retrospectively. Use both together for the full diagnostic picture (current + developmental history). |
| WFIRS-S | Functional impairment, 7 domains | 69 | You need to document current functional impairment. The WFIRS-S measures how ADHD affects life NOW; the WURS-25 establishes that difficulties were present IN CHILDHOOD. Different time frames, complementary purposes. |
| ADHD-FIS | Functional impact (screening) | 18 | You want a brief read on current functional impact. The WURS-25 is a one-time retrospective assessment (childhood history doesn't change); the ADHD-FIS is an original screening checklist for revisiting current impact over time. |
Childhood ADHD, retrospective · 25 items
ADHD symptom frequency (screen) · 6–18 items
You need to assess CURRENT ADHD symptoms. The ASRS measures symptom frequency over the past 6 months; the WURS-25 measures CHILDHOOD symptoms recalled retrospectively. Use both together for the full diagnostic picture (current + developmental history).
Functional impairment, 7 domains · 69 items
You need to document current functional impairment. The WFIRS-S measures how ADHD affects life NOW; the WURS-25 establishes that difficulties were present IN CHILDHOOD. Different time frames, complementary purposes.
Functional impact (screening) · 18 items
You want a brief read on current functional impact. The WURS-25 is a one-time retrospective assessment (childhood history doesn't change); the ADHD-FIS is an original screening checklist for revisiting current impact over time.
See It in Action
Sample: a completed WURS-25, scored and interpreted.
At or above the clinical cut-off (46) (Ward et al., 1993; Reimherr et al., 2022). Supports, and does not establish, childhood onset.
On ClientForms the total, its band and every domain flag are scored for you and ready to read or export as a PDF.
See the dashboard view
Synthetic sample for illustration — not a real patient.
What It Measures
Since DSM-5 requires that symptoms were present before age 12, clinicians need a way to assess childhood ADHD in adults who may not have been diagnosed as children. The WURS-25 asks adults to retrospectively rate 25 behaviours from their childhood, covering attention difficulties, hyperactivity, impulsivity, academic problems, and emotional dysregulation.
When to Use the WURS-25
Use the WURS-25 after current ADHD symptoms are confirmed (e. g., positive ASRS screen). Administer to establish the developmental history required for DSM-5 diagnosis. Particularly important for late-diagnosed adults who were not assessed in childhood — the WURS-25 provides structured evidence of childhood symptom presence.
Who It's For
Adults aged 18+ recalling their childhood behaviours (up to age 12). Self-report. Validated in clinical populations seeking ADHD evaluation. Note: retrospective self-report has inherent limitations — corroborative information (school reports, parent recall) strengthens the assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the WURS-25?
The WURS-25 (Wender Utah Rating Scale) is a 25-item self-report questionnaire that asks adults to retrospectively rate their childhood behaviours (before age 12). It assesses whether ADHD symptoms were present in childhood — a requirement for adult ADHD diagnosis under DSM-5.
What is the WURS-25 cut-off score?
The developers publish two cut-offs (out of 100). A total of 30 or above best identifies ADHD in a community setting (sensitivity 91%, specificity 92% against non-clinical controls), and 46 or above in a clinical setting (sensitivity 62%, specificity 86% against depression and anxiety; Reimherr et al., 2022). In the original study, 46 or above identified 86% of adults with ADHD and 99% of non-clinical adults (Ward et al., 1993).
Why is childhood history important for adult ADHD diagnosis?
DSM-5 requires that several ADHD symptoms were present before age 12 for a valid adult diagnosis. The WURS-25 provides structured evidence of childhood symptoms, particularly important for adults who were never assessed as children and may not have school reports available.
Where can I get the WURS-25, and is it free to use?
The WURS-25 is freely available for clinical use and is widely reproduced in adult ADHD assessment resources; the 25-item version comes from Ward, Wender and Reimherr (1993). On ClientForms you send it to a patient, who completes it on their phone, and the total against the cut-off of 46 comes back scored for you, ready to read or export.
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