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
- Sensitivity 86%, specificity 99% at cut-off of 46 (Ward et al., 1993).
- Population
- Adults aged 18+ recalling their childhood behaviours (up to age 12).
- Interpretation
- 0–20Low
- 21–45Borderline
- 46–100Elevated
Scoring & Interpretation
Each item scored 0 (Not at all / Very slightly) to 4 (Very much). Total score: sum of 25 items, range 0–100. A cut-off of 46 correctly identified 86% of ADHD patients and 99% of controls in the validation study.
| Score Range | Severity | Clinical Action |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20 | Low | Childhood ADHD symptoms unlikely |
| 21–45 | Borderline | Some childhood difficulties — gather corroborative history |
| 46–100 | Elevated | Consistent with childhood ADHD — supports current diagnosis |
- Sensitivity 86%, specificity 99% at cut-off of 46 (Ward et al., 1993).
- Internal consistency: α = 0.95.
- Discriminates ADHD patients from controls (d = 2.1) and from depression-only patients (d = 1.4).
- Validated in 15+ languages.
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 WURS-25 childhood-ADHD cut-off (46).
By domain
- Attention & Focus
- 18/28
- Emotions & Self-Image
- 16/28
- Impulse Control
- 10/24
- School & Authority
- 8/20
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?
A total score of 46 or above (out of 100) is the validated cut-off for childhood ADHD. This threshold correctly identifies 86% of ADHD patients (sensitivity) and 99% of controls (specificity) in the original validation study.
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.
Stop scoring the WURS-25 by hand.
The total, the bands and the domain flags you just worked through, scored and laid out for you. New accounts get 30 days of full Professional access, no card.