The DIVA-5 is a structured clinical interview for diagnosing ADHD, accompanied by a written guide called the DIVA form. DIVA stands for Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults. The form covers all 18 DSM-5 ADHD Criteria, asks about childhood and adult experiences, and assesses how symptoms affect work, school, relationships, and daily activities.
It is an interview, not a self-test, and it can’t diagnose ADHD on its own.
The DIVA-5 in Brief
Here’s a quick overview of what the DIVA-5 covers, who it is designed for, and how it fits into an ADHD assessment.
- What is it: A structured interview based on DSM-5 criteria for assessing ADHD in adults.
- What it covers: Nine inattention symptoms and nine hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms, including their onset and impact on daily life.
- Who uses it: Clinicians conducting ADHD assessments.
- How it’s scored: Clinicians consider symptom counts alongside childhood onset, impairment, and symptoms across settings.
- Versions: DIVA-5 (adults), Young DIVA-5 (ages 5 to 17), and DIVA-5 ID (adults with intellectual disability)
- What can’t it do? It cannot replace a comprehensive clinical assessment.
Why this Guide is Worth Your Time
This guide explains what the DIVA-5 covers, how clinicians interpret the interview, and how adults can prepare for an ADHD assessment. It also explains the form’s role in the wider diagnostic process.
If you are considering an adult ADHD assessment in Adelaide, Elyséa HEALTH offers face-to-face assessments at its Fullarton clinic.
Why a Structured Interview Matters
ADHD is easy to miss and easy to mistake for something else. People are often told for years that they are lazy, rude, scattered, or too sensitive. Others were quiet, bright children who coped until life got busier.
A structured interview helps because it ensures nothing gets overlooked. Instead of just a chat, it examines each symptom with real-life examples.
It also helps you. Hearing everyday examples (Do you often lose things you need for tasks?) makes it easier to recognise patterns you might have brushed off for years.
What’s Actually in the DIVA form?
The DIVA-5 is organised in three simple parts:
Inattention Symptoms
These are the “mind is elsewhere” experiences. The clinician asks about things like:
- Missing details or making careless mistakes
- Trouble staying focused on meetings, conversations or reading
- Not seeming to listen when spoken to
- Starting tasks but not finishing them
- Struggling to organise time, belongings or priorities
- Avoiding tasks that need sustained mental effort
- Losing keys, phones and paperwork
- Getting easily distracted
- Forgetting appointments or daily jobs
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity Symptoms
In adults, this often looks less like running around and more like an inner engine that just won’t switch off
- Fidgeting or feeling restless
- Difficulty relaxing or sitting through long periods
- Always feeling “on the go”
- Talking a lot
- Finishing other people’s sentences or interrupting
- Struggling to wait your turn
- Acting before thinking
Age of Onset and Impact on Daily Life
This part gives the picture its context. The clinician asks when symptoms began and where they cause problems,s such as:
- Work or career
- Study
- Relationships and family life
- Social life
- Money and daily admin
- Self-esteem and wellbeing
The form explores every symptom twice: once for adulthood and once for childhood. That is why the form feels more like a life story than a random checklist someone put together on a whim.
How the DIVA Form is scored
If you’re looking for how to score the DIVA 5, here is what you can do.
For each of the 18 symptoms, the clinician talks through examples with you and records whether it was present in childhood and in adulthood. They then count the symptoms in each group.
Under the DSM-5 criteria:
Inattention | Hyperactivity/ Impulsivity | |
Adults (17+) | 5 or more of | 5 or more of 9 |
Meeting the threshold in either group is the starting point. The clinician also needs to see that:
- Several symptoms were present before age 12
- Symptoms show up in more than one setting (for example, home and work)
- They clearly interfere with daily functioning
- Another condition does not better explain them
So there is no single DIVA score like a test mark. It’s a clinical picture built from your answers, and the final decision rests with your clinician.
The Different Versions of the DIVA
“Young DIVA” and “DIVA child” are some of the most-searched terms, so here’s how the versions differ.
Version | Who it’s for | Notes |
DIVA-6 | Adults | The main interview. Replaced the earlier DIVA 2.0, which is why people still search “DIVA 5.0” |
Young DIVA-5 | Children and teens (designed for roughly ages 5 to 17) | Usually completed with a parent or carer, with school input where possible |
DIVA-5 ID | People with an intellectual disability | Adapted wording and approach for different communication needs |
Is there a DIVA-5 Test Online?
This is a really common question and a necessary one as well. The DIVA-5 isn’t designed to be a self-test.
It’s designed for a trained clinician who can ask follow-up questions, consider context, and weigh what they hear. So, filling it out alone at home won’t give you an accurate result, and no online version can replace that conversation.
What the PDF is good for:
- Understanding the process before your appointment
- Reflecting on your own history so you feel prepared
Many clinicians also complete formal DIVA training before using the tool, which is why you will hear people searching for DIVA 5 Training. Keep in mind that this is not for the general public. That is strictly for professionals.
Who Might Benefit From a DIVA-5 Assessment?
You don’t need to have everything figured out to ask the question. People often ask this question because of the following:
- They’ve felt “different” for as long as they can remember
- A child, partner, or friend has been diagnosed, and it sounded familiar
- Work has become harder, or burnout keeps coming back
- They’ve been treated for anxiety or depression with only partial relief
- They’ve been struggling with time, organisation or follow-through despite real effort
ADHD can also look different in different people. Women and high-achieving adults, for example, are often diagnosed later because they have learned to compensate. For people, an assessment can help explain difficulties they have experienced over time.
Young DIVA-5: ADHD assessment for children and teenagers
Young DIVA-5 is a structured interview designed to assess ADHD symptoms in children and teenagers. It explores symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, including how they affect a young person’s daily life.
The assessment draws on information about the child’s behaviour and development, often with input from a parent or caregiver. Information from school or other settings may also help the clinician understand whether symptoms occur in different environments.
DIVA-5 ID: ADHD assessment for people with intellectual disability
DIVA-5 ID is an adapted version of the DIVA interview intended for assessing ADHD in people with intellectual disability. It takes into account the additional considerations that may arise when assessing ADHD alongside intellectual disability.
As with other ADHD assessment tools, it helps structure the clinical interview but does not establish a diagnosis on its own. The clinician must consider the person’s developmental history, symptoms, daily functioning, and broader clinical context.
DIVA-5 ID is different from the standard adult DIVA-5. Its adapted approach is intended for a specific assessment context, and it should not be presented as interchangeable with the standard adult interview.
What Happens After the Assessment?
An assessment can end in a few different ways. It may confirm ADHD, point to another explanation, or show that more than one thing is going on. All of these outcomes are valuable because they give you a clearer map.
If ADHD is diagnosed, support can include education about how ADHD works, practical strategies, therapy, coaching, workplace or study adjustments, and, where appropriate, medication.
Your clinician will talk this through with you and tailor it to your goals. Medicines used for ADHD are tightly regulated in South Australia, and your clinician can explain how that works for you.
Many people describe the moment of diagnosis as an exhale. Years of “why can’t I just do this?” are replaced with “oh, that’s why.”
Download the Elyséa HEALTH DIVA form
If you would like to see exactly what the assessment covers, our DIVA 5 PDF walks through the same structure your clinician will use.
It’s a helpful starting point, but please remember it isn’t a diagnosis on its own. When you’re ready, we’re here to take the next step with you. Book an ADHD assessment at Elyséa Health and visit our clinic.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you score the DIVA 5?
Clinicians record which of the 18 symptoms are present in adulthood and childhood, count them, and check onset, settings, and impairment. In general, adults need five or more symptoms in either group. There is no single numerical score, and clinicians make the final judgment.
Can I do the DIVA 5 test online?
No, you cannot do that. A DIVA-5 is meant to be conducted by a trained clinician. You can read the form beforehand, but only a clinician can interpret it.
How long does a DIVA-5 interview take?
Often it takes an hour. But it can vary. That is mainly because we explore each symptom with examples. You can ask the clinic about timings before booking.
Is there a DIVA assessment for children?
Yes. The Young DIVA-5 is specifically designed for children and teenagers and is usually completed with a parent ot carer.
Do I need someone from my childhood to come along?
Not always, but it can help sometimes. A parent, sibling, or family member can recall details about your early years that you might have forgotten.
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