At NeuroSpark Health, we use the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults, or DIVA, as part of our comprehensive adult ADHD evaluations. As we’ve expanded our services for teens ages 15–17, we also use the Young DIVA-5 during our teen ADHD assessments.
The DIVA-5 is a structured, evidence-based interview aligned with the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for ADHD that helps clinicians evaluate how ADHD symptoms have affected an individual’s life from childhood through adulthood.
Many adults, especially those assigned female at birth or who present with internalized traits, go undiagnosed for years. The DIVA-5 helps bridge this gap by offering real-world, relatable examples of how ADHD traits may have shown up in childhood and continue into adulthood.
How the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD Works
The DIVA-5 interview is conducted remotely via secure video and typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. It’s facilitated by one of our experienced clinicians and focuses on your unique lived experience rather than relying solely on generic symptom checklists. Our goal is to understand your experiences without judgment.
The DIVA-5 evaluates ADHD-related traits across five important areas of adult life:
Work and Education
Such as difficulties with focus, deadlines, organization, or burnout
Relationships and Family Life
Such as emotional reactivity, communication struggles, or parenting overwhelm
Social Life
Such as trouble navigating conversations, maintaining friendships, or managing overstimulation
Free Time and Hobbies
Such as procrastination, boredom intolerance, or starting projects but not finishing
Self-Confidence and Self-Image
Such as persistent feelings of failure, shame, or “never reaching your potential”
Rather than relying on simple yes-or-no questions, the DIVA-5 uses concrete, real-world examples to explore how ADHD may affect everyday life. This conversational approach helps people recognize patterns they may have overlooked or assumed were simply part of their personality.
This in-depth testing process offers a more accurate and affirming ADHD diagnosis for adults, especially for those who’ve masked, compensated, or been previously overlooked.
The DIVA-5 is One Part of a Diagnostic ADHD Assessment
While the DIVA-5 is one of the most well-validated clinical interviews for diagnosing ADHD in adults, it is only one part of a comprehensive evaluation.
At NeuroSpark Health, we don’t rely on a single interview or questionnaire to make a diagnosis. We also consider your developmental history, current functioning, mental health history, and any co-occurring conditions that may better explain your experiences. Because ADHD frequently overlaps with conditions such as autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, and sleep disorders, it’s important to understand the full clinical picture before making diagnostic conclusions.
Our goal isn’t simply to determine whether you meet criteria for ADHD. It’s to help you better understand your experiences and provide individualized recommendations that support your daily life.
This comprehensive approach is especially important because ADHD frequently co-occurs with autism, and many adults seeking an ADHD evaluation are also wondering whether autism may be part of the picture.
Why the DIVA-5 Looks at Childhood and Adulthood
One of the unique aspects of the DIVA-5 is that it explores ADHD across the lifespan. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means symptoms begin in childhood, even if they aren’t recognized until much later.
During the interview, your clinician will ask about both current experiences and childhood patterns. Many adults don’t remember every detail from childhood, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to remember every detail perfectly, but rather to understand whether longstanding patterns of attention, executive functioning, and impulsivity have been present over time.
When available, information from parents or others who knew you as a child can provide helpful context, but it isn’t required for an adult assessment.
Understanding ADHD Through a Neurodivergent Lens
Many adults reach adulthood without ever realizing their struggles could be related to ADHD, especially those who masked well, developed elaborate coping strategies, or were misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, or personality issues. The DIVA-5 helps bring clarity by connecting the dots between past and present experiences in a way that’s concrete, nuanced, and respectful of your lived reality.
We don’t approach ADHD as something broken that needs to be fixed. Instead, we view it as a different way of thinking, processing, and navigating the world that comes with both challenges and strengths. Our role is to help you make sense of your patterns, not pathologize them.
If you’ve been wondering whether ADHD might be part of your story, or if you’ve been searching for support that actually gets it, we’re here to support you.
Who Should Consider the DIVA-5?
The DIVA-5 is an excellent fit for adults who:
- Suspect they may have ADHD but were never diagnosed
- Were misdiagnosed in childhood with anxiety, depression, or other conditions
- Struggle with executive functioning, emotional regulation, or chronic overwhelm
- Want to understand how ADHD traits show up in their work, relationships, and daily life
- Are pursuing ADHD accommodations, coaching, or treatment planning
We use the DIVA-5 in our ADHD-only assessments and our combined AuDHD (autism + ADHD) evaluations.
We Also Use the Young DIVA-5 for Teen ADHD Assessments
Like the adult DIVA-5, the Young DIVA-5 is a structured, evidence-based interview aligned with DSM-5 criteria. It has been adapted specifically for adolescents and helps our clinicians understand how ADHD affects a teen’s daily life at school, at home, with friends, and across other important areas of functioning.
The Young DIVA-5 is completed as part of our comprehensive diagnostic evaluations for teens and is integrated with developmental history, parent input, clinical interviews, and other assessment measures. Using multiple sources of information allows us to develop a nuanced understanding of each teen’s strengths, challenges, and support needs.
Whether someone is seeking answers as an adult or during adolescence, our goal is the same: to provide thoughtful, neurodiversity-affirming evaluations that lead to greater understanding and meaningful support.
Learn More About the DIVA Interviews
You can learn more about the DIVA-5 and Young DIVA-5 through the official DIVA Foundation website.
Telehealth ADHD Evaluations Nationwide
NeuroSpark Health offers remote ADHD assessments for adults (and now teens!) nationwide, with new locations added regularly. Our licensed clinicians provide high-quality, neurodiversity-affirming evaluations entirely via telehealth, making it easier to access care that actually fits your needs.
Whether you’re in California, New York, Texas, Florida, or nearly anywhere else in the U.S., there’s a good chance we can work with you.
✅ Not sure if we’re available in your state?
NeuroSpark Health offers fully virtual ADHD testing for adults nationwide. Check out our Areas Served page to see what services are available in your state.
Wondering whether ADHD might explain your experiences or your teen’s?
We’d love to help. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to talk with our team, ask questions about the assessment process, and learn whether an evaluation is the right next step.
