Table of Contents
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale
Scale Name
Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale
Author Details
Mark L. Wolraich
Translation Availability
Not Sure
Background/Description
Developed by researchers at Vanderbilt University, the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS) is a tool specifically designed for teachers to assess symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children aged 6 to 12. It tackles ADHD diagnosis by capturing a teacher’s perspective on a child’s behavior in the classroom setting.
The VADTRS uses a standardized format with 43 questions aligned with the established DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. Teachers rate the frequency of each behavior on a scale ranging from “Never” to “Very Often.” This rating helps identify potential ADHD symptoms across two key areas: inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.
The VADTRS goes beyond simply identifying symptoms. It also includes a performance section that assesses whether these behaviors cause impairment in the child’s academic performance. This two-pronged approach helps determine if a child meets the criteria for different presentations of ADHD, including predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined presentations.
While the VADTRS is a valuable screening tool, it’s important to remember that it shouldn’t be the sole basis for diagnosing ADHD. A comprehensive evaluation by a qualified mental health professional is crucial for diagnosis. However, the VADTRS, along with parent reports and other assessments, provides valuable teacher insights that contribute to a more complete picture of a child’s potential ADHD.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS) is designed to be a teacher-administered tool and typically follows these steps:
- Obtaining Informed Consent: Before administering the VADTRS, the teacher or school should obtain informed consent from the child’s parents or guardians. This ensures they understand the purpose of the scale and their right to refuse participation.
- Selecting the Teacher: Ideally, the VADTRS should be completed by a teacher who has the child in class for a significant amount of time and can observe their behavior regularly. This could be their homeroom teacher or a subject-specific teacher who sees them frequently.
- Providing Instructions: The teacher should have access to clear instructions that explain the purpose of the VADTRS, how to complete the rating scale, and the meaning of each response option (typically a 4-point scale ranging from “Never” to “Very Often”).
- Completing the Scale: The teacher independently rates the frequency of each behavior described in the 43 VADTRS questions based on their observations of the child in the classroom setting.
- Scoring: There’s no official scoring software, but some resources might offer it. Typically, teachers calculate scores by tallying the number of “Often” or “Very Often” responses for each relevant section (Inattention, Hyperactivity-Impulsivity).
Reliability and Validity
The Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Teacher Rating Scale (VADTRS) shows generally good reliability and validity in research studies, making it a valuable tool for ADHD screening in children. Here’s a breakdown of its strengths and weaknesses in these areas:
- Internal Consistency: Studies show high internal consistency, meaning different sections of the VADTRS measuring similar constructs (e.g., inattention) have strong correlations.
- Test-Retest Reliability: Teacher ratings on the VADTRS tend to be consistent over short periods (e.g., 2 weeks), suggesting the scale measures stable behaviors.
- Interrater Reliability: This area shows some weakness. Teacher ratings may vary across different teachers observing the same child, highlighting the importance of using the VADTRS alongside other assessments.
- Construct Validity: The VADTRS measures ADHD symptoms aligned with the DSM-IV criteria, supporting its ability to assess the intended construct.
- Concurrent Validity: Scores on the VADTRS often correlate well with scores on other ADHD rating scales completed by parents or teachers, suggesting it captures similar information.
- Predictive Validity: While not perfect, the VADTRS can predict future ADHD diagnoses to some extent, but it’s not a definitive tool for such predictions.
Available Versions
43-Items
Reference
Wolraich, M. L., Hannah, J. N., Baumgaertel, A., & Feurer, I. D. (1998). Examination of DSM-IV criteria for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in a county-wide sample. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics: JDBP, 19(3), 162-168.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the VADTRS?
A teacher-completed rating scale to assess ADHD symptoms in children (ages 6-12).
What does it measure?
Inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, aligned with DSM-IV criteria for ADHD.
How is it administered?
Teachers rate how often they observe certain behaviors in the child (never, occasionally, often, very often).
Is it a diagnostic tool?
No. It’s a screening tool. A qualified mental health professional diagnoses ADHD.
Is it reliable and valid?
Generally yes, but with some limitations in teacher-to-teacher consistency (interrater reliability).
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
