SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale
Screens for symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and can help with monitoring progress too (two versions available: 18 or 26 items).
Refer to the text below the calculator for more information about the screening methodology and diagnosis cut-off points.
ADHD rating scales are an essential tool for diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children.
The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV questionnaire is addressed to children aged 6 to 18 years old and can be completed either by parents or teachers.
Questions on the SNAP-IV Rating Scale are based on the definition of ADHD provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5).
SNAP-IV Score Interpretation
Symptoms severity | Inattention Subset (q1 - 9) | Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subset (q10 - 18) | Opposition/Defiance Subset (q19 - 26) |
Symptoms not clinically significant | < 13 | < 13 | < 8 |
Mild symptoms | 13 –17 | 13 –17 | 8 –13 |
Moderate symptoms | 18 –22 | 18 –22 | 14 –18 |
Severe symptoms | 23 –27 | 23 –27 | 19 –24 |
Send Us Your Feedback
Steps on how to print your input & results:
1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.
2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.
Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.
About SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale
ADHD rating scales are an essential tool for diagnosis, evaluation and monitoring of the symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.
The Swanson, Nolan, and Pelham-IV questionnaire is addressed to children aged 6 to 18 years old and can be completed either by parents or teachers.
Questions on the SNAP-IV Rating Scale are based on the definition of ADHD provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Some items refer to:
- Difficulty focusing or paying attention;
- Difficult staying still;
- Fidgeting or squirming;
- Being unable to wait;
- Frequently interrupting;
- Difficulty following tasks.
Both the 26 and 18-item versions of the SNAP-IV allow the respondent to score the child’s behaviors on the following scale:
- Not at all (0);
- Just a little (1);
- Quite a bit (2);
- Very much (3).
The total scores are interpreted through 3 subsets (SNAP-IV 26) or 2 subsets (SNAP-IV 18):
Symptoms severity | Inattention Subset (q1 - 9) | Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subset (q10 - 18) | Opposition/Defiance Subset (q19 - 26) |
Symptoms not clinically significant | < 13 | < 13 | < 8 |
Mild symptoms | 13 –17 | 13 –17 | 8 –13 |
Moderate symptoms | 18 –22 | 18 –22 | 14 –18 |
Severe symptoms | 23 –27 | 23 –27 | 19 –24 |
An alternative score interpretation for the SNAP-IV 18 consists in an average of the scores obtained in the 2 subsets with the following cut-offs:
Subset | Parent rated cut-off | Teacher rated cut-off |
Inattention Subset (q1 - 9) | 1.78 | 2.56 |
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity Subset (q10 - 18) | 1.44 | 1.78 |
The several versions of the SNAP-IV were found to show good reliability and validity across multiple different study cohorts.
In its original form, the SNAP-IV consists of 90 items that evaluate hyperactivity-impulsiveness and inattention, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) as well as a variety of other psychiatric symptoms:
- 1-10: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder inattention symptoms;
- 11-20: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms;
- 21-30: ODD symptoms;
- 31-40: General childhood problems;
- 41-80: Non-ADHD disorders;
- 81-90: Academic performance and deportment.
References
Hall CL, Guo B, Valentine AZ, et al. The Validity of the SNAP-IV in Children Displaying ADHD Symptoms. Assessment. 2019; 1073191119842255.
Bussing R, Fernandez M, Harwood M, et al. Parent and teacher SNAP-IV ratings of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms: psychometric properties and normative ratings from a school district sample. Assessment. 2008; 15(3):317-328.
Swanson JM. School-Based Assessment and Interventions for ADD Students. Irvine, CA: KC Publications; 1992.
Swanson J, Nolan W, Pelham WE. The SNAP rating scale for the diagnosis of attention deficit disorder. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association; Los Angeles. 1981.
Specialty: Pediatrics
No. Of Items: 18 / 26
Year Of Study: 1992
Abbreviation: SNAP-IV
Article By: Denise Nedea
Published On: July 6, 2020 · 12:00 AM
Last Checked: July 6, 2020
Next Review: July 6, 2025