Highly Sensitive Person Test

Are you more affected by sensory input than others? Do you process experiences deeply and feel emotions intensely? This assessment is based on Dr. Elaine Aron’s research on Sensory Processing Sensitivity, a trait present in approximately 20-30% of the population.

Test Details: 27 questions • Estimated time: 5-7 minutes

Answer honestly based on how you generally feel, not how you wish to be or think you should respond. There are no right or wrong answers.

1. Are you easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input such as bright lights, loud sounds, or strong smells?

Not at all Somewhat Moderately Very much

2. Do you seem to be aware of subtleties in your environment, such as small changes in temperature, lighting, or someone’s mood?

Rarely notice Sometimes notice Often notice Always notice

3. Do other people’s moods affect you?

Not at all Slightly Quite a bit Extremely

4. Do you tend to be more sensitive to pain than others?

No, less sensitive About average Somewhat more sensitive Much more sensitive

5. During busy days, do you find yourself needing to withdraw to a quiet, private space for relief from stimulation?

Never Occasionally Frequently Always

6. Are you particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine?

Not sensitive at all Slightly sensitive Moderately sensitive Very sensitive

7. Do you become uncomfortable when exposed to bright lights, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?

Rarely bothered Sometimes bothered Often bothered Always bothered

8. Do you have a rich, complex inner life with vivid imagination?

Not really Somewhat Quite vivid Extremely vivid

9. Are you made uncomfortable by loud noises?

Not uncomfortable Mildly uncomfortable Very uncomfortable Extremely uncomfortable

10. Are you deeply moved by the arts, music, or nature?

Not particularly Somewhat moved Deeply moved Profoundly moved

11. Does your nervous system sometimes feel so frazzled that you just have to get away by yourself?

Never Rarely Often Very often

12. Are you conscientious and careful in your work?

Not especially Somewhat careful Very careful Extremely meticulous

13. Do you startle easily?

Rarely startle Sometimes startle Often startle Always startle

14. Do you get rattled when you have a lot to do in a short amount of time?

Not at all A little Quite a bit Extremely rattled

15. When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment, do you tend to know what needs to be done to make it more comfortable?

Rarely aware Sometimes aware Usually aware Always aware

16. Are you bothered by having a lot going on at once?

Not bothered Slightly bothered Very bothered Extremely bothered

17. Do you make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows?

Never avoid them Sometimes avoid Usually avoid Always avoid

18. Do you become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is happening around you?

Never unpleasant Occasionally unpleasant Frequently unpleasant Always unpleasant

19. Does being very hungry create a strong reaction in you, disrupting your concentration or mood?

No disruption Mild disruption Significant disruption Severe disruption

20. Do changes in your life shake you up?

Not really Somewhat Quite a bit Very much

21. Do you notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art?

Rarely notice Sometimes notice Often notice and enjoy Always notice and savor

22. Do you find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once?

Not unpleasant Mildly unpleasant Very unpleasant Extremely unpleasant

23. Do you make it a high priority to arrange your life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations?

Not a priority Low priority Moderate priority High priority

24. Are you bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes?

Not bothered Slightly bothered Very bothered Extremely bothered

25. When competing or being observed while performing a task, do you become so nervous that you perform much worse than you would otherwise?

No difference Slightly worse Noticeably worse Much worse

26. When you were a child, did parents or teachers see you as sensitive or shy?

Not at all Occasionally Often Always

27. Do you feel things deeply and process experiences thoroughly?

Not really Somewhat Quite deeply Extremely deeply

Share Your Results

References

Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (1997). Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 345-368.
Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E. N., Aron, A., Sangster, M. D., Collins, N., & Brown, L. L. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others’ emotions. Brain and Behavior, 4(4), 580-594.
Greven, C. U., Lionetti, F., Booth, C., Aron, E. N., Fox, E., Schendan, H. E., Pluess, M., Bruining, H., Acevedo, B., Bijttebier, P., & Homberg, J. (2019). Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 98, 287-305.
Pluess, M., Assary, E., Lionetti, F., Lester, K. J., Krapohl, E., Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (2018). Environmental sensitivity in children: Development of the Highly Sensitive Child Scale and identification of sensitivity groups. Developmental Psychology, 54(1), 51-70.
Lionetti, F., Aron, A., Aron, E. N., Burns, G. L., Jagiellowicz, J., & Pluess, M. (2018). Dandelions, tulips and orchids: evidence for the existence of low-sensitive, medium-sensitive and high-sensitive individuals. Translational Psychiatry, 8(1), 24.