Free · 14 questions · about 2 min · no sign-up
Highly sensitive person (HSP) test
Do loud rooms wear you out? Do you notice small changes, and feel other people's moods? Rate 14 statements to see how sensitive you are, and how to look after yourself if the answer is very.
Your answers are scored in this tab. Nothing is uploaded, saved, or sent anywhere.
About this test
The psychologists Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron introduced the term highly sensitive person in the 1990s to describe people with high sensory processing sensitivity: they notice more and take in what they notice more deeply, so they can also get overwhelmed sooner. Aron estimated that 15–20% of people are highly sensitive; a 2018 study by Lionetti and colleagues put the most sensitive group nearer 30%.
High sensitivity is a personality trait, not a disorder. The statements here were written for cv.cm; this is not Aron's HSP Scale, and half of them describe low sensitivity so that simply agreeing with everything doesn't raise your score. Our score bands are a rough guide, not research cut-offs.
More tests
- 16 questionsNarcissism testHow strong are your narcissistic traits? 16 statements, a score out of 64, not a diagnosis.
- 18 questionsDark triad testMachiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy: 18 statements, a score for each trait, not a diagnosis.
- 32 questions16 personality types test (MBTI-style)Get your four-letter type and how strongly you lean on each pair. 32 questions.
- 50 questionsBig Five personality testThe public-domain IPIP 50: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism.
- 20 questionsIntrovert or extrovert testIntrovert, ambivert or extrovert, from 20 public-domain IPIP items.
- 36 questionsEnneagram testFind which of the nine types drives you, with scores for all nine.
FAQ
What does it mean to be a highly sensitive person?
You react more strongly to what's around you: noise, light, crowds, art and other people's feelings. That can make you perceptive and empathetic, and also quicker to tire in busy places.
How is the score worked out?
Each statement scores 0 to 4, and half are reversed, so the total runs from 0 to 56. 18 or less is low sensitivity, 19 to 37 is medium, and 38 or more is high.
Is being an HSP the same as being introverted or anxious?
No. Many highly sensitive people are introverted, but a good share are extroverted. Sensitivity is about how deeply you process things; anxiety is about worry and fear. If worry is what troubles you, try the GAD-7 anxiety check on this site.
Is high sensitivity a disorder?
No. It is a normal variation in temperament and isn't a medical diagnosis. If you feel overwhelmed most of the time or it stops you living your life, talk to a doctor or therapist.