7 Free HSP Tests to Confirm High Sensitivity in You and Your Child

The trait of high sensitivity is usually on a scale. You can fall on the higher side, the lower side, or in the middle of the scale. And the best way to find out how low or high you score is to take a self-test for highly sensitive people (HSPs).

That’s why in this post, we’re going to share a list of 7 tests for highly sensitive people. Tests that you (and your child) can take to know how sensitive you are. And the tests are free, simple, and easy to take.

Free Self-Tests for Highly Sensitive People

We’ll start by listing the tests for adults, and then proceed to list the ones for children. So feel free to jump to the section you’re interested in.

Self-Tests for Highly Sensitive Adults

1. Dr. Aron’s HSP Test Online

Dr Elaine N. Aron is the pioneer of this trait of high sensitivity. In fact, her high sensitivity self-test is copyrighted for the year 1996, which is the decade she introduced her research to the world. And also the decade she published this research in her bestselling book, The Highly Sensitive Person.

The book continues to help millions of HSPs around the world.

In Dr. Aron’s self-test for highly sensitive people, there are about 27 statements with a checkbox adjacent to each. And the instructions to take the free test are as follows:

Answer each question according to the way you personally feel. Check the box if it is at least somewhat true for you; leave unchecked if it is not very true or not at all true for you.

Go here to take Dr. Aron’s self-test.

2. Sensitivity Quiz by Julie Bjelland

Julie Bjelland is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity. Being an HSP herself, Julie spends her days creating content, products, and resources that empower highly sensitive people. And this free sensitivity quiz is one such resource.

In the quiz, Julie presents you with 45 statements and a checkbox adjacent to each statement. She then asks you to:

Check the boxes that have applied to you when you were a teenager or young child (even if no longer true).

Go here to take Julie’s quiz.

3. HSP Adult Test by SensitivityResearch.Com

SensitivityResearch.Com is an educational website run by researchers in the field of sensitivity. They believe all people have a dose of sensitivity in them. And the only difference is how many doses you have in you.

Or in simpler terms, they believe people fall across three levels of sensitivity: The high, the middle, and the low. And these are sometimes referred to as the Orchids, the Tulips, and the Dandelions.

So when you find their adult test slightly different from the other tests for highly sensitive people, it’s because of these three levels of sensitivity.

Because in the test, there are 14 questions and a scale from 1 to 7; with one being Not at All, 4 being Moderately, and 7 being Extremely.

You’re then instructed to:

Answer each question according to the way you personally feel.

Go here to take the free adult test.

4. Dr. Aron’s HSS/HSP Test

Like most people, HSPs are inherently different. Some are introverts, some are extroverts, and others are high sensation seekers (HSS). You can learn more about these types of highly sensitive people in this post here.

High sensation seekers are people with a strong Behavioral Activation System (BAS). They’re more curious and eager to go explore the world. But because HSPs naturally have a stronger Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), requiring them to withdraw from intense activities, it seems impossible that an HSP could also be HSS.

Yet, with a lot of research, Dr. Aron has found a pool of people who identify as both HSP and HSS. And that’s why the High Sensation Seeker self-test exists.

So if you feel you might be an HSP who is also a high sensation seeker, go here to take the free self-test.

Self-Tests for Highly Sensitive Children

5. Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? By Dr. Aron

If you’re a parent wondering whether your child is highly sensitive, Dr. Elaine N. Aron has a test on her website you can take. The test presents you with 23 statements and a checkbox adjacent to each statement.

The instructions for taking the self-test are as follows:

Check answer if it is true or at least moderately true of your child, or was for a substantial time in the past. Leave unchecked if it has not been very true of your child, or was never at all true.

Here’s the self-test for highly sensitive children (HSCs).

6. Child Test by SensitivityResearch.Com

Like with the Adult Test on this website, this Child Test comes with 14 questions and a scale from 1 to 7. The only difference is that the questions are worded as statements, and are much simpler than the adult test.

A child between the age of 8 and 18 should take the test, answering each question according to the way they feel. And at the end, they’ll receive their results on which sensitivity group they fall in, with an explanation of what it all means.

Go here to access the free self-test for HSCs.

7. Test Your Child Quiz by SensitivityResearch.Com

This free self-test for highly sensitive people is designed with parents in mind. And as with the other two by SensitivityResearch.Com, the test presents 14 questions and a scale of 1 to 7.

With this particular test, however, 1 represents Strongly Disagree and 7 represents Strongly Agree. Because the test is for parents to take, answering each question according to how their child behaves, not ‘feels’.

The self-test is for parents of children between the ages of 8 and 18.

Go here to take the free test.

In the End

These 7 free tests for highly sensitive people aren’t given to diagnose yourself or your child. High Sensitivity is not a condition; it’s a human trait present in 15-20% of the population.

And because each test can be influenced by external factors, such as age, gender, and nationality, none is precise or final.

Have this in mind as you take the test. And only consider your result (and your child’s) as an estimation of how highly sensitive you are. Not a diagnosis.

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