The Revised Highly Sensitive Person Test by Dr. Elaine N. Aron

Do you want to know if you have the Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) trait found in 20-30% of the population?

Dr. Elaine N. Aron’s Highly Sensitive Person test was first published in 1996. It includes 27 statements with a checkbox adjacent to each and is featured in her book: “The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You“.

For decades, this free HSP test was the go-to scale for researchers and fellow Highly Sensitive People everywhere. However, recent research on the development of a comprehensive sensitivity questionnaire has led to the revised Highly Sensitive Person scale (HSP-R).

It features 18 questions aimed at describing you well, with 7 responses ranging from “Not at All” to “Extremely”. Instructions ask that test takers skip the questions they’re not sure about for a better result.

Visit Dr. Elaine Aron’s website to learn more about the new Highly Sensitive Person test. It measures the six core aspects of High Sensitivity and the results demonstrate how you score on each.

More About the Revised Highly Sensitive Person Test

Research has shown there are six main features of High Sensitivity and Highly Sensitive People can measure high in some and lower in others. This is because each HSP is unique with different sensitivities.

Here are the six aspects measured by HSP-R:

• Overstimulation
• Sensitivity to Positive
• Experiences
• Social Sensitivity
• Depth of Processing
• Emotional Reactivity
• Sensitivity to Details

Here are the 18 Questions in the revised HSP test

The revised Highly Sensitive Person test features 18 questions measuring all six sensitivity aspects.

Based on the printable PDF option of the test available through Dr. Aron’s website, below are the entries to expect.

1. Do you notice when things have been moved around?
2. Are you easily affected by feedback (both negative and positive)?
3. Are you easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens close by?
4. Do you easily recognise what others are feeling?
5. Do you notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, works of art?
6. Are you easily affected by the mood of people around you?
7. Do you tend to reflect on things deeply?
8. Are you good at anticipating how someone may feel about a situation?
9. Are you bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes?
10. Do you generally react strongly to your experiences, whether you show it or not?
11. Do other people tell you that you are good at understanding what they are feeling or thinking?
12. Do you tend to get deeply immersed in music?
13. Do you find yourself thinking about philosophical questions?
14. Do you seem to notice changes in the weather more than others do?
15. Do you become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around you?
16. Are you deeply moved by the arts or music?
17. Do you tend to notice subtle signs of changing seasons (winter/ spring etc.)?
18. Do you like deep conversations?

You’re supposed to answer the questions by circling a number between 1 (not at all) and 7 (extremely). If your total score is above 5, it means you’re on the higher side of the sensitivity scale.