Are you a Highly Sensitive Person? (Easy online test)

[Milo]

I checked 22 boxes. You need 14 according to the site to be considered a HSP.
Look at the one asking if you're child is one too. It's interesting to see your own traits show up if you are one.


http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm

 

[Milo]

bump

 

[rrgjl]

At least some of these also seem to be about insecurity and not so much being highly sensitive (as highly sensitive is something that comes natural, where insecurity is learned behavior).

When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.

When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise.

I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.

I did score high enough myself though (22 as well).

I just find the questions a bit... meh.
For example:

Being very hungry creates a strong reaction in me,disrupting my concentration or mood.

Wouldn't anyone be distracted by being hungry?

I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input.

Isn't everyone easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input?

Other people's moods affect me.

With maybe an exception here and there, most people tend to be affected by moods around them.

I am made uncomfortable by loud noises.

Everyone is made uncomfortable by loud noises.... except maybe deaf people, if there isn't much bass

etc...

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

I checked 4. It seemed that some questions were implying things differently than why I might do them. Like seeking solitude. Which would have left me with a 6 or 7.

^^Yeah, things like "loud" noises, "strong" sensory input needed to have examples as to what constitutes loud or strong.

 

[redbaron]

I checked 1 - being sensitive to caffeine. But I haven't had any for nearly 5 years, so I don't really know. I only remember having it 3 or 4 times, finding it didn't really do anything other than make me a bit jittery. Not sure if that's normal or not, never bothered to ask anyone.

Maybe I'm not sensitive to caffeine, but considering I only checked 1 box it's not like it will affect the result.

Wouldn't anyone be distracted by being hungry?

No, why would you think that?

Isn't everyone easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input?

Some people might enjoy it or simply be indifferent.

With maybe an exception here and there, most people tend to be affected by moods around them.

Agree to a small extent.

Everyone is made uncomfortable by loud noises.... except maybe deaf people, if there isn't much bass

I sleep like a baby through the renovation of the house next door. I think you're referring to ear-piercing noise. In which case even then I'm not that sensitive.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

The only thing I know for sure is that sometimes I'm in a self-concentrated, inside-of-my-mind state where I perceive external noises / activity more intensely, and other times I'm in an externally focused state where even jackhammers or other construction type activity doesn't bother me at all. It's not really a problem though, just something I notice that tends to occur.


Besides that, I don't think I fit with the social/emotional aspects of HSP (though I could be wrong of course).

 

[Ex-User (5841)]

I checked (14) everything associated with environmental disturbance or too much distracting sensory input while attempting to concentrate, but I assume this has more to do with hypervigilance associated with PTSD than the more holistic popular definition of "sensitive".

The only thing I know for sure is that sometimes I'm in a self-concentrated, inside-of-my-mind state where I perceive external noises / activity more intensely, and other times I'm in an externally focused state where even jackhammers or other construction type activity doesn't bother me at all.

Ditto. Someone could have a jackhammer 30 feet away which won't annoy me, but a leaky faucet or ticking clock while the jackhammer was going off will drive me up the wall.

 

[Architect]

The questions are too open to interpretation to be really useful.

Reminds me of the problems with MBTI tests. Most people type themselves as Introverted and Intuitive. Fact is most people have introversion and intuition in their functional stack, I've seen many an obvious sensor claim they are intuitive, because they see it as being 'creative'. What is really happening is that they have intuition in their inferior which is their 'goal point'.

Likewise here, everybody is sensitive to something.

 

[walfin]

Shouldn't this be moved to online tests?

I checked 18. Seems very subjective. And there's not even an automatic scoring system!

 

[Grove]

I checked 11, and most of those were the sensory input leaning ones. I can be around loud music, say in a car or at a show, but add flashing lights & a lot of people (50 +) I become very uncomfortable. I'm very bothered by sudden loud noises - motorcycles or sirens feel almost like an affront to my whole body. Strong smells bother me & they'll wake me up (that's really annoying). Bright lights/ bright sunlight are a little annoying, but those won't stop me from doing anything.

 

[Nezumi]

I am an HPS. I can't deal with loud noises or music. It makes me cringe. My sense of touch is through the roof. An exsample of this is soda pop...I recently learned the the carbonation in pop is supposed to feel like its tickling your mouth. It had always caused me pain. growing up, I assumed everyone like soda so much that we were all masochist s to enjoy it.

 

[Fukyo]

I checked 17.

 

[Cavallier]

I only checked four.

I notice that the "test" seems to be looking for distinctly different things:

1. Physical sensitivity

2. An appreciation for delicate differences

So, I handle pain well, can withstand loud music, harsh flavors, ect. I also have a very sensitive palate and sense of smell. I appreciate fine differences in architecture and other forms of art such as jazz and classical music. Being able to withstand lots of external input does not mean you don't have the ability to notice things that take sensitivity to appreciate.

 

[Double_V]

4

 

[MichiganJFrog]

25.

The only two I didn't check were the one about caffeine and the one about knowing what people need. I am so addicted to caffeine I guess I just don't notice how wired I am anymore. And I can tell when people are uncomfortable, but I'm usually clueless with regard to what will make them less so. However, if they're willing to talk it through with me, I can usually help them figure out what might help.

I said I didn't like loud noises, either, even though I've been to a gazillion punk rock shows where I used to stand next to the PA column all night without earplugs. It's like caffeine -- if I'm exposed to it for long enough, I get habituated to it.

 

[MichiganJFrog]

Someone could have a jackhammer 30 feet away which won't annoy me, but a leaky faucet or ticking clock while the jackhammer was going off will drive me up the wall.

I've noticed that with my cat, actually. I'll have the coffee grinder or the ice dispenser going, and he won't flinch, but if I slide across the floor in my socks, the hair on his back will stand up on end.

 

[motrhead]

It's been a while since I did the test, but I think I scored 23. Most of my family members are HSP as well (four generations at least). We are all very sensitive to medications and caffeine. Learning that I shared the common HSP traits with others outside of my family was very reassuring.

 

[QuickTwist]

8. The test is bogus. Its a self test that is extreamely subjective and is very open to interpetation.

I tend to be very sensitive to pain.(Who doesn't notice when they cut their flesh open?)
I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.(This is actually accurate.)
I have a rich,complex inner life.(How does this make you sensitive?)
I am conscientious.(Being polite makes you sensitive?)
I am annoyed when people try to get me to do too many things at once.(Basically I don't like to be controled.)
I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.(Who doesn't?)
I am bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes.(If you saw someone you care about get hurt in an accedent I think the vast majority would be affected [chaotic scene].)
When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.(I can't be certain how others saw me but I know I was shy.)

 

[just george]

sensitive...to what? all human beings are sensitive. This test is flawed, diversionary, misleading, and...well...mostly useless

 

[Emelina]

I got 8/22, I don't think being startled easily counts for being more sensitive though :/ I'm pretty desensitized to things, I've been described as icy and unflappable. I also tend to overmedicate a LOT. The amount of sympathomimetic meds I take could probably kill someone else.

 

[motrhead]

I agree...some of the questions are vague, but if you are not *trying* to make yourself fit the answers, and they ring true as a whole, then there is a good chance you are HSP.
For example, being easily startled is one thing, but when something minor triggers a heart pounding response, you are probably more sensitive than most.
Like MBTI and most other pigeonholes, you should recognize that the typology fits you, or it is probably not the right one. I know a lot of other HSPs, and most of our experiences are remarkably close.

 

[rrgjl]

I used to be even a lot more sensitive when I was younger.
For example, I couldn't stand wearing socks with these 'stitched edges' at the toes. Drove me mad. That kind of stuff I sort of lost during my development or something.