The Highly Sensitive Child Test: The Earlier the Better
Do teachers tell you there’s something about your child’s behaviour they can’t quite put their finger on? Has a teacher suggested you get your child tested for autism, or ADD or ADHD but that path doesn’t quite feel right to you? It could well be that your child is highly sensitive. And the good news is that there is a simple online highly sensitive child test to help you.
What is Highly Sensitive?
Firstly, it’s important to know that up to 20 percent of the world population is highly sensitive. Children and adults. Male and female. That’s a lot of people.
So what exactly does it mean to be highly sensitive?
- A highly sensitive person (HSP) is more aware of the subtleties in their environment.
- A HSP feels things deeply. They have rich inner lives.
- HSPs are empathetic and soak up the moods of others around them.
- A HSP is easily startled and overwhelmed by sensory input – loud noises, bright lights, busy environments.
- Highly sensitives need a lot of down time to recover from over-stimulation.
- A HSP is cautious. So they observe before jumping in.
- A HSP rarely reacts well to change.
- A busy schedule and time pressure stresses a HSP. They usually perform under par whilst being watched.
- HSPs often have a perfectionist tendency.
- A HSP is conscientious.
- A HSP is drawn to the arts, to music and to nature. They are creative.
- HSPs are more sensitive to pain.
The Journey of Discovery
A pre-school teacher was the first person to utter the words ‘highly sensitive’ to me, referring to my eldest child. Within days my father-in-law had used the same term. And I ended up on the website of Elaine Aron. Then online test on the website was one of my first port of calls on my highly sensitive journey.
The Highly Sensitive Person Test
If you think you may be highly sensitive then check out Elaine Aron’s Highly Sensitive Person test. This test is designed for adults.
It is worth noting that if you are an adult adept at managing your HSP traits (which is our goal of course) you may score low on Aron’s test. This does not, however, mean you are not highly sensitive.
The Highly Sensitive Child Test
In short, if the traits above remind you of your child, then I encourage you to head over to Elaine Aron’s Highly Sensitive Child test.
Above all, knowing that your child is highly sensitive as early as possible will help you adapt your parenting style to help get the best out of your child.
Tips for Further Reading
If you conclude that you are likely raising a HSC then here’s the next step – some further reading:
There are lots more tips here: Must Reads for Highly Sensitive People
*For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links to products and books I find useful for the HSK community. They cost you nothing more to buy, but I may get a small commission, which goes towards costs to keep the HSK site running.*
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