About this assessment

Sensory Sensitivity Profile

15 questions2 min

Take the Sensory Sensitivity Profile Learn more about this test

FreeInstant results · 2 min

What Is the Sensory Sensitivity Profile?

The Sensory Sensitivity Profile maps how your nervous system processes sensory input across four quadrants drawn from Dunn's sensory processing framework. Everyone processes sensory information differently — some people miss signals (Low Registration), some actively seek stimulation (Sensation Seeking), some are easily overwhelmed (Sensory Sensitivity), and some actively avoid overload (Sensation Avoiding). Understanding your pattern is crucial for work environment design, stress management, and self-regulation.

Sensory processing differences are a core feature of autism and are common in ADHD. But sensory patterns exist in everyone — this test is useful whether or not you're neurodivergent. Your results include workplace-specific recommendations.

Keep reading

No single quadrant is better or worse — each carries trade-offs. A high Sensation Seeking score can mean you stay energised in busy environments that drain other people; a high Sensory Sensitivity score often comes with noticing subtle detail others miss entirely. The point of mapping your profile is not to fix a flaw but to design your day around how your nervous system actually works — which rooms you choose, when you step away to reset, and which inputs you turn down or add on purpose.

What You'll Discover

Your sensory profile across 4 quadrants, how you register, seek, sense, and avoid stimuli

Workplace recommendations, office setup, remote work, meeting strategies for your profile

Connection to neurodivergence, how your pattern relates to ADHD and autism traits

Self-regulation strategies matched to your dominant quadrant

What a Question Looks Like

Question 1 of 15

I don't notice when someone enters the room or calls my name unless they're loud or close.

14 more after this · 2 min totalAnswer this one

How It Works

1
Answer
15 questions, 2 min. Auto-advance — no manual Next.
2
See result
Instant breakdown of your profile. Free, shareable, saved if you sign in.
3
Go deeper
Premium unlocks the full report — careers, strengths, growth paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this related to autism?

Sensory processing differences are a core feature of autism, but they exist in everyone on a spectrum. This test is useful for anyone curious about how they process sensory input, not just neurodivergent individuals.

What does this profile measure?

The profile maps sensory processing on two axes: neurological threshold (how much input you need before noticing) and behavioural response (passive vs. active). This creates 4 quadrants: Low Registration (high threshold + passive), Sensation Seeking (high threshold + active), Sensory Sensitivity (low threshold + passive), Sensation Avoiding (low threshold + active). The two-axis model comes from Dunn's sensory processing framework; the 15 questions are original.

Can my sensory profile change?

Sensory processing patterns are relatively stable but can be influenced by stress, sleep deprivation, medication, and sensory overload. Chronic stress typically lowers your threshold (making you more sensitive), while adequate rest raises it.

Is this the same as being a "highly sensitive person" (HSP)?

There is overlap, but they are not identical. "Highly sensitive person" is a popular-psychology label for one end of the spectrum — easily overwhelmed, deeply affected by stimuli. This profile is broader: it maps four distinct quadrants, including under-responsiveness (Low Registration) and stimulation-seeking, not just heightened sensitivity. You can be highly sensitive in one channel and under-responsive in another.

Does a strong score in one quadrant mean something is wrong?

No. Every quadrant is a normal way for a nervous system to work, each with strengths and costs. A strong score simply tells you where your processing leans, so you can plan around it — choosing environments, pacing breaks, and shaping routines that fit rather than fight your wiring.

What can I do if noise or light easily overwhelms me?

Practical levers help more than willpower: noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs, dimmable or warm lighting, a quieter desk away from foot traffic, and scheduled low-stimulation breaks before you hit overload rather than after. Your result flags which inputs to reduce first; the right adjustments depend on your dominant quadrant.

How does sensory processing connect to ADHD or executive function?

They interact. Sensory overload eats into the same mental bandwidth executive function relies on, so a draining environment can make focus, planning, and impulse control noticeably harder. If sensory load is high for you, it is worth also reflecting on your executive function profile — the two often compound each other.