Highly Sensitive Children

What is high sensitivity?

This above-average sensitivity affects around 30% of the population, according to two 2018 international studies.

High sensitivity, as described by psychologists Elaine Aron and Michael Pluess, refers to a personality trait known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS). Highly Sensitive People tend to process sensory information more deeply. They are more attuned to subtle stimuli in their environment.

Elaine Aron, who introduced two concepts about high sensitivity: HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) and STS (Sensitive Trait Sensitivity).

• HSP (Highly Sensitive Person): This term refers to individuals who exhibit heightened sensitivity to physical, emotional, and social stimuli. They may be more affected by noise, crowds, and other sensory inputs, and they often have a rich inner life and deep emotional responses.

• STS (Sensitive Trait Sensitivity): This broader category encompasses individuals who may not identify as HSPs but still possess a degree of sensitivity that influences their behavior and experiences. It recognizes that sensitivity exists on a spectrum. (See below.)

Both concepts highlight the importance of understanding and accommodating the needs of sensitive individuals, emphasizing that high sensitivity is a natural variation in human temperament rather than a disorder.

 

Is high sensitivity a mental or psychological disorder?

Not at all. Elaine Aron and all the researchers consider high sensitivity to be a trait. So it's not a disorder, illness, disability or even fragility, but a specificity, a singularity, a particularity.

High sensitivity, or Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), is not classified as a mental or psychological disorder. Rather, it is considered a personality trait that exists on a spectrum. Individuals who identify as Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) or who exhibit the Sensitive Trait Sensitivity (STS) may experience heightened sensitivity to sensory input and emotional stimuli, but this trait is not pathological.

It's important to recognize that while high sensitivity can present challenges—such as feeling overwhelmed in busy environments or experiencing intense emotions—it can also confer advantages, such as increased empathy, creativity, and the ability to notice details that others might miss.

The understanding of high sensitivity emphasizes that it is a variation in human temperament, and many highly sensitive individuals lead fulfilling and successful lives.

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How can we support highly sensitive individuals or cope with sensitivity in daily life?

Supporting highly sensitive individuals and managing sensitivity in daily life can involve a combination of understanding, communication, and practical strategies.

• Create a Calm Environment: Reduce sensory overload by creating a quiet, organized space. This can include minimizing noise, clutter, and bright lights, which can help highly sensitive individuals feel more at ease.

• Encourage Open Communication: Foster an environment where feelings and needs can be expressed openly. Encourage highly sensitive individuals to share their experiences and preferences, which can help others understand their sensitivities better.

• Practice Relaxation Techniques: Encourage practices such as mindfulness, meditation, or deep-breathing exercises. These techniques can help manage stress and promote emotional regulation.

• Set Boundaries: Help highly sensitive individuals establish healthy boundaries in social situations. This may involve taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed or saying no to activities that may be too stimulating.

• Be Patient and Understanding: Recognize that highly sensitive individuals may take longer to process information or may need more time to recharge after social interactions. Patience and empathy can go a long way in providing support.

• Encourage Self-Care: Promote self-care activities that resonate with the individual, such as spending time in nature, engaging in creative pursuits, or practicing hobbies that bring joy and relaxation.

• Educate Others: If appropriate, educate friends, family, and colleagues about high sensitivity. This can foster understanding and support, making it easier for highly sensitive individuals to navigate social situations.

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What are highly sensitive children like?

- They are bothered by loud noises, aggressive lights, shouting, virulent emotions, conflicts, injustices, violence...

- They are disturbed by changes in habits, routines and programmes.

- They lose their composure when they are observed, mocked or criticised.

- They need more time to learn a new task.

- They saturate and tire more quickly, so they need to take breaks more often and move around regularly.

- They can't tolerate excitants (coffee, tea, chocolate, sugar) and benefit from a healthy, easily digestible diet tailored to their tastes.

- Although they often have trouble falling asleep, they generally need more sleep than other children.

- They are empathetic, intuitive, imaginative, creative and enthusiastic...

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How can a parent help a highly sensitive child?

Helping a highly sensitive child involves understanding their unique needs and providing a supportive environment. Here are some specific strategies parents can use:

1. Acknowledge Their Sensitivity: Validate your child's feelings and experiences. Let them know that being sensitive is a normal and valuable trait, and that it's okay to feel deeply.

2. Create a Safe Space: Designate a quiet area in your home where your child can retreat when they feel overwhelmed. This space can be filled with comforting items such as soft blankets, books, or calming toys.

3. Establish Routines: Consistent routines can help highly sensitive children feel secure. Predictability in daily activities can reduce anxiety and help them manage transitions more easily.

4. Encourage Expression: Provide opportunities for your child to express their feelings through conversation, art, or writing. Encourage them to talk about their emotions and experiences, and listen actively without judgment.

5. Teach Coping Strategies: Help your child develop coping mechanisms for managing overwhelming situations. This could include deep breathing exercises, counting to ten, or visualizing a calming scene.

6. Monitor Sensory Input: Be mindful of sensory environments, such as loud noises, crowded places, or bright lights. If possible, limit exposure to overwhelming situations or prepare your child for what to expect.

7. Promote Self-Care: Encourage activities that promote relaxation and self-care, such as spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in creative hobbies. Help them find what works best for them.

8. Model Healthy Boundaries: Teach your child how to set boundaries with others and recognize their own limits. This includes knowing when to take a break or say no to activities that may be too stimulating.

9. Educate Yourself and Others: Learn more about high sensitivity and share this knowledge with family members, teachers, and caregivers. This can foster understanding and support for your child in various environments.

10. Seek Professional Guidance if Needed: If you notice that your child's sensitivity is causing significant distress or impacting their daily life, consider seeking support from a mental health professional who specializes in working with children.

By providing understanding, support, and appropriate tools, parents can help highly sensitive children navigate their world more comfortably and confidently. 

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How can inclusion be encouraged in the classroom?

The teacher explains that there are different forms of sensitivity in the classroom and that some children need more peace, time, rest, sensitivity and sincerity than others, that there is room for everyone, that all forms of sensitivity are respectable and that it is possible to get along well together to promote a good school climate.

Creating a refuge area (tent or soft carpet), where children can rest when they're tired or overwhelmed, is a great help to highly sensitive children and makes group life easier.

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Could you define more scientificaly the STS?

Sensitive Trait Sensitivity (STS) is a concept that refers to the individual differences in sensitivity to environmental stimuli and the processing of sensory information. While Elaine Aron primarily focused on the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) trait, STS extends the understanding of sensitivity as a broader trait that can vary in degree among individuals.

Scientifically, STS is often associated with the following characteristics:

• Sensory Processing: Individuals with STS tend to process sensory information more thoroughly, which can lead to heightened awareness of subtleties in their environment, such as changes in temperature, sounds, or social cues.

• Emotional Reactivity: Those with STS may experience stronger emotional responses to both positive and negative stimuli. This can involve deeper empathy, emotional depth, and a heightened ability to perceive the emotions of others.

• Cognitive Processing: STS is linked to a preference for reflective thinking and a tendency to engage in deep processing of information. This can result in a more comprehensive understanding of complex situations, though it may also lead to feeling overwhelmed by excessive information.

• Social Sensitivity: Individuals with STS may be more attuned to social dynamics and interpersonal relationships, often being more affected by social interactions and the emotional states of others.

Research in psychology often utilizes self-report questionnaires to assess levels of sensitivity, and studies have indicated that STS can be beneficial in various contexts, such as creativity and problem-solving, but may also pose challenges, particularly in overstimulating environments

 

© Saverio Tomasella, Observatoire de la sensibilité, (2024) 2025.

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* For more information, please visit Elaine Aron's website: hsperson.com