Sensory hypersensitivity
Hyperesthesia: when sensations are amplified
Discovering your sensory hypersensitivity
Hyperesthesia is hypersensitivity of one or more senses. Some people perceive sounds, smells, light, textures or bodily sensations with unusual intensity.
Sensory hypersensitivity can occur in different profiles
Hyperesthesia is a characteristic found in some people with High Potential, whether High Intellectual Potential or High Emotional Potential. It can also occur in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is therefore not specific to a single form of functioning.
Which senses can be affected by hyperesthesia?
Hyperesthesia can affect all the senses:
Sight: Observation skills are highly developed. Many gifted people notice all the small details of the world around them. Others are particularly sensitive to certain lighting conditions.
Smell: Olfactory hyperesthesia enables subtle distinctions between many different smells. It often comes with discomfort caused by smells that others can barely notice.
Hearing: Auditory hyperesthesia is the ability to perceive a broad range of frequencies and register several sounds at once. For some people, certain sounds are painful.
Touch: Tactile hyperesthesia can involve either seeking physical contact or, conversely, avoiding it because it produces a very strong or overwhelming reaction. For others, certain clothing textures are particularly unpleasant.
Taste
Gustatory hyperesthesia enables distinctions between very similar flavours and comes with a disposition to appreciate fine food.
Frequently asked questions
Which senses can be affected by hyperesthesia?
All of them: sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste. The intensity and combinations vary from person to person.
Does hyperesthesia mean I am gifted?
No. It can occur in some gifted people, but also in other forms of functioning, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Why is identifying your hyperesthesia useful?
Naming this sensitivity helps you understand what overloads certain senses and adapt your environment more precisely.
Is your sensory sensitivity part of a broader pattern?
If it comes with emotional hypersensitivity, intuition, a strong feeling of being out of step or other characteristics, screening can help you understand which possibility deserves exploration.
