Hypersensitivity

PAS 6463:2022, Design for the mind – Neurodiversity and the built environment – Guide, published by BSI Standards Limited 2022, defines hypersensitivity (also referred to as high sensitivity, highly sensitive person (HSP) or sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)) as: ‘heightened response to physical (via sound, sight, touch, or smell) and/or emotional stimuli and the tendency to be easily overwhelmed.’

This is as opposed to hyposensitivity, which it defines as: ‘reduced response to environmental stimuli. This can result in sensory seeking activity, for example, a need to touch things excessively, turning the volume very loud, etc.’

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