HSPs are Neurodivergent

There's a common philosophy among the Autistic community that says, people only say HSP because they don't want to say Autism, so HSP is an ableist term. I can't agree with that.

Here's why I can't get on board with that take: HSP is distinctly different from Autism. HSP refers to sensory sensitivity, and NOT to any of the other traits of Autism. HSP simply means a person is sensory and emotionally sensitive in a way that deeply affects their experience in the world. Some of their sensitivity may be genetic and some may be from trauma, we can't know for sure.

The term HSP was coined in the 1990s by author Elaine Aron. She identified HSP as something that occurs in 30% of the population - a much higher frequency than autism. Today her website has a test which lists the following traits as defining factors of HSP: easily overwhelmed, highly aware, sensory sensitivity, withdraws to recover, complex inner life, deep emotions, easily startled, aware of others sensory needs, reactive to change, shy, wishes not to be observed.

While Aron orignated the term, it now belongs to a global community of sensitive humans. My opinion on this topic was formed by listening to people who identify as HSP. To them, HSP is a valuable way to identify traits that are othered by society.

Most HSP's are allistic neurodivergents. They are sensory sensitive, but they do not have monotropism and they don't communicate in that unique way that Autistic people do. They are people who are not neurotypical, and who have SOME of the traits of Autism, but not all of them.

HSPs are between two neurotypes, so sometimes they're not fully accepted with either group, neurotypicals or Autistics.

Some Autistic people ID as HSP on their way to learning they are Autistic. That journey from recognizing one identity to another is super personal and requires a lot of learning and unlearning! Other Autistics are hypo-sensitive so they wouldn’t fit the HSP term at all.

Misuse of HSP is definitely a problem! Saying about an Autistic person, "they're just HSP" is dismissive and gross. Yet number of Allistic people fit the traits of HSP and find a lot of benefit in using that label to help explain their experience.

The way the term is used can be ableist, or it can be accurate and neuro-affirming.

The term HSP is only erasure when it's misused to label an Autistic or ADHD person. Saying allistics aren't allowed to identify as HSP is erasure too. I think it's harmful for Autistic people to police the use of HSP as an identity label by other neurodivergents, especially considering how this group often feels like they don't fit in either camp, neurodivergent or neurotypical.

We Autistic people are not the gatekeepers of HSP identity. If you see yourself as HSP, you have every right to use that term, because you know yourself better than anyone else.

If you identify as a Highly Sensitive Person, I see you as an important and valuable part of the neurodivergent community.