Childhood Trauma Test (ACE): What It Measures and How to Read Your Score

This test draws on the ACE questionnaire (Adverse Childhood Experiences) developed by Dr Felitti and Dr Anda. It explores four dimensions of adverse childhood experiences: abuse, neglect, family dysfunction and the impact on your current life. Research shows that these experiences are closely linked to physical and mental health in adulthood. Understanding what you lived through is an essential step towards beginning a process of healing.

In the article that follows, I explore childhood wounds and their traces. If you recognise yourself in this theme, I designed a childhood trauma (ACE) test that helps you take stock of how your childhood still marks you today. It comes with a guide to extend your reflection beyond the results.

What the test measures

• Experiences of physical, psychological or verbal violence suffered during childhood.
• A lack of care, attention and response to the child's fundamental needs.
• An unstable family environment marked by addiction, domestic violence or psychological difficulty.
• The consequences of childhood trauma on your physical and mental health and on your current relationships.

Take the test: Emotional Neglect → — The lack of care and attention during childhood leaves traces in adulthood. This test goes deeper into the specific dimension of emotional neglect explored here.

How to interpret your score

The result reads as an intensity, not a diagnosis:

• Low adverse experiences: Your score indicates a low level of adverse experiences during childhood. Your environment was broadly protective and stable.
• Moderate adverse experiences: You experienced moderate adverse experiences during childhood. Some aspects of your development were affected, but you have developed resilience mechanisms.
• Significant adverse experiences: You experienced significant adverse experiences during childhood. These traumas have left deep traces that require therapeutic attention.
• Severe adverse experiences: You experienced severe and multiple adverse experiences during childhood. Therapeutic support is essential to prevent long-term consequences for your health and well-being.

What your full report contains

The detailed PDF report (from €2.99) includes:

• Introduction: This report analyses your adverse childhood experiences (ACE) across four dimensions. Scientific research shows that these experiences have a direct impact on physical and mental health in adulthood. Understanding what you lived through is the first step towards healing.
• Overall Score: Your overall score of {{globalScore}}% reflects the cumulative intensity of your adverse childhood experiences and their residual impact on your current life.
• Dimension-by-Dimension Analysis: Each dimension is analysed individually to build a complete picture of your experiences and their consequences.
• Recommendations: Four validated therapeutic pathways for complex trauma: (1) EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing — Francine Shapiro) — proven effectiveness for PTSD (meta-analyses) and single-incident trauma; 60-90 min sessions with a practitioner certified by EMDR Europe. (2) Trauma-focused CBT (Resick's Cognitive Processing Therapy, Edna Foa's Prolonged Exposure) — work on traumatic cognitions and graded imaginal exposure. (3) Somatic approaches — Somatic Experiencing (Levine), Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (Pat Ogden), for pre-verbal trauma or trauma intrusive at the bodily level. Adapted therapeutic yoga (van der Kolk). (4) Internal Family Systems (IFS, Richard Schwartz) — particularly suited to complex trauma and dissociation. Trauma work awakens intense emotions: a trauma-trained therapist is ESSENTIAL, do not venture into it alone. Healing is possible but takes time (2-7 years). Emergency numbers, in France: 3114 (free, anonymous) if you have suicidal thoughts, 119 if you fear for a child (child protection). Outside France: your local emergency services, or findahelpline.com.
• Resources: Childhood trauma is studied within the framework of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE — Felitti & Anda 1998, the Kaiser/CDC study of 17,000 people). Scales: Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-28 by Bernstein), Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire (ACE-Q, 10 items). Major authors: Bessel van der Kolk ("The Body Keeps the Score"), Judith Herman ("Trauma and Recovery"), Bruce Perry ("What Happened to You?" with Oprah Winfrey), Peter Levine (somatic experiencing), Francine Shapiro (EMDR). Mechanisms: dysregulation of the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal), hypoactivation of the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala hyperactivation, epigenetic alterations (Yehuda). Long-term consequences: increased risk of depression, anxiety, addictions, cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders. The ACE score statistically predicts many health outcomes.

The first 5 questions are free; the full, personalised report (your precise score, your profile by dimension, your recommendations) is paid.

When to take this test

• You recognise yourself in trauma, ACE, adverse experiences and want to see things clearly.
• You want a structured reading rather than a vague impression.
• You are looking for an objective starting point before speaking to a professional if needed.

Take the test: Childhood Trauma → — 60 questions, anonymous, PDF report (€2.99). 🔗 Analyse your conversations with ScanMyLove — Your childhood patterns replay in your messages: analyse a conversation to spot them.

FAQ

How long does the test take? 60 questions, around 20 min. The test has 60 questions. Does the test provide a diagnosis? No. It measures an intensity and provides reference points; only a professional can make a diagnosis. Are my answers confidential? Yes: the test is 100% anonymous and the report is delivered directly to you.

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👉 Start the childhood trauma test (ACE) → — 60 questions, immediate result, PDF report, 100% anonymous.