Hi Reader,

For years, I’ve been asked the same question:

“Is it sensory or is it behavior?”

And for years, I wanted an answer too.

Early in my career as an occupational therapist, I thought that if I could figure out which one it was, I could find the right strategy and better support the child.

Nearly 13 years later, my thinking has evolved.

Instead of asking “Is it sensory or is it behavior?” I think a better question is:

How are this child’s sensory experiences influencing their behavior?

Especially during back-to-school season, you may notice your child doing well in one environment and struggling in another. Rather than immediately labeling the behavior, what happens when we get curious about what’s influencing the experience?

In this month’s Koi Wellness conversation, I’m revisiting this topic and sharing how my perspective has changed—including why children may behave differently across environments, sensory strategies, parent and child nervous systems, and why the same tool won’t work every time.

Listen to the Podcast Here

Sometimes, we don’t need a better answer.

We need a better question.

Warmly,
Aya Porté
Occupational Therapist & Founder, Koi Wellness