Welcome back to The Belay Library — your on-demand collection of expert guidance, built around the science of child personality and real-life parenting.
This post: Dr. Janet Patton on a mix-up she sees constantly in her practice and how to start telling the two apart.
When your child can’t sit still or gets easily overwhelmed, what’s really going on.
When parents come into Dr. Patton’s practice describing increased activity, trouble with emotional regulation, or impulsivity, it often sounds like hyperactivity.
But once she digs in, the behavior is frequently driven by something else entirely: sensory sensitivity.
How can you tell the difference?
Look at when the behaviors happen.
Hyperactivity tends to show up consistently in most places.
Sensory sensitivity often appears in specific spaces like loud, crowded, or overwhelming environments.
The two can look almost identical from the outside, things like constant motion, big reactions, trouble focusing, friction in social settings. But what’s underneath is different, and that difference matters for how you respond.
Below: Dr. Patton breaks down where hyperactivity and sensory sensitivity overlap, where they diverge, and five things to watch for at home.
A quick chat with an expert
▶️ [Video: Is it Hyperactivity or Sensory Sensitivity?]
Dr. Janet Patton | 3 Minutes
⚡ Quick Tips
Looking for a fast reminder? Here’s the short version.
Things to Think About:
Hyperactive children need help managing impulses and focusing attention
Sensory-sensitive children need sensory-friendly spaces and activities that meet their sensory needs
Key Takeaway: Watch for patterns. If your child calms down in quiet settings or gets overwhelmed by specific sensations (tags in clothing, loud noises, certain textures), sensory sensitivity might be the real issue. When in doubt, talk to your pediatrician, child psychologist, or occupational therapist for guidance tailored to your child.
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