Podcast

#229: ADHD and Sensory Processing: Understanding Your Child’s Sensory Needs

September 28, 2026

What if your child’s “behavior” is actually their nervous system saying, “I’ve had enough”?

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ADHD and sensory processing often go hand in hand, but it can be hard to figure out what your child’s behavior is actually telling you. In this episode, pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix, also known as The OT Butterfly, helps us understand how sensory needs can show up in everyday life – especially for kids with ADHD! She also shares the idea of a “sensory budget” from her new book, The Sensory Code, and how understanding your child’s sensory system can help you support them before they reach their limit. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this sensory?” this episode will give you practical ways to start connecting the dots.

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MEET LAURA PETIX

Laura Petix is a Filipino American, neurodivergent pediatric occupational therapist, author of The Sensory Code, and nationally recognized voice in sensory processing and nervous system–informed behavior support. She is the founder of The OT Butterfly, a leading education platform trusted by hundreds of thousands of parents, educators, and clinicians for translating neuroscience into practical, real-world strategies. With a background spanning clinical practice, research, and large-scale digital education, Laura is known for making complex sensory science accessible, affirming, and actionable.

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Episode #229 Transcript

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Have a question or want to share some thoughts? Shoot us an email at hello@thechildhoodcollective.com

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Dr. Lori Long (left) child psychologist
Dr. Mallory Yee (right) child psychologist
Katie Severson (middle) speech language pathologist

We deliver the ADHD science with the compassion of ADHD moms

We are Lori, Katie, & Mallory.

Dr. Lori Long and Dr. Mallory Yee are child psychologists and Katie Severson is a speech-language pathologist. We have spent decades supporting thousands of families navigating ADHD. But we're also moms; some of us raising kids with ADHD and some of us navigating it ourselves...which means we understand both the science and the real-life moments that don't make it into textbooks.

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