162: How Concussions Mimic ADHD with Nate Pope
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
Release Date: 06/12/2025
175: How to Help a Child with ADHD Focus—Without the Daily Battles
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay challenges one of the most common myths about ADHD—that kids with ADHD simply can’t focus. As a Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner, Dana unpacks what focus really is, explaining how skills like impulse control, working memory, and planning all come together to create what we think of as “attention.” She also explores how these skills develop at different ages and why setting realistic expectations is so important. From brain science to real-world parenting strategies, Dana shares the foundational pillars—diet,...
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174: ADHD, Homework, and Executive Function with Ann Dolin
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with Ann Dolin, an award-winning educator, author, and expert in ADHD, executive function, and academic coaching. Together, they unpack one of the most common and stressful challenges for families raising kids with ADHD—homework. With over three decades of experience helping children who think and learn differently, Ann shares practical, tested strategies to reduce homework battles, build executive function skills, and bring more calm to busy evenings. Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and...
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173: ADHD & Sensory Processing Explained with Michael Soria
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay dives into some often overlooked aspects of ADHD—sensory processing challenges. She’s joined by Michael Soria, a global special education consultant and dad of a neurodivergent child, who brings over 35 years of insight and heart to the conversation. If your child melts down in the cereal aisle or fights over wearing socks, it may not be “just ADHD”—it could be their sensory system crying out for help. Dana and Michael explore how sensory overload can mimic or magnify ADHD symptoms, and what parents and educators can do to...
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172: Is It ADHD or Sleep Apnea? with Kirk Huntsman
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
Could your child’s ADHD symptoms actually be caused by something else entirely—like undiagnosed pediatric sleep apnea? In this compelling episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay is joined by Kirk Huntsman, CEO and co-founder of Vivos Therapeutics. Together, they unpack the often-overlooked connection between sleep and behavior, revealing how disrupted sleep patterns—especially obstructive sleep apnea—can mimic or even contribute to ADHD symptoms in children. Dana and Kirk explore the biological and developmental reasons behind sleep-related misdiagnoses, warning signs...
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171: ADHD Starts in the Gut with Dana Kay
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay—Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute—dives deep into one of the most misunderstood underlying stressors of ADHD symptoms: gut health. While ADHD is often labeled as a brain-based disorder, this episode reveals how gut imbalances, inflammation, and neurotransmitter disruptions could be fueling your child’s symptoms—like mood swings, focus struggles, and emotional dysregulation. Dana shares the latest science on the gut-brain connection and breaks down practical,...
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170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay speaks with Karla, a courageous mother who transformed her family’s life after years of chaos, tantrums, and emotional turmoil. In this episode, Karla shares her raw, emotional journey—from feeling hopeless and questioning her ability as a mother, to finally discovering the underlying stressors that were exacerbating her daughter’s outbursts and meltdowns. Spoiler alert: the answer wasn’t another parenting strategy! Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Practitioner and mom to a child with ADHD, guides...
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169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back counselor, neurodiversity educator, and yoga facilitator Caz Pringle-Bowden for a deep dive into a transformative concept for ADHD families — the Family Operational Manual. If parenting your child with ADHD often feels like chaos without a game plan, this episode offers a unique and practical tool that could change the way your household operates. Dana and Caz explore how understanding each family member’s brain wiring can shift a household from reactive to regulated. With real-life examples, creative metaphors, and small,...
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168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay welcomes back Andrea Daigle, a seasoned ADHD coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges parents face when sending their children with ADHD back to school, especially concerning dietary needs and peer interactions. They discuss strategies to empower children to understand and advocate for their unique dietary requirements, ensuring they feel confident and included during school meals. Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, is dedicated to helping families navigate the...
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167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with happiness expert Matt O’Neill to explore one of the most transformative—but often overlooked—tools in parenting: cultivating happiness from the inside out. As a father of four, author, and the creator of The Good Mood Revolution podcast, Matt shares actionable insights into how happiness isn't just a fleeting feeling, but a skill that can be built—even in the chaos of daily life with ADHD. From managing meltdowns to reframing negative emotions like fear, overwhelm, and guilt, Matt offers science-backed...
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166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
Welcome to the debut episode of Crack The Code, a private podcast for parents navigating the often overwhelming world of ADHD. Host Dana Kay, Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, shares her raw, personal journey of raising a child with ADHD, and what she discovered after traditional approaches fell short. This isn’t another list of parenting hacks or behavior charts. It’s a compassionate, science-backed look into what’s really going on inside your child’s body. In this powerful first episode, Dana introduces a groundbreaking new...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay uncovers a surprising root cause of ADHD symptoms that most parents and even practitioners overlook—past head injuries. Joined by neurological occupational therapist and co-founder of NCX Brain Recovery, Nate Pope, the conversation explores the profound and often hidden impact concussions can have on a child's focus, emotional regulation, and behavior. From post-concussion syndrome to powerful recovery therapies, Nate shares his expertise on how to identify these injuries and why they are frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD.
Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, is passionate about helping families uncover the real reasons behind their child's struggles. Through her ADHD Thrive Institute and expert interviews like this one, she empowers parents with the tools and insights they need to support their children naturally and effectively. Tune in to learn how to tell if your child’s ADHD symptoms might actually stem from a past head injury—and what you can do today to help them heal and thrive.
Link Mentioned in the Show:
ADHD Fast Class - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
Key Takeaways:
[2:03] Introduction to Brain Injury and ADHD
[2:40] Nate Pope’s Expertise and Background
[3:08] Differentiating ADHD from Head Trauma
[3:17] Symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome
[5:01] Myths About Concussion Recovery
[24:07] Functional Brain Therapy Strategies
[28:01] How NCX Brain Recovery Works
[27:49] Empowering Families with Practical Tools
[28:35] Final Tips for Parents
Memorable Moments:
“What if the real culprit was something that no one ever told you to check for—a past head injury?”
“There’s a lot of kids walking around out there that the parents don’t know and the kids don’t know—but they've got symptoms.”
“When your brain’s not quite working right, the quality of everything kind of drops.”
“Post-concussion syndrome can look a lot like ADHD.”
“Our brain can compensate, but it’s not designed to do that long term.”
“Don’t go in a dark place and do nothing—we call it cocooning.”
“The brain has a really hard time being imbalanced when you make it process multiple things simultaneously.”
“If your focus issues are related to that, then that’s one of the best ways to re-engage the areas that are inactive.”
“Families are a great vehicle for helping kids change—doing stuff with your kids is powerful.”
“You’re not imagining things. Their body may be sending out very real distress signals.”
How to Connect with Nate Pope:
Website: https://www.ncxbrainrecovery.com/
Dana Kay Resources:
🔗WEBSITES:
👋SOCIALS:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
- Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
- Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻FREE MASTERCLASS
- Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
- ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
- ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
- Dye-Free for ADHD Course - https://bit.ly/4aFj6TY