172: Is It ADHD or Sleep Apnea? with Kirk Huntsman
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
Release Date: 08/21/2025
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outlineCould 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 parents should look out for, and new, non-invasive treatment options that go far beyond medication or surgery. If your child still struggles with focus, energy, or meltdowns—this episode is essential listening. You’ll walk away with a new lens on your child’s behavior and practical tools to uncover and address hidden sleep issues that could be holding them back.
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Visit vivos.com to learn more about Vivos Therapeutics
Key Takeaways:
[0:00] Introduction: When ADHD Isn’t ADHD
[2:06] Meet Kirk Huntsman of Vivos
[3:46] What Is Pediatric Sleep Apnea?
[4:37] Overlap Between ADHD and Sleep Symptoms
[7:20] Warning Signs Parents Should Watch For
[16:55] Developmental Clues You Might Be Missing
[23:46] Long-Term Risks of Untreated Sleep Apnea
[31:31] Non-Invasive Treatment Options
[42:29] Final Advice for Parents
Memorable Moments:
"Your child wakes up tired, loses focus by mid-morning, spirals emotionally by lunch—and everyone's telling you it's ADHD."
"They've actually taken kids known to have ADHD and put them in a playground with kids who have sleep disorders—and the experts couldn’t tell them apart."
"ADHD is actually meant to be a diagnosis of exclusion."
"A child that becomes hyperactive shows up at school and becomes that kid that the teacher can't control."
"Mouth breathing is one of the early signals that there's a problem.”
"Breathing should be silent, consistent, and through the nose—not through the mouth."
"Putting a child in braces that already has compromised oral development can make the problem worse."
"We were designed to be obligate nasal breathers."
"Night terrors are not normal."
"The number one action? Get your child tested."
How to Connect with Kirk Huntsman
- Website: www.vivos.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivos_life/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirkhuntsman
- Airway Queen - https://www.instagram.com/theairwayqueen
- Airway Dentist - https://www.instagram.com/airway_dentist
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/