Ep. 173: Why Treating Symptoms Isn’t Enough for Child Wellbeing with Hokehe Eko, MD MPH FAAP
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Release Date: 02/20/2024
Ep. 266: The Myth of the Resilient Child: When “Pushing Through” Becomes Harmful
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week, Dr. Karen Wilson is touching upon resilience and how our definition of it can sometimes be part of the problem. She challenges the idea that resilience means pushing through stress, staying quiet, or succeeding no matter the emotional cost. After all, a child who appears to be thriving on the outside may actually be running on empty. After a recent conversation with a parent, Dr. Wilson felt inspired to explain why good grades, athletic success, and responsible behavior don't always reflect a child's well-being, and she explores the important difference between coping and genuinely...
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Ep. 265: Back-to-School Anxiety in Neurodivergent Kids: Why the Transition Is So Hard and How to Help
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Transitioning back to school after summer vacation can be challenging for many children, especially those who are neurodivergent. Continuing the Summer Solo Series, Dr. Karen Wilson shares seven practical, actionable strategies to help make the transition smoother. Dr. Wilson explains why even children who are genuinely excited to return to school may still experience significant anxiety. Changes in routine, increased cognitive and sensory demands, unfamiliar environments, and shifting social expectations can create overwhelming stress before classes even begin. Understanding these challenges...
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Ep. 264: What an Assessment Can and Cannot Tell You
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Dr. Karen Wilson continues the Summer Solo Series to address assessments and how they can be informative yet also have their fair share of shortcomings. They can be life-changing but are often misunderstood, and Dr. Wilson unpacks what psychological and educational evaluations can actually tell us, where their limitations lie, and why they should be viewed as tools for understanding rather than crystal balls that predict a child’s future. Dr. Wilson explores why so many mental health and neurodevelopmental diagnoses rely on behavioral patterns instead of definitive medical tests and how...
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Ep. 263: Summer, Screens, and Sanity: Helping Kids Find Balance When School’s Out
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
Dr. Karen Wilson takes on an important topic solo this episode - screen use during the summertime when kids are out of school. With routines loosened and independence increased, many tweens and teens drift toward longer, more frequent device use, and what often begins as “just a little YouTube” can quietly stretch into hours of electronic usage, whether it be gaming, scrolling, and/or late-night screen time, often negatively impacting sleep, mood, and motivation along the way. This podcast, however, isn't here to frame screens as a simple matter of discipline or “too much time online.”...
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Ep. 262: Balancing Summer Rest and Learning Support for Diverse Learners with Ashley Harding
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
For this episode, we are replaying another episode of Diverse Thinking, Different Learning, this time episode 239, in which we sat down with to discuss why it’s so important to allow students time for rest, rejuvenation, and exploration of their interests outside of academics, especially during the summer months. As a reminder, Ashley is a fourth-generation educator and is deeply committed to educational equity. She holds degrees from USC and Tufts University in Child Development, and her career spans more than a decade, during which she has supported students and families in private and...
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Ep. 261: When Helping Becomes Overhelping: Helping Neurodivergent Kids Build Independence
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This week on Diverse Thinking Different Learning, we are discussing the crucial challenge of supporting neurodivergent children without doing so in a way that hinders them from independence. Joining us to take on this topic is , founder of . Dr. William is also a tenured Chemistry professor at College of the Canyons in California, and has spent more than ten years supporting neurodivergent students as they transition from K-12 systems, helping them build confidence and independence in academic settings. Dr. Williams helps us understand why “helicopter parenting” is not a simple label...
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Ep. 260: How Dyslexia Impacts Mental Health (Episode 212 Re-Air)
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
This month, we are replaying episode 212 of Diverse Thinking, Different Learning, in which Dr. Karen Wilson discusses the ways in which dyslexia can affect a child’s mental wellbeing. Even though dyslexia is commonly associated with reading and language difficulties, the emotional implications are far too often overlooked, and Dr. Wilson unpacks some of the harmful myths that have shaped the public understanding of dyslexia for decades, including the assumption that reading struggles are tied to intelligence. She explains how those misconceptions can affect self-esteem, delay diagnosis, and...
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Ep. 259: Autism and ADHD Masking: The Signs & Hidden Costs with Dr. Deanna Dow
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We warmly welcome Dr. Deanna Dow to the podcast. Dr. Dow is a licensed clinical psychologist with over two decades of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals and families. She is the founder and CEO of Spectrum Psych LA, a multidisciplinary clinic that provides assessment, therapy, occupational therapy, medication management, and community-based support, and she has trained and worked in autism clinics and research centers at major institutions including the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina, Florida State University, and UCLA where her research has...
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Ep. 258: Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, and ADHD: Why Math Feels So Overwhelming for Some Kids with Adrianne Meldrum & Heather Brand
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are so thrilled to have not just one guest this episode but two - Adrianne Meldrum and Heather Brand! Adrianne Meldrum founded and owns Made for Math, a fully online math center that supports students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other math-related learning challenges. She is a certified Multisensory Math Instructor and holds a master’s degree from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity. Adrianne lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons, where she enjoys the beautiful sunsets. Heather Brand, M.Ed., is a licensed educator with two decades of experience teaching...
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Ep. 257: Helping Kids with Dyslexia and ADHD Build Confidence Through Stories with Lynn Greenberg
Diverse Thinking Different Learning
We are so excited to have Lynn Greenberg join us for this edition of the show. Lynn has devoted her life to being an advocate for children as a trained attorney specializing in family law and pro bono work. When her youngest son, Jonathan, was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, she stepped into the role of being his advocate, using her expertise to help carve a path toward his success. The experience inspired her to support neurodivergent children more broadly, and she discusses how co-writing the children’s book with Jonathan became a natural next step, allowing her to create characters in...
info_outlineDid you know that most children with ADHD are given medication, offered some counseling, and nothing else? Today's episode is a game-changer, especially for parents navigating the challenges of ADHD because today’s guest wants to change this. Dr. Hokehe Eko joins us to discuss her unique approach, one that focuses on empowering children with ADHD without solely relying on medication.
Dr. Eko believes it's time to shift our focus from merely treating symptoms to understanding the whole child. In our conversation, Dr. Eko shares her insights into how trauma and lifestyle factors impact a child's behavior and cognitive development.
Instead of rushing to medication, Dr. Eko advocates for lifestyle and environmental changes that support a child's overall well-being. From nutrition to hydration, she discusses practical steps parents can take to empower their children and create a supportive environment for their growth. You may be surprised by the impact of small lifestyle changes and how they can positively influence a child's behavior and family dynamics. While there’s no “quick fix,” these small incremental changes not only benefit ADHD symptoms but the well-being of the whole family.
Show Notes:
[2:21] - Dr. Eko is a pediatrician and a big advocate for empowering our brains. She has a different approach to looking at the whole child.
[3:55] - During some training, Dr. Eko had the realization of how things could change. She shares the story of what inspired her approach.
[5:55] - Trauma makes changes in the way our brains work and our behavior.
[8:30] - You can never just assess symptoms.
[10:50] - Before jumping to medication, Dr. Eko looks at simple lifestyle and environmental changes.
[13:03] - If we feed the brain what it needs and what it craves, we are healthier overall.
[14:34] - Behaviors are difficult and there isn’t necessarily a “quick fix.” However, lifestyle changes could benefit the overall health of the child more than medication.
[17:18] - Dr. Eko discusses the impact of nutrition on behavior.
[20:29] - If your child is healthier, the whole family is better overall.
[22:10] - Change one thing at a time. All the small changes build up.
[23:26] - Dr. Eko shares some suggestions on how to increase the amount of water you and your family drink that also gets the child on board.
[26:24] - It is a process. Take it one day at a time and do things as a family.
[28:36] - Dr. Eko emphasizes the importance of executive functioning skills and what parents can do to support their children.
[31:00] - Have a conversation with your child and explain what is going on. They need to understand as they form their identity.
[32:36] - Dr. Eko offers a support group and community and the information can be found on her website. She also shares the details of her recent book.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Hokehe Eko is a Mom, Board Certified Pediatrician, TedX Speaker, and CEO of Glow Pediatrics PLLC. She partners with parents of children with ADHD/Autism to address the root causes of their children's behaviors so they GLOW with health from the inside out. She is also CEO of Kits of Hope, a 501 (3) organization, sharing love, hope, and dignity with children in foster care.
Connect with Dr. Hokehe Eko:
Links and Related Resources:
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Episode 149: Supporting Children and Teens’ Mental Health Via Nutrition
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Episode 169: The Science of Exercise and the Brain with Dr. John Ratey
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Episode 148: How Sleep Affects Academic Performance and Mood
Connect with Us:
The Diverse Thinking Different Learning podcast is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, the views and opinions expressed by the host and guests are not considered treatment and do not necessarily reflect those of ChildNEXUS, Inc or the host, Dr. Karen Wilson.