162: How Concussions Mimic ADHD with Nate Pope

In 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 Connec