Why One Concussion Can Change Your Brain for Years

<p>In this episode of <strong>Take Back My Brain</strong>, Laurie Hammer interviews Dr. Joe O&#39;Tool, a board-certified functional neurologist, about the science of concussions, functional neurology, pediatric brain health, and neuroplasticity.</p><p>Dr. O&#39;Tool shares how his passion for neurology began after his younger brother suffered an undiagnosed concussion that was followed by serious ACL injuries. His journey deepened even further after his own daughter developed severe neurological and behavioral symptoms, leading him to pursue advanced training in pediatric developmental neurology.</p><p>The conversation explores how concussions affect far more than headaches, including balance, reaction time, vision, emotional regulation, and injury risk. Dr. O&#39;Tool explains why neuro-visual training, neck strength, physical activity, sleep, and proper nutrition are essential for both preventing and recovering from brain injuries.</p><p>- - - - - </p><p><strong>Mind Thrive Course:</strong> Learn more about Amino Acid Therapy <a href="https://www.lauriehammer.com/mindthrive-amino-acid-therapy" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>.</p><p><em>Special Offer:</em> Use code <strong>MINDTHRIVE</strong> at checkout to get <strong>$1,000 off</strong> the course!</p><p>- - - - - </p><p><strong>Dr. Joe O&#39;Tool</strong> is a board-certified functional neurologist specializing in concussion rehabilitation, neuroplasticity, pediatric developmental neurology, and holistic brain health. After completing postgraduate training in clinical neurology and concussion rehabilitation, he has dedicated his career to helping children and adults recover from brain injuries and neurological dysfunction through evidence-informed functional neurological care. His work focuses on improving brain performance using neuro-visual rehabilitation, vestibular therapy, cognitive training, and lifestyle-based approaches that support long-term brain health.</p><p>- - - - - </p><p><strong>Connect with Dr. Joe O&#39;Tool</strong>:</p><p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drjoeotool/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.instagram.com/drjoeotool/</a> </p><p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrJoeOTool/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/DrJoeOTool/</a> </p><p>Linkedin: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-o-tool-10494516/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-o-tool-10494516/</a> </p><p>- - - - - </p><p><strong>Connect with Laurie Hammer</strong></p><p><strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laurie.hammer.7/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/takebackmybrain/#</a></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> ⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/takebackmybrain/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/takebackmybrain/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>  </p><p><strong>Website:</strong> ⁠<a href="https://www.lauriehammer.com/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.lauriehammer.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </p><p><strong>Youtube: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@takebackmybrain9073" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@takebackmybrain9073⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></p><p>-----</p><p><strong>PODCAST</strong></p><p>Thank you for listening.</p><p>Please subscribe and share.</p><p>This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com</p><p><a href="https://drtalks.com/podcast" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://drtalks.com/podcast⁠⁠</a></p>