Grandma Has ADHD

Episode 81: A Daughter's Experience with Alzheimers and ADHD

• Jami Shapiro • Episode 81

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In this episode of Grandma Has ADHD, Jami Shapiro sits down with ADHD coach and behavior analyst Heather Callison for a deeply honest conversation about discovering ADHD later in life, raising neurodivergent children, and how family patterns often reveal the bigger picture.

Heather shares her journey of recognizing ADHD in herself after her daughter’s diagnosis and how that discovery reshaped her understanding of her past, her career, and her family dynamics.

Together, Jami and Heather explore the emotional realities of living with ADHD — from missed diagnoses in childhood to the powerful resilience that often develops along the way.

This episode also dives into important topics like ADHD in girls, overlapping conditions like epilepsy and dysgraphia, and how compassion and awareness can change the trajectory of someone’s life.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

  • Why ADHD is often missed in girls and high-achieving students
  • How ADHD frequently runs through entire families
  • The connection between ADHD and epilepsy
  • Why social challenges can appear before academic struggles
  • The role of resilience and self-awareness in ADHD management
  • How parenting changes when you understand neurodivergence
  • The emotional experience of late ADHD diagnosis
  • Why many adults with ADHD learn to give themselves grace

About The Guest

Heather Callison is an ADHD coach, board-certified behavior analyst, and educator with a PhD in Special Education. She works with creative, passionate individuals who feel stuck and helps them rediscover their strengths through ADHD-informed coaching.

About The Host

Jami Shapiro is an ADHD coach, author, and certified senior move manager. Through her podcast Grandma Has ADHD, she raises awareness about ADHD in adults — especially women discovering their diagnosis later in life.

Resources Mentioned

• Jami Shapiro’s book This Explains So Much
• ADDCA Coach Academy ADHD coaching program
• ADHD coaching and community support groups
• Research on ADHD and epilepsy comorbidity

Links & Resources

Thank you for joining us for this episode of Grandma Has ADHD! We hope Jami's journey and insights into ADHD shed light on the unique challenges faced by older adults. Stay tuned for more episodes where we’ll explore helpful resources, share personal stories, and provide guidance for those navigating ADHD. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this podcast with friends who might benefit. Remember, Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

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Grandma Has ADHD

[00:00:15] Jami Shapiro:
Hi, I’m Jami Shapiro, and welcome to Grandma Has ADHD. I’m a certified senior move manager and owner of Silver Linings Transitions, where I help people navigate life’s big transitions.

But here’s the thing—I spent years helping families move through change while completely missing the pattern running through my own life.

I’m the daughter of two ADHD parents, the mother of three ADHD children, and I have ADHD too. For years, I didn’t have the language or understanding for what that meant. Becoming an ADHD coach and specialist has been game-changing—not just for how I work with my clients, but for how I relate to my family and understand myself.

I even wrote a book about it called This Explains So Much.

This podcast is for those discovering ADHD later in life. Each week, I bring conversations with industry experts and people sharing their ADHD journeys—real stories and real strategies.

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please share it, leave a review, and visit me at Jamishapiro.me.

Whether you’re over 50 and newly diagnosed or recognizing patterns you’ve lived with your whole life, this is your space.

So grab your coffee, get comfortable, and let’s dive in.

[00:02:00] Jami Shapiro:
Before we dive in, a quick heads-up. You may hear me mention the Sparkler Society.

I got excited about this community and talked about it before everything was ready. So we’ve paused to make sure it launches the right way.

We’re officially launching in July 2026.

Here’s what you can expect:

  •  Weekly live group sessions 
  •  Support around decluttering and downsizing 
  •  Body doubling 
  •  ADHD group coaching 

We’ll also address challenges like overspending and unfinished projects.

Most importantly, we’re building a community of women who want to get their lives together—together.

We’re starting a waitlist now at Jamishapiro.me. Early members will help shape the community.

If you hear me say it’s launching tomorrow—just know it’s coming in July, and it’ll be worth the wait.

[00:04:00] Jami Shapiro:
Today’s guest has spent most of her life navigating a fast-moving mind, sensory sensitivities, and feeling slightly out of step.

It wasn’t until age 45—after her five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with ADHD—that everything clicked.

She recognized her own story in her daughter’s and realized ADHD was part of her entire family.

With a PhD in special education from SUNY Buffalo, an MS in applied behavior analysis, and years of experience as a board-certified behavior analyst, she already had deep expertise.

Now, her lived experience fuels her work as an ADHD coach, helping creative and passionate people reclaim their rhythm.

Welcome, Heather Callison.

[00:05:34] Heather Callison:
Thank you so much.

[00:05:35] Jami Shapiro:
I’m so glad you’re here.

Before we begin, I want to share something personal.

I recently had a mammogram that came back suspicious. I had to go through follow-up testing, which was incredibly nerve-wracking.

When you have ADHD, your brain goes straight to worst-case scenarios. You spiral. You catastrophize.

I’m happy to say it was a benign cyst.

But this is something many people with ADHD can relate to—the mental spiral.

[00:06:37] Heather Callison:
That experience is terrifying.

Your brain goes straight to, “What if I leave my children?” You imagine the worst.

My gynecologist helped by preparing me ahead of time. That made a huge difference.

It would be helpful if more healthcare providers understood how ADHD affects emotional processing.

[00:08:22] Heather Callison:
When I look back, my biggest challenge wasn’t academic—it was social.

I struggled with social development. I didn’t have many friends, and my mom arranged playdates hoping I’d connect with others.

I repeated first grade because of delayed social development, and that extra year made a big difference.

I was identified as gifted, shy, and quiet—so ADHD was never considered.

Even now, girls who perform well academically often go unnoticed.

I struggled with math and sensory sensitivities—textures, materials, food—but I thought I was just different.

[00:13:00] Heather Callison:
I taught ADHD in a teacher training course—and didn’t realize I had it.

The narrative is still focused on hyperactive boys. The textbooks are outdated.

We’re missing so many people.

[00:17:00] Heather Callison:
ADHD is a spectrum.

My husband and I both have ADHD, but in complementary ways. He’s always on time; I’m always late. Together, we balance each other.

[00:18:00] Heather Callison:
My daughter showed differences from infancy—constant movement, poor sleep, sensory sensitivities.

At age five, she began having seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy.

Later, we confirmed ADHD.

Medication has been life-changing for her.

[00:24:00] Heather Callison:
Both of my parents have ADHD.

Growing up, I thought everything was normal—the good and the challenging.

[00:28:00] Heather Callison:
Understanding ADHD helped me give myself grace.

We can achieve incredible things but struggle with basic tasks.

That doesn’t make us broken—just wired differently.

[00:32:32] Heather Callison:
I wouldn’t give up my ADHD.

It shaped who I am.

But as a parent, I would take it away for my daughter because of how much she struggles.

[00:37:40] Heather Callison:
My mom has early-stage Alzheimer’s.

What stood out wasn’t forgetfulness—it was personality changes, increased anxiety, and misinterpreting interactions.

Her attitude is remarkable. She doesn’t feel shame—she simply accepts what is.

[00:55:30] Heather Callison:
My mom’s resilience likely comes from living with undiagnosed ADHD.

She’s used to adapting and moving forward.

[01:00:03] Heather Callison:
I work with adults with ADHD—especially creative individuals who feel stuck.

I help them reconnect with their creativity and move forward without force or burnout.

[01:04:11] Heather Callison:
If you’re just discovering ADHD:

Take a deep breath. Nothing is on fire.

It doesn’t change who you are—it explains things.

Then go find your people.

[01:05:25] Jami Shapiro:
That’s the perfect place to end.

Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Head Shot

Jami Shapiro

Host