The Podcast

We don’t outgrow ADHD, we simply change with it. Join hosts Jami and Justin as we explore the intersection of ADHD and seniors.

Episode 81 – A Daughter’s Experience with Alzheimers and ADHD

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

Key Topics Discussed

ADHD Across Generations
Heather reflects on how ADHD shaped her family life and how recognizing those patterns later brought clarity to years of confusion.

The Hidden ADHD in Girls
Many girls with ADHD are overlooked because they are quiet, gifted, or academically successful.

Parenting Neurodivergent Children
Heather discusses raising a daughter with ADHD and epilepsy and how understanding brain differences helps guide parenting.

Medical and Neurological Overlaps
The conversation explores research showing that ADHD appears more frequently in children with epilepsy.

Resilience and Acceptance
Jamie and Heather discuss how self-understanding and compassion can transform the ADHD experience.

The ADHD Button Question

Jami asks every guest the same question:

If there were a button that could remove your ADHD forever, would you press it?

Heather’s answer: No.

She explains that ADHD shaped her curiosity, ambition, and life path — even though it also brought challenges.

However, she admits that as a mother she would remove the struggles her daughter faces if she could.

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

Heather Callison for Grandma Has ADHD Podcast

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