This reply was originally posted by user boomer in ADDitude’s now-retired community.
We’ve talked to our daughter about her ADD/ADHD in age appropriate ways since she was age 7. She’s now 13. At first I was more self conscious than she was, about telling other people about it. Now it’s no big deal, and I let her share or not share that she has ADD with friends and adults she knows. Medications are a big part of her life, so I don’t see how we’d even be able to avoid telling her if we wanted to. But bottom line, it is her life and I think the more info she has about her condition the better. She collects and keeps a notebook about musicians and sports figures that have ADD, it really inspires her to know she is not alone, that she can work around and adapt to the challenges she faces, and be successful.