Well Lynn, it depends on who I am talking to. If you notice on the message board I refer to it as both (disease/disorder) I feel it covers everyones feelings. BUT I do catergorize it as a disease. That is the way I was first introduced to it. I am careful around my daughter with the wording because a lot of people do connect disease with death. I myself found my heart skip a beat when they told me she had this "disease". The first words out of my own mouth, connecting it with the word "disease" was, "Is she going to die?" So the choice of description I choose depends on who I am speaking to about it. I personally prefer "disorder" and find myself using it more than "disease". This is a good question. I find my choice of words at this time in my daughter's life (just turning 4) is very important. Like when I took her for bloodwork the last time. Not that it is her favorite thing to do BUT this time she was pretty upset and crying. Half way to the hospital I asked her why she was so upset. She told me because "they" were going to take her blood. To a three year old she believed literally her blood was going to be taken away. This notion terrified her. When I thought about it I realized I said we are going to have them take your blood instead of the usual we are going for labwork ect. She told me she just wanted a shot. I said ok and she was fine. SO, wording IS everthing.