A buddy has A.D.D. & wants to fly......?

[greenpickle]

Be practical

I think the applicant should be the only person deciding if he should go for this or not. ADD is not a condition that addresses one's ability to make rational and/or sane decisions. I have never been a fan of the "medical" considering we self evaluate our medical condition in regards to flight for the other 363 days in a year. In today's age where my heartburn from crappy terminal food is someone else's medically controlled acid reflux disease, I think we rely on medical opinion too much. I think the kid should talk to no one (medically speaking) and decide what he wants to do. Of course I only make this statement in regards to someone who has control over their mental faculties, which someone with ADD certainly has.

PS. If there was a litmus test for ADD I swear half of our crews would test positive.

 

[TonyC]

Re: Don't send the guy to get a First Class!

Are you guys nuts?

The first thing the guy should do is get an evaluation from a NON-AME. Find out if he even has this disorder! There's probably a good chance that he doesn't even have it . . . and if he does, he will be talking to someone who specializes in this disorder.

If he goes to an AME and says he has a history of some disorder, the AME may or may not be qualified to determine if he has it, but if he goes and self-reports that he has some condition based upon some evaluation ten years ago, he will have opened up a can of worms and left a paper trail that may be very difficult to fix later.


My advice would be to go to a specialist first, get cleared, THEN go to an AME.

I disagreed with what you say, but did a little research, and resolved some of the disagreement, but not all.

Even if he goes to a "NON-AME" and finds out that he does not have ADD, he still must report it on the 8500-8, APPLICATION FOR MEDICAL CERTIFICATION.

18. Medical History - HAVE YOU EVER IN YOUR LIFE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH, HAD, OR DO YOU PRESENTLY HAVE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?

m. Mental disorders of any sort, depression, anxiety, etc.

Clearly, he must anser YES to the above as he has IN HIS LIFE been diagnosed with a "Mental disorder." Even if the diagnosis was incorrect, it must be reported and explained.

Here's where I think you might be right about not just going to an AME unprepared. He must put something in the EXPLANATION block that will satisfy the AME that the diagnosis, whether it is correct or incorrect, past or present, is not disqualifying. He should know ahead of time what he'll put there - - word for word.

I've also read the FAA's published guidance on the matter EXAMINATION TECHNIQUES ITEM 47. Psychiatric and can see no reason why ADD in and of itself would be disqualifying. That said, we're always talking about a human when we're talking about an AME, and there's no way to absolutely insure objectivity or error-free judgment.

So, I agree to the extent it's better to be prepared. He ought to know exactly what should be put in the Remarks section to mitigate any of the objections the AME might have to granting the medical.

Although I have no idea who these people are(Pilot Medical Solutions, Inc. ), I think I'd be interested in the opinion of someone LIKE them. Perhaps they can prepare the guy for the medical in the same way a guy might prepare for the interview. They might have "just the right words" to put in the remarks section to make the AME happy, or know "just the wrong words" to avoid - - the ones that might set off alarm bells and whistles.

Having said all that, I still think he'd do fine.

 

[greenpickle]

Answer Yes?

I dont know. I personally dont put alot of stock in a school test. How official is that? Was it by a doctor that gave personal interviews? If it wasnt treated or documented, I doubt that it was a legitimite diagnosis.

Furthermore, what does a school know? Heck, I had a teacher tell me I wouldnt amount to anything. Granted, he might have a strong arguement with the fact I am a 1900 driver with no hope or glimpse of a future, but in the public eye I DID amount to something. If I had to answer that question if "I was ever diagnosed with a mental disorder" I would answer NO. To me it is actually frustrating that a school could even brand him as having ADD. Like ADD is even a bad thing. Who cares. The more I think about I hope he goes for it.

 

[flybrowntails]

For what its worth..

Like what was previously posted--I would see a doc. who could give you more info and treatment IF needed.

Hopefully, medication isn't needed. If not, he could end up like my "friend" and wear brown.

 

[TonyC]

Re: Answer Yes?

Furthermore, what does a school know? Heck, I had a teacher tell me I wouldnt amount to anything.

This made me go back and reread the original post...

Origianally posted by Icywings
Anyway, he is 22 and when he was a kid (I think around 13 or so) he was tested and the school told him he had Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.). He was never treated with any medication and I guess the only record of it is at the school that tested him.

I must say, having a school "test" the guy, and say that guy has a mental disorder does NOT amount, in my humble estimation, as "being diagnosed."

I change my statement from my previous post. When he gets to 18.m. on the Application For Medical Certificate, he should mark "NO." He has never in his life been diagnosed with a mental disorder, and as far as we know he has never had one, and I'd say it's safe to say he doesn't have one now. Protective parents, perhaps. Mental disorder, no.

(My wife has called me crazy a few times, but I've never marked THAT on the form!)

 

[Icywings2]

THANK YOU --- THANK YOU -- THANK YOU!!!!! I really appreciate all of the positive, honest and objective input here. I'll keep reading over the weekend.

 

[Brae123]

Having ADD has nothing to do with flying. It is the medication that you are on to control the ADD that will be a problem. I was diagnosed with ADD just like 15 million school aged children that did not want to pay attention in school. I was failing everything and my parents had engough. They gave me ritalin to control things and it worked really well for me. To make a long story short, at 17 I went for my medical and put down that I was taking rital. That puts up a huge red flag. It is a controlled substance. I was denied a medical until I could provide letters from a nurosurgeon (sp?) after several visits that I was normal.

I graduated from college with a 3.8 GPA and now I is an airline captain! ADD will not hold anyone back that wants to really fly. You must learn to pay attention and focus all your energy on your goals and you will be able to fly all you want.

Do I still need ritalin? I think so, but I cant remember what we were talking about.