Should he list Attention Deficit Disorder on his first class medical?

[TheGuyNamedCris]

I am asking this for somebody else, as I advised them to post confidentially with topics like this. Here is what his message reads...

This is in the United States by the way...

"I am a 17 year old aspiring to be a commercial pilot in the future. I just recently discovered that I may not be able to persue my passion - but I need help on what I should do.

When I was in fifth grade my parents wanted to see what my strengths and weaknesses were academically so I could develop personal methods for performing best in school. My fifth grade teacher refereed a local neuropsychiatrist and I ended up taking a series of tests over the course of a view days. In the end, my parents were briefed on the results.

I had scored average with all sections (even in the 95th percentile on problem solving) except scoring in less than the 1st percentile on the last test. It is reasonable to assume that I just simply opted out when I was taking the test, and did not give any further effort given I was a fifth grader with "better things to do".

No apparently, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (Inattentive Type) due to this single test. I am not sure if it is an official diagnosis, but this document has been used to get me accommodation's on school tests and possibly the SAT.

Here is where the story gets weird. A friend of mine told me he was denied his medical due to taking vyvanse for his ADHD. I questioned whether I had a mental problem too, given I was on certain accommodations. But I ask my parents if I have ever been diagnosed with one of these illnesses and they tell me absolutely not (mother is a medical proffesional too).

I even end up confidentially asking my doctor if it is on file and he tells me it is not. So my question comes now... Is it an official diagnosis?

I want to make the best choices, but I am in a bit of a dilemma. I have never taken medication, plus the report is not in my official medical records - so does that mean I shouldn't list it on my FAA medical application. Some people tell me that is a terrible idea, because if the FAA later finds out this was "diagnosed" they might send me to prison.

But I am hesitant to list it on the medical because I hear that I will likely get denied having been diagnosed with ADD."

Thank you.

[ausdoc]

I think your friend needs to come clean at his medical. Regardless of whether it is on file at his doctor or not, if he has used the diagnosis to receive special consideration for his schooling from the 5th grade onwards, it is definitely on file with government educational agencies somewhere. Trying to cover it up will only end in tears.

Perhaps he needs to go and get specialist testing done by an FAA recognised authority as a pre-emptive strike before going to his medical.

[Capot]

My fifth grade teacher referred a local neuropsychiatrist

Says it all. Some shrink, whose qualifications your friend knows little about but was recommended by a teacher, FFS, tells his parents that he has a disorder of which there has been no indication before or since, on the basis of one stupid "test". No properly qualified doctor would do such a thing.

And he takes this seriously?

Could this charlatan have had an eye on future weekly sessions "resolving your problems"? Just asking.

I do understand that in the USA anyone can set up as a psychiatrist with a postal degree from Loup City, Nebraska, and that people will queue to be analysed by anyone who does that.

But maybe your friend should adopt the healthy cynicism of the rest of the world to the pseudo-psycho-analysis industry and some Americans' desire to be analysed on a weekly basis while sucking their thumbs, put that ridiculous report in the bin where it belongs, and stop worrying about it.

[Good Business Sense]

ADHD was invented by the drug companies

However, even by the "medical industry's" rules/standards it takes several "professionals" from several disciplines after several tests to come up with the so called diagnosis.... you have not been diagnosed as having ADHD

[doubleu-anker]

I dont think it is anything out of the ordinary.

When you bare in mind most of the population in the world is brain dead and has the attention span of a goldfish, all bought on by watching too much CNN.

Just look at the politicians who are elected. :}

[gingernut]

Good Business Sense has probably hit the nail on the head.

Doubleu-anker is obviously passionate and may have a point. I can't get CNN on our telly, but I suspect that we have an equivalent.

Thank gawd for Paxman.

[mad_jock]

I think I have ADHD.

Have to do winter ops CBT as there is now white stuff outside the window.

So far I am half way through it for the 10th time in my life.

So far I have.

Cleaned the oven.

Serviced the crew car.

Sorted the crew office out at the airport.

And volunteered to help the spanners take the main gear off to NDT it this afternoon.

Can ADHD be brought on by listening about rime ice and type I and type IV de-icing fluid? Should I inform my AME? :p

I know for a fact that security courses can result in people stopping breathing for no reason at all. We think that the pilot just looses the will to live and the body just shuts down when they realise that they have Dangerous goods to do the next day.

[Pace]

frankly i think you are just causing needless problems for yourself.

ADHD is one of those modern excuses to fit any school problem.
Especially if diagnosed by someone unqualified to do so.

I think we all have attention deficit if we find something boring and the schools do not like to think its their teaching or subjects which are boring hence they will decide you have an attention deficit disorder :ugh:

forget it go for your medical

[mad_jock]

I must admit pace I think in our day the "cure" for Attention Deficit was a belt round the lug when the teacher past, a board duster thrown at a rate of knots or a ruler belted off the desk.

Having had this cure many times in my youth I can confirm it solves any attention issues. And no permanent scars from board dusters.

[Good Business Sense]

Geeez that brings back memories - board dusters...... faster, more deadly and harder to avoid than an opposite direction Typhoon in Class G ... and they were stealthy ... totally silent !

Guaranteed to get your immediate attention !

[742]

Says it all. Some shrink, whose qualifications your friend knows little about but was recommended by a teacher, FFS, tells his parents that he has a disorder of which there has been no indication before or since, on the basis of one stupid "test". No properly qualified doctor would do such a thing.

And he takes this seriously?

Could this charlatan have had an eye on future weekly sessions "resolving your problems"? Just asking.Capot -- This is a common American scam. The game is played by obnoxious parents who want to give their child an edge on standardized testing. Notice the that the only result of this diagnosis was "accommodations" in testing situations, which I suspect was exactly what the parents were looking for.

Gaming the system at best. Cheating to many of us.

TheGuyNamedCris -- Get hold of a copy of the FAA medical form (8500-8), and have him try to fill it out. If he was never on meds and the vist to the quack was over 3 years ago he may find that he can fill everything out honestly (which he absolutely must do), and that nothing will show up. If not, the next step would be to contact one of the Aeromedical advisory services.

[obgraham]

Well, I went back and reread the original post, and the story is not so clear:

Evidently the kid's family was perfectly happy to use this squirrely diagnosis to obtain "special consideration" on testing and even the SAT. So yes, there was a diagnosis made, and the family used that diagnosis for their purposes.

Now, when the chickens come home to roost, and they all realize there is a price to pay for this dubious behavior, they are whining.

I don't see how the applicant can now deny the diagnosis when he fills out his 8500-8 form (you can see the form easily on line).

So now I'm with 742's 2nd plan: consult an Aviation Medical Solutions firm and be prepared to pay a bunch of cash and undergo a bunch of tests to get through this all.

[mad_jock]

And who is to say the last test wasn't fiddled anyway to get the result that parent wanted and I presume the 5th grade teacher.

that's 9 to 10 years old isn't it?

And a quick google of that vyvanse stuff.

It looks bloody nasty, why on earth are people poisoning there kids with that crap. Reading it the "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" came to mind. If you weren't screwed up before you certainly would be afterwards.

[de facto]

Forget about this test...
You need hard work,strong will,patience and perseverence,go and dont look back then enjoy the view.

[Capot]

Capot -- This is a common American scamWell I never; we live to learn. Whatever next?

It could only happen in a country as obsessed with pseudo-psychiatry - and in thrall to pseudo-psychiatrists - as the USA, one feels.

BTW, I notice that ADHD, "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" seems to be used by many people interchangeably with ADD, "Attention Deficit Disorder".

If ADD means having an attention span on boring activities of less than about 5 minutes, and/or becoming easily bored by almost everything except what they like doing, then every child or teenager I have met has ADD.

As indeed I have, at a much more advanced age. Every report I have ever had, school, Army, appraisals etc, has said the same thing "He's fine if he's doing something that interests him." And that remains the case today. It seems to me to be a good approach to life, so I don't feel compelled to alter it.

But hyperactivity does not usually go with those symptoms, especially in me, so I suspect that the two things are completely different.

[obgraham]

Capot:

Most of us on this side agree completely with you. We are raising an entire generation hooked on "feel good all the time and never fail even if it requires a boat-load of drugs".

Unfortunately the Aeromedical system does not provide for applicants to pick and choose which issues they report. A certain amount of ADD or OCD type behavior may just be a good trait for commercial pilots. But sorting this all out will cost this individual a significant amount, all because of parents' unwillingness to take their responsibilities seriously.

[Thomas coupling]

To the OP: don't under any circumstances declare this or any other 'fringe' ailment, especially if it isn't on your docs. At least it will clutter your career progress at worst it will destroy it before it starts.
My wife is a consultant psychologist with the NHS and she advises you have no legal requirement to declare something that is NOT on your records. Moreover - many of these posts offer sound advice. As far as ADHD is concerned - the jury is most definitely still OUT on this and several other misleading diagnosies.:=

[obgraham]

It is folly, at least in the US, to rely on the advice of regular medical practitioners when it comes to flight medical certification.

The only thing that matters is what the FAA requires, as determined by Aviation Medical Examiners and ultimately by the Agency itself. All that starts with the application form.

[Radgirl]

Can't comment on the US TC but here and in Europe it is a criminal offence not to declare. Look at the statement you sign. You have to declare all medical conditions whether relevant, on your records, made in error or not. To do otherwise is crazy and if you are caught out the consequences will be severe.

However I suspect most authorities would agree with many of the above posts. This condition cannot be made on a single test. The term neuropsychiatrist is mumbo jumbo and may give insight into what happened. We have had similar postings where GPs have labelled people as having asthma and in this case the label sticks but here I hope the authorities would use common sense