Sleep Apnea and Meniere's Disease
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sleep Apnea and Meniere's Disease
I'm wondering what others experience has been with returning to flight status following diagnosis of Meniere's and Sleep Apnea.
In the first instance, it has been 3 years since any vertigo, just residual hearing loss in one ear.
In the second, it requires use of a CPAP machine for sleep with no residual effects. The original symptoms were tiredness and heavy snoring.
I don't need to return to licence status for income, just for continued enjoyment of flying. Could be in a private capacity.
Any input?
In the first instance, it has been 3 years since any vertigo, just residual hearing loss in one ear.
In the second, it requires use of a CPAP machine for sleep with no residual effects. The original symptoms were tiredness and heavy snoring.
I don't need to return to licence status for income, just for continued enjoyment of flying. Could be in a private capacity.
Any input?
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Obstructive sleep apnea, well controlled with CPAP, should not be too much of a problem for certification. CASA may want results of sleep studies done with the CPAP in place.
Meniere's is a bigger problem. It depends on the course of the disease, and any treatment you may have had (especially destructive treatments of the vestibular system). If your ENT specialist/neurologist can write a supportive report, confirming the absence of any vertigo for a number of years, I think that a private certificate should not be a problem. A Class 1 would be determined on an individual basis.
The hearing loss may be an issue for a Class 1 (commercial) certificate, it depends on the amount of loss. You can be completely deaf in one ear and still get a Class 2 certificate.
Hope this helps.
Meniere's is a bigger problem. It depends on the course of the disease, and any treatment you may have had (especially destructive treatments of the vestibular system). If your ENT specialist/neurologist can write a supportive report, confirming the absence of any vertigo for a number of years, I think that a private certificate should not be a problem. A Class 1 would be determined on an individual basis.
The hearing loss may be an issue for a Class 1 (commercial) certificate, it depends on the amount of loss. You can be completely deaf in one ear and still get a Class 2 certificate.
Hope this helps.
More than just an ATCO
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Up someone's nose
Age: 75
Posts: 1,768
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't know after all this time if this is still of interest
There is a history of Necrolepsy in my family although I was unaware of it. I was an ATC Supervisor until Dec. 2003 when I fell asleep during a meeting. I was immediately suspended and subsequently diagnosed as having sleep apnea; looking back I was displaying the symptoms for some 20 years. but just put them down to the strains of the job. I dozed off at the radar scope for a few seconds, fortunately I could chose whether or not to perform this function. Strangely enough it never seemed to be a problem during night duties.
I am awaiting a CPAP and have joined a national help group.
IMHO I find {B]Ausdoc's[/B] response a somewhat dismissive. National legislation here places it in a somewhat grey area in that, whilst it is not named, it is similar in nature to a number of illnesses where a driving licence is withdrawn and would not be returned until it has been proven that the CPAP has been effective for several years I have been unable to check the relevant ICAO doc. to check the recommendation, if any.
In my own case I have reached retirement age, so professionally there is no problem, but the results with the pump were encouraging.
Earl David how did things pan out for you?
There is a history of Necrolepsy in my family although I was unaware of it. I was an ATC Supervisor until Dec. 2003 when I fell asleep during a meeting. I was immediately suspended and subsequently diagnosed as having sleep apnea; looking back I was displaying the symptoms for some 20 years. but just put them down to the strains of the job. I dozed off at the radar scope for a few seconds, fortunately I could chose whether or not to perform this function. Strangely enough it never seemed to be a problem during night duties.
I am awaiting a CPAP and have joined a national help group.
IMHO I find {B]Ausdoc's[/B] response a somewhat dismissive. National legislation here places it in a somewhat grey area in that, whilst it is not named, it is similar in nature to a number of illnesses where a driving licence is withdrawn and would not be returned until it has been proven that the CPAP has been effective for several years I have been unable to check the relevant ICAO doc. to check the recommendation, if any.
In my own case I have reached retirement age, so professionally there is no problem, but the results with the pump were encouraging.
Earl David how did things pan out for you?
