Attention Deficit Disorder...

[[email protected]]

Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Bill Watson]

wrote:
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!
>
That's not something I would share with my AME if it is no longer
relavent. I assume any medication for same is not allowed in aviation
and therefore you are not using. No problem.

[Robert M. Gary]

wrote:
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!

Sometimes if you were diagnosed with something like that as a kid, you
don't remember that after being well into your adult years. I've has
some students that I'm pretty sure had ADD. There is a positive side to
it. When you are teaching them something they understand is important,
they suck up each and every word. They may be looking around the room
at pictures on the wall at the same time but they hear everything. On
the other hand if you're just wasting time, they'll tune you out pretty
quick.

-Robert, CFII

[gatt]

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!

I don't recall them asking. The doctors are generally on your side.

[Robert M. Gary]

gatt wrote:
> > wrote in message
> I don't recall them asking. The doctors are generally on your side.

It depends on the Dr. Some are, some aren't. It seems that the ones who
only do AME work are best. A good AME knows when to put his hands over
his ears and says "lalalalala, I can't hear you". Think of your AME as
more of a DE than a CFI. The AME is testing you, don't provide more
info than required.

-Robert

[Steven Barnes]

I'm sorry, what'd you say...? <g>

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!
>

[B A R R Y[_2_]]

gatt wrote:
>
> I don't recall them asking. The doctors are generally on your side.
>

My neighbor is an AME.

Bottom line? Answer the questionaire. _IF_ he asks for clarification,
briefly explain the singular condition he's questioning.

Do not volunteer information. Do not be afraid of his silence.

[gatt]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
ups.com...

>I've has
> some students that I'm pretty sure had ADD. There is a positive side to
> it. When you are teaching them something they understand is important,
> they suck up each and every word. They may be looking around the room
> at pictures on the wall at the same time but they hear everything. On
> the other hand if you're just wasting time, they'll tune you out pretty
> quick.


That's generous, Mr. Gary.

I'm attention deficit. I didn't understand it as such until I met my wife,
who worked in shelters with teenagers and could spot it quickly. That was a
little liberating because it made me understand and change my behavior to
adjust to it.

ADD can become apparent while flying IFR, especially when ATC chatter is
busy. It manifests itself in attention to detail; dialing in 125.5 instead
of 122.5 and forgetting to check the frequency or forgetting to start a
timer. In order to compensate, I've had emphasize the use of checklists and
information organization such as the CRAFT and HAF lists for instrument
flight. Because managing checklists and paperwork in the cockpit adds to my
stress loading, which can amplify ADD, I tend to go over my charts,
checklists, flight planning etc before flying.

The end result is a checklist and preflight planning habit, as well as extra
attention paid to verifying headings, altitudes and frequencies.

Now...what were we talking about? ;>

-c

[Ron Natalie]

wrote:
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!
>
Requires a battery of tests. Specific info on the AOPA website
in the members medical section.

[john smith]

How recent and accurate is the ADD diagnosis?
Children can and often are mis-diagnosed.
My son is an example. In second grade he was diagnosed as ADD/ADHD.
Seven years later, at our request, he was re-diagnosed.
The recent diagnosis is Asperger's Disorder.
Two very different psychological conditions with very different
treatments.

[Robert M. Gary]

john smith wrote:
> How recent and accurate is the ADD diagnosis?
> Children can and often are mis-diagnosed.
> My son is an example. In second grade he was diagnosed as ADD/ADHD.
> Seven years later, at our request, he was re-diagnosed.
> The recent diagnosis is Asperger's Disorder.
> Two very different psychological conditions with very different
> treatments.

I'd bet that the percentage of kids diagnosed with ADD is pretty close
to the percentage that have seen a psych Dr. I've worked with a lot of
kids as a coach and as BSA ASM (assistant scout master) and I think a
lot of times its just an easy way to sedate the kids when parents or
teachers don't have the time for them. Some kids have a lot of energy.

-Robert

[Grumman-581[_1_]]

On Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:00:02 -0800, Robert M. Gary wrote:
> I'd bet that the percentage of kids diagnosed with ADD is pretty close
> to the percentage that have seen a psych Dr. I've worked with a lot of
> kids as a coach and as BSA ASM (assistant scout master) and I think a
> lot of times its just an easy way to sedate the kids when parents or
> teachers don't have the time for them. Some kids have a lot of energy.

Kids have the attention span of a gnat... That is normal...

[jahman]

wrote:
> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!

Thanks for the all the information and advice, guys -- I really
appreciate it. What I'm concerned about with not disclosing the
diagnosis is that I have been on medication for it in the past, which
means that I would have records with my health insurance company noting
that I had purchased medication used to treat ADD. Couldn't the FAA
simply request those records from my health insurance company, yank my
ticket, and then charge me with a felony for failing to disclose a
medical condition on the health form?

Has anyone out there actually disclosed and been able to still get
there medical?

[gatt]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message
oups.com...

> I've worked with a lot of
> kids as a coach and as BSA ASM (assistant scout master) and I think a
> lot of times its just an easy way to sedate the kids when parents or
> teachers don't have the time for them. Some kids have a lot of energy.

ADD/ADHD is easy to spot in a kid over time. I'm not sure it's good to look
at a kid for an hour and prescribe mind-altering drugs to deal with what the
doctor thinks might be the problem, but, it doesn't take a pediatrician to
spot an abnormally hyperactive or attention deficit child.



-c

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

"jahman" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> wrote:
>> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
>> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
>> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!
>
> Thanks for the all the information and advice, guys -- I really
> appreciate it. What I'm concerned about with not disclosing the
> diagnosis is that I have been on medication for it in the past, which
> means that I would have records with my health insurance company noting
> that I had purchased medication used to treat ADD. Couldn't the FAA
> simply request those records from my health insurance company, yank my
> ticket, and then charge me with a felony for failing to disclose a
> medical condition on the health form?
>
> Has anyone out there actually disclosed and been able to still get
> there medical?
>

Do a google search on rec.aviation.piloting and rec.avation.student for
ritilan (or however it's spelled) - this has come up before. You might find
someone who claims to have done this.

Consult the AOPA BEFORE you try to get a medical - you don't want to fail
the medical and lose out on the sport pilot option.

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
remove spaces and make the obvious substitutions to reply by mail
When immigration is outlawed, only outlaws will immigrate.

[zatatime]

On 16 Nov 2006 09:05:59 -0800, "jahman" >
wrote:

>
wrote:
>> Has anyone out there been able to get their aviation medical with a
>> previous diagnosis for ADD or ADHD? What did you have to go through to
>> get it? Thanks for sharing your experience!
>
>Thanks for the all the information and advice, guys -- I really
>appreciate it. What I'm concerned about with not disclosing the
>diagnosis is that I have been on medication for it in the past, which
>means that I would have records with my health insurance company noting
>that I had purchased medication used to treat ADD. Couldn't the FAA
>simply request those records from my health insurance company, yank my
>ticket, and then charge me with a felony for failing to disclose a
>medical condition on the health form?
>
>Has anyone out there actually disclosed and been able to still get
>there medical?


I know someone who admitted to having ADD when they were younger and
was refused a medical. This happened in Feb, and he is still fighting
to get through the tests and submit for a waiver. No one ever asked
him about it, he just volunteered. I don't know if the FAA could just
look at your records or not, but unless the Insurance company submits
your information to the central repository for this stuff ( I forget
what it is called) I don't think you'd have a problem.

Someone I used to work with always said, "It's easier to say I'm sorry
than it is to ask permission." I think for this one it isn't bad
advice.

Good Luck!
z

[Morgans[_2_]]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote

> I'd bet that the percentage of kids diagnosed with ADD is pretty close
> to the percentage that have seen a psych Dr. I've worked with a lot of
> kids as a coach and as BSA ASM (assistant scout master) and I think a
> lot of times its just an easy way to sedate the kids when parents or
> teachers don't have the time for them. Some kids have a lot of energy.

Although I will not argue the fact that it is over diagnosed by some, if you
want to know about your child, and possible diagnosis, interview some caring
teachers.

I may not be any good at diagnosing 75% of the cases that come to me, the 25% of
the worse cases are very obvious, if they go untreated.

One thing I have been told by doctors is that there is little harm in trying
some of the common ADD drugs, with proper follow-up. The drug will have little
to no improvement to the child that is not ADHD. If the child is ADHD, the
change is remarkable. Really.
--
Jim in NC