Medical First Exam & ADHD

[Audrey Dana]

Any recommendations on AME’s?

 

[Cap'n Jack]

paging @bbchien or @lbfjrmd

Either of these two doctors can give you the good advice you need.

 

[AggieMike88]

Any recommendations on AME’s?

Search back through this sub forum for past discussions on ADHD and ADD. From that you will gain more information on the subject. As well as what Dr. Bruce Chien has contributed.

Quick info is that the FAA has determined it is a disqualifying condition. Be it full blown or only mild, or that you voluntarily or involuntarily were prescribed and took (or are taking) the medications that treat ADD and ADHD symptoms, it is still considered disqualifying.

If the applicant feels that they are improperly diagnosed, then it is to the applicant to undergo the appropriate neuropsychological testing to disprove the diagnosis. But even this isn't a sure thing because the testing may confirm the original diagnosis.

For additional information, these pages might help:

• AOPA: ADHD and the FAA
• FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners

 

[AggieMike88]

@Audrey Dana ...

1. if the question is being asked because it applies to you, and
2. considering the other questions you have asked recently, then
3. you may wish to solve this question before you pour large buckets of cash and time into flight training.

Especially the cash.

It would be tough to spend a large amount of hard earned cash on primary training or as a deposit to a 141 flight school just to learn you cannot achieve medical certification.

But to have hope and be productive while determining if you are good to go, there are many free and low cost activities that can get your education started. Items such as reading the free handbooks from the FAA (look for the PIlots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and the Airplane Flying Handbook), joining the local EAA chapter, and making friends and future mentors at the local airport are just a start.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

I like flying my LSA. (hint)

 

[Matthew]

It can be done - the simplest way to explain it is that FAA considers ADHD a lifetime problem and once you have it you always have it. It's up to you to prove you don't have it, and if you don't have it then you never did. So you have to prove the initial diagnosis is wrong. You'll need to go through a number of tests by a psychiatrist and get a favorable report. The unfortunate side of this is that these tests are not usually covered by insurance.

There are AMEs that specialize in this, but I don't know you you find them, other than waiting for one of our own AMEs here to tell you (and you already have their contact info).

 

[flyingron]

And part of this matters when you were diagnosed, if you were medicated, and what you've been doing in the interim. It's not a one-sized fits all evaluation.

Note, that all of this holds true for any class of medical, not just first.