Medical Question
03-11-2019, 12:13 PM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 3
Medical Question
Hello Everyone,
I initially got my second class medical a few years back. Later on I saw something about ADHD being disqualifying.
then I found out from my Mom a few months that when I was in kindergarten which was when I was 5 or 6 that my school requested that I get tested for ADHD. So my parents took me to a psychologist for the testing. Here is the problem though I don't remember going to this psychologist since it was over 15 years ago at this point(I am now 21) and when asking my mom if the psychologist said I was diagnosed she said she does not remember and that she has no copy of a report since it was a paper report and she doesn't even know who the person was that did the testing. As far as I know I have never been on any meds for ADHD. However my mother had accommodations made for me in school (because she is a teacher and knows how to play the system) but according to her and what I have read you don't need a medical diagnosis for these accommodations. Currently I am currently a CFI and the not knowing if I was diagnosed is bothering me because I am worried that if God forbid anything happens and the FAA goes looking into my old medical records that they will find something that says I was diagnosed with ADHD that I do not know about and tries to say I lied and take away my licenses. I have talked to AOPA and another medical consulting company and said i should't worry about it. Just wondering what anyone else would do in this situation.
I initially got my second class medical a few years back. Later on I saw something about ADHD being disqualifying.
then I found out from my Mom a few months that when I was in kindergarten which was when I was 5 or 6 that my school requested that I get tested for ADHD. So my parents took me to a psychologist for the testing. Here is the problem though I don't remember going to this psychologist since it was over 15 years ago at this point(I am now 21) and when asking my mom if the psychologist said I was diagnosed she said she does not remember and that she has no copy of a report since it was a paper report and she doesn't even know who the person was that did the testing. As far as I know I have never been on any meds for ADHD. However my mother had accommodations made for me in school (because she is a teacher and knows how to play the system) but according to her and what I have read you don't need a medical diagnosis for these accommodations. Currently I am currently a CFI and the not knowing if I was diagnosed is bothering me because I am worried that if God forbid anything happens and the FAA goes looking into my old medical records that they will find something that says I was diagnosed with ADHD that I do not know about and tries to say I lied and take away my licenses. I have talked to AOPA and another medical consulting company and said i should't worry about it. Just wondering what anyone else would do in this situation.
Last edited by Gaius Cassius; 03-11-2019 at 12:27 PM. Reason: Edited for spelling
03-11-2019, 02:25 PM
#2
Perennial Reserve
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 11,503
Originally Posted by Gaius Cassius
Hello Everyone,
I initially got my second class medical a few years back. Later on I saw something about ADHD being disqualifying.
then I found out from my Mom a few months that when I was in kindergarten which was when I was 5 or 6 that my school requested that I get tested for ADHD. So my parents took me to a psychologist for the testing. Here is the problem though I don't remember going to this psychologist since it was over 15 years ago at this point(I am now 21) and when asking my mom if the psychologist said I was diagnosed she said she does not remember and that she has no copy of a report since it was a paper report and she doesn't even know who the person was that did the testing. As far as I know I have never been on any meds for ADHD. However my mother had accommodations made for me in school (because she is a teacher and knows how to play the system) but according to her and what I have read you don't need a medical diagnosis for these accommodations. Currently I am currently a CFI and the not knowing if I was diagnosed is bothering me because I am worried that if God forbid anything happens and the FAA goes looking into my old medical records that they will find something that says I was diagnosed with ADHD that I do not know about and tries to say I lied and take away my licenses. I have talked to AOPA and another medical consulting company and said i should't worry about it. Just wondering what anyone else would do in this situation.
I initially got my second class medical a few years back. Later on I saw something about ADHD being disqualifying.
then I found out from my Mom a few months that when I was in kindergarten which was when I was 5 or 6 that my school requested that I get tested for ADHD. So my parents took me to a psychologist for the testing. Here is the problem though I don't remember going to this psychologist since it was over 15 years ago at this point(I am now 21) and when asking my mom if the psychologist said I was diagnosed she said she does not remember and that she has no copy of a report since it was a paper report and she doesn't even know who the person was that did the testing. As far as I know I have never been on any meds for ADHD. However my mother had accommodations made for me in school (because she is a teacher and knows how to play the system) but according to her and what I have read you don't need a medical diagnosis for these accommodations. Currently I am currently a CFI and the not knowing if I was diagnosed is bothering me because I am worried that if God forbid anything happens and the FAA goes looking into my old medical records that they will find something that says I was diagnosed with ADHD that I do not know about and tries to say I lied and take away my licenses. I have talked to AOPA and another medical consulting company and said i should't worry about it. Just wondering what anyone else would do in this situation.
03-11-2019, 02:58 PM
#3
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,290
If you as an adult, or even a teenager, have no definitive knowledge or documentation of a medical evaluation at age 5, and your parents don't recall I wouldn't worry about it. Especially if you don't have ADHD now.
Even if they find something, you didn't know about it and if you have no problems today there's no reason you should have.
Now if you were 55 and had been seen for a mental health issue at age 40 that's a different story.
Even if they find something, you didn't know about it and if you have no problems today there's no reason you should have.
Now if you were 55 and had been seen for a mental health issue at age 40 that's a different story.
03-11-2019, 03:08 PM
#4
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2019
Posts: 3
Thanks for the info. the only knowledge my parents have is that there was an evaluation but they don't have the report, and the school accommodation did not require any diagnosis what so ever it was an educational thing so I am pretty sure their is nothing to worry about it's just not being 100% certain that is bothering me.
03-11-2019, 03:18 PM
#5
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,290
Originally Posted by Gaius Cassius
Thanks for the info. the only knowledge my parents have is that there was an evaluation but they don't have the report, and the school accommodation did not require any diagnosis what so ever it was an educational thing so I am pretty sure their is nothing to worry about it's just not being 100% certain that is bothering me.
Are you aware of a diagnosis at age 5? Sounds like no. So you don't have to check that box. Even if they find the records some day nobody expects you to recall or understand what happened at age 5.
You reasonably know that you had a doctor visit at age 5. But you only have to report doctors visits within the last three years.
Does the form ask any questions about school or special accommodations? I'm pretty sure it does not. Don't provide info they didn't ask for, on the form or to an AME.
You could ask a lawyer, or an aviation medical consultant to be safe. I would recommend that, although I think I know what they will tell you.
03-11-2019, 04:20 PM
#7
Eject! Eject!!
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Position: Flyin' high
Posts: 144
Quit worrying.
#1 rule of FAA records (or ANY government records, for that matter):
If it can't be documented, it didn't happen.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about anything that happened to you as a kid.
How much do you remember from when you were 5?
I sure don't remember anything about doctor's visits or medical stuff...adults took care of that.
#1 rule of FAA records (or ANY government records, for that matter):
If it can't be documented, it didn't happen.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about anything that happened to you as a kid.
How much do you remember from when you were 5?
I sure don't remember anything about doctor's visits or medical stuff...adults took care of that.
03-11-2019, 06:56 PM
#8
Disinterested Third Party
Joined APC: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,026
The FAA doesn't go looking and doesn't have the means or personnel. Moreover, you have never been informed of such a diagnosis. You've never been treated.
ADHD was the buzzword of the 80's and 90's, and every other kid was getting fed lethal doses of ritalin and treated incorrectly because it was a fad. This is no longer the case. The psychology field should receive a collective ***** slap for the ADHD craze.
ADHD was the buzzword of the 80's and 90's, and every other kid was getting fed lethal doses of ritalin and treated incorrectly because it was a fad. This is no longer the case. The psychology field should receive a collective ***** slap for the ADHD craze.
03-11-2019, 07:37 PM
#9
Perennial Reserve
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 11,503
Originally Posted by JohnBurke
The FAA doesn't go looking and doesn't have the means or personnel. Moreover, you have never been informed of such a diagnosis. You've never been treated.
ADHD was the buzzword of the 80's and 90's, and every other kid was getting fed lethal doses of ritalin and treated incorrectly because it was a fad. This is no longer the case. The psychology field should receive a collective ***** slap for the ADHD craze.
ADHD was the buzzword of the 80's and 90's, and every other kid was getting fed lethal doses of ritalin and treated incorrectly because it was a fad. This is no longer the case. The psychology field should receive a collective ***** slap for the ADHD craze.
THAT^^^^[
And the schools for aiding and abetting them.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
