Hello, I am currently a freshmen in high school and diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). Does this hurt my chances of becoming an international airline pilot.

 

It depends on how bad it is. Do you need meds? That would probably be a no-go while you are taking the meds. I think, but not sure, that ADD gets better as you get older. I have a buddy (pilot) who says he had ADD, so it is possible.

If you get over it before adulthood, that would be best.

 

One of the symptoms of ADD is hyperfocusing. It just happens that I hyperfocus on flying. I think this actually makes me a better pilot. But in order to not concentrate on flying in school I take Adderall XR.

 

I know someone who has ADD, declared it to the AME and held (he borrowed $70,000 for a Private Pilot License with an Instrument rating and left flying) a first class medical certificate

 

The following is a write up put together by AOPA. Hope it sheds some light on what you might be dealing with. You heard from others, it's possible, you just have to jump through the hoops.

"Attention Deficit Disorder is a complicated behavior that is difficult to accurately diagnose and presents significant challenges for aeromedical certification. Occurring in as much as 5-10 percent of school-age children, and predominantly in boys, the disorder is defined by developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention and impulsiveness, with or without a hyperactivity component. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM IV) establishes the criteria for the diagnosis and includes nine signs of inattention, six signs of hyperactivity, and three signs of impulsivity. The symptoms must be present in two or more situations, such as home and school, and the behavior must impair social or academic functioning.

Inattention symptoms include failure to pay close attention to detail, failure to follow through on instructions and complete tasks, difficulty organizing activities, easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, and forgetfulness. Fidgeting of hands or feet, excessive talking, and difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities demonstrates the hyperactive component.

Impulsivity is often characterized by blurting out answers before questions have been completely asked, difficulty waiting in turn, and interrupting or intruding on others.

Although effective treatment has been obtained through the use of psychostimulants, follow-up studies of children with ADD show that the symptoms aren't always outgrown, and academic problems, low self-esteem, and difficulty learning appropriate social behavior continue into adolescence and adulthood. Individuals with a history of ADD and impulsivity have a noticeable incidence of personality trait disorders and antisocial behavior.

Methylphenidate (Ritalin) is the most commonly prescribed drug of choice for treating ADD; however, the mechanism of action isn't fully understood. The drugs stimulate the production of neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine, which affect behavior. Unfortunately, the side-effect profile of these psychostimulants is not insignificant and may include insomnia, depression or sadness, headache, appetite loss, and blood pressure increase.

Because of the potential for significant underlying psychiatric or psychological problems and the side effects of medications, the FAA maintains a conservative policy toward certifying individuals with a diagnosis of ADD. The use of medication to treat ADD symptoms is not currently allowed under FAA medical certification policy.

The policy considers each case on an individual basis, based upon the history and age of the applicant. Young adults, age 20-25, who may have been treated with medications as adolescents but who have "outgrown" the symptoms and no longer require medication may be considered after having discontinued medication for at least 90 days. Complete medical records and a current psychological evaluation, done after being off medication for 90 days, are required.

If the applicant was not treated for ADD before age 20 but was diagnosed and medicated after age 20, the medication would have to be discontinued for at least three days and the psychological evaluation performed after the drugs were discontinued.

The psychological evaluation must include at least these three tests:

1. Trail Making Test
2. Wisconsin Card Sorting Test
3. Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) or Integrated Visual and Auditory Continuous Performance Test (IVA)

If significant abnormalities are noted on these tests, a more detailed psychiatric or psychological evaluation may be required before a final decision can be made."

 

You should check out www.jetcareers.com

There is a medical examiner that has his own forum there.

 

I did that whole thing when I was a freshmen, went through the eval and psychologist said I had ADHD. I chose not to get perscribed meds and such, because it's something I felt I could muscle my way through. High school didn't go so well for me, but when I started college my first year I got a 3.2, and I managed to also get a scholarship for my flight training. Not bad for a kid with "ADHD" who never treated it.

I wont get into how I really feel about ADHD here, but I'd say you're best off trying to get through school without medication.

 

We're not doctors, and can't really offer medical advice here but I would tend to agree with this statement. If your doc thinks that you can prevail without meds, that would be best IMO...especially if you want to be a pilot.

But if you need the meds to succeed in school, that is more important.

 

Oh yes of I course, what I was trying to say is that it would be worth it to get some medical opinions on whether or not it would be feasible to do it without meds. At least with my doc, he started with the easiest way to do things and we had to bring up doing it without meds.

Plus it's always worth a second opinion, and a third...