The all powerful ADHD denial
08-27-2008 | 01:58 PM
#11
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: ATR
Willisium,
Here is some advice from someone that actually went through this. I have ADHD. No, it is not just a medium, yes it can be mis-diagnosed. Ask my wife, I will be in the middle of a sentence and completely change the subject lol. I was diagnosed in second grade and had taken medicine for it until freshman year. I started feeling a little better then because of some "growing up" things. But alas, it was not gone, just not as bad. I went to the doc the end of my senior year because I was having problems with it all and took a sample for 2 days. I tried to get my medical and was completely honest with the AME (kinda a mistake). I was denied and after about a year of corresponence with the FAA, AOPA, and my psyciatrist. The FAA requires you to be off of the medication for 24 months. The point of the time is to prove that you can function as a norman human being without the drugs. Your good grades should be more than enough, seeing as I could barely hold a C average without the meds and I was approved. Exactly 2 years after the denial I went to an AME, told him I was previously denied and told him what they told me, and walked out with a class 2. Get the notes by your doctor, and a note from him saying that you can be a normal human being without the meds, and hand deliver it to your local FAA regional office if possible. They put all my information before a board and they made the ruling. I hope all works out well for you. I am confident that you will get your medical.
Good Luck.....
AEFO
Here is some advice from someone that actually went through this. I have ADHD. No, it is not just a medium, yes it can be mis-diagnosed. Ask my wife, I will be in the middle of a sentence and completely change the subject lol. I was diagnosed in second grade and had taken medicine for it until freshman year. I started feeling a little better then because of some "growing up" things. But alas, it was not gone, just not as bad. I went to the doc the end of my senior year because I was having problems with it all and took a sample for 2 days. I tried to get my medical and was completely honest with the AME (kinda a mistake). I was denied and after about a year of corresponence with the FAA, AOPA, and my psyciatrist. The FAA requires you to be off of the medication for 24 months. The point of the time is to prove that you can function as a norman human being without the drugs. Your good grades should be more than enough, seeing as I could barely hold a C average without the meds and I was approved. Exactly 2 years after the denial I went to an AME, told him I was previously denied and told him what they told me, and walked out with a class 2. Get the notes by your doctor, and a note from him saying that you can be a normal human being without the meds, and hand deliver it to your local FAA regional office if possible. They put all my information before a board and they made the ruling. I hope all works out well for you. I am confident that you will get your medical.
Good Luck.....
AEFO
08-27-2008 | 05:28 PM
#12
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Joined: Dec 2007
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AmericanEagleFO--
Thanks for the encouragement. Much appreciated.
Excellent, I did notice there was an AOPA hotline (Haven't looked to see what those phone calls are gonna cost). I should give it a ring and see. As for my current plan of action since I believe I am under a little bit of a time concern to keep pace with the class I'm in, and I hope it will not be a 24 month process. I'm hoping they allow me to do the ground school and let me bank the plane time for later. I was also considering the "do not tell" the AME because I knew this was going to pose a definite issue, but I decided to deal with it the right way. I haven't been in the psychiatrist care since atleast '05 and rumor has it he has dealt with this issue before with someone trying to become a pilot. Let's see what the FAA responds with, I have seen the ADD response letter posted on one of those sites that was earlier mentioned in this post, but no ADHD response letter. I'll think about it a little and see. Maybe I'll grab another psychiatrist and do some of those tests that I have seen mentioned since I can't seem to get into see the original guy until Oct. I was only under the care of this guy for less then a year, although the family history is gonna screw me if a panel of judges sees that.
Thanks for the encouragement. Much appreciated.
Excellent, I did notice there was an AOPA hotline (Haven't looked to see what those phone calls are gonna cost). I should give it a ring and see. As for my current plan of action since I believe I am under a little bit of a time concern to keep pace with the class I'm in, and I hope it will not be a 24 month process. I'm hoping they allow me to do the ground school and let me bank the plane time for later. I was also considering the "do not tell" the AME because I knew this was going to pose a definite issue, but I decided to deal with it the right way. I haven't been in the psychiatrist care since atleast '05 and rumor has it he has dealt with this issue before with someone trying to become a pilot. Let's see what the FAA responds with, I have seen the ADD response letter posted on one of those sites that was earlier mentioned in this post, but no ADHD response letter. I'll think about it a little and see. Maybe I'll grab another psychiatrist and do some of those tests that I have seen mentioned since I can't seem to get into see the original guy until Oct. I was only under the care of this guy for less then a year, although the family history is gonna screw me if a panel of judges sees that.
08-28-2008 | 07:02 PM
#13
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First time poster, kinda long time reader!
Yep, I think I just got my FAA medical denial today. The AME( who I have lost some faith with after the current events) said the FAA will contact me with the reasons I was denied, but I have been somewhat preparing for this for a while knowing that the ADHD thing was going to be an issue. Little background, I signed up mid term for an aviation science program at the local community college. The advisor and I at the close of the term decided we would talk about the FAA medical over the summer, (didn't happen until now). So I decided to go on my own and get moving on it since school starts next week. The AME says that the ADHD will DQ me for now. I haven't takin' any drugs for atleast 2 years, and last term my grades were all A's. My question is now, how and what hoops am I gonna have to jump threw to get this cleared up. Ways of going about it, have the guy who gave me the sentence of "ADHD" say he misdiagnosed me if possible or say I'm cured. Anyone else who has dealt with this experience and lived to tell please let me know. Thanks.
Yep, I think I just got my FAA medical denial today. The AME( who I have lost some faith with after the current events) said the FAA will contact me with the reasons I was denied, but I have been somewhat preparing for this for a while knowing that the ADHD thing was going to be an issue. Little background, I signed up mid term for an aviation science program at the local community college. The advisor and I at the close of the term decided we would talk about the FAA medical over the summer, (didn't happen until now). So I decided to go on my own and get moving on it since school starts next week. The AME says that the ADHD will DQ me for now. I haven't takin' any drugs for atleast 2 years, and last term my grades were all A's. My question is now, how and what hoops am I gonna have to jump threw to get this cleared up. Ways of going about it, have the guy who gave me the sentence of "ADHD" say he misdiagnosed me if possible or say I'm cured. Anyone else who has dealt with this experience and lived to tell please let me know. Thanks.
If I were you I’d contact www.leftseat.com and ask for assistance, they know what they're doing. Please do not trust the FAA on this - they're very mechanical about things like this and you need to talk to those who're familiar with the subject and accustomed to dealing with the FAA on a regular basis.
02-25-2009 | 03:59 PM
#14
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Just as an update, I thought I would come by and give a status update on what happened. Originally filed on 8/22/2008 and was deferred to the FAA, they gave me a letter on 10/3/2008 with a list of I believe 4 tests that I was required to have completed within a month. I asked for an extension and was granted a 1 month extension making my deadline 12/3/2008. I asked for the extension since it took forever to find someone with experience with the issue/tests that they required, the lady was very professional and methodical about doing the tests. She required (said it would be a good idea) me to get my own drug test panel done on the morning of the tests and together they took about 8 hours to complete (yes 8 hours without the breaks). Along with all my educational history ( transcripts, progress notes from when I was a youngster, standardized test scores ...ect) she produced a report in about a week. A good chunk of change later, I mailed the report to the FAA by 12/3/2008 and they reviewed it, responding to me on 2/17/2009 with approval of my class II medical. I would like to thank everyone in this post and the other post I created for your help, support and information that you all provided for me on how to solve this issue.
02-25-2009 | 08:19 PM
#16
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Joined: Mar 2006
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Just as an update, I thought I would come by and give a status update on what happened. Originally filed on 8/22/2008 and was deferred to the FAA, they gave me a letter on 10/3/2008 with a list of I believe 4 tests that I was required to have completed within a month. I asked for an extension and was granted a 1 month extension making my deadline 12/3/2008. I asked for the extension since it took forever to find someone with experience with the issue/tests that they required, the lady was very professional and methodical about doing the tests. She required (said it would be a good idea) me to get my own drug test panel done on the morning of the tests and together they took about 8 hours to complete (yes 8 hours without the breaks). Along with all my educational history ( transcripts, progress notes from when I was a youngster, standardized test scores ...ect) she produced a report in about a week. A good chunk of change later, I mailed the report to the FAA by 12/3/2008 and they reviewed it, responding to me on 2/17/2009 with approval of my class II medical. I would like to thank everyone in this post and the other post I created for your help, support and information that you all provided for me on how to solve this issue.
