"Mild ADD"

mscard88

mscard88

Touchdown! Greaser!
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OK, one of my students just told me the FAA has 'temporary denied' his medical and have requested additional information. His personal Dr has sent in a letter pertaining to the treatment. I mentioned Dr Bruce and told him about all the positive referrals here and that he may want to contact Dr Bruce. Anyway, he's going to try it on his own. Anyone know if this could be a problem for him? Don't know the drug's name.
 
Apparently it is not the drug, but diagnosis it implies. He will need to prove he doesn’t have ADD by reversing the diagnosis. Dr. Bruce is probably his best bet.
 
John221us said:
Apparently it is not the drug, but diagnosis it implies. He will need to prove he doesn’t have ADD by reversing the diagnosis. Dr. Bruce is probably his best bet.
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Yeah I was thinking the same thing, and told him to keep Dr Bruce in mind if this goes further south.
 
Hmmm... I thought this was a "spectrum disorder"? That depending on the results of psychometric testing, his case might be deemed mild enough to be certified? :dunno:
 
azure said:
Hmmm... I thought this was a "spectrum disorder"? That depending on the results of psychometric testing, his case might be deemed mild enough to be certified? :dunno:
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Hope so! He is pretty sharp, owns his own business, and bought some kind of a Light Sport plane. I actually was about to solo him but that's on hold now!
 
mscard88 said:
OK, one of my students just told me the FAA has 'temporary denied' his medical and have requested additional information. His personal Dr has sent in a letter pertaining to the treatment. I mentioned Dr Bruce and told him about all the positive referrals here and that he may want to contact Dr Bruce. Anyway, he's going to try it on his own. Anyone know if this could be a problem for him? Don't know the drug's name.
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Impress upon him that
1) he doesn't understand how FAA works or thinks,
2) his physician doesn't understand how the FAA works or thinks,
3) his physician is not an expert writing letters that the FAA understands and
4) he REALLY needs to contact Dr Bruce before he or his physician have any further contact with the FAA - either by phone or letter.

Explain to him this is in his best interest.

I was lucky with an eye problem many years ago - my GP is a retired USAF flight surgeon and knew exactly what tests/exams would be needed, so when I walked in to the AME, I had all the paperwork ready to go. In at 11 am, 3rd class at 4 pm (AME had to make a bunch of phone calls inbetween)
 
From what I have read in previous threads, because a drug was prescribed, the FAA will assume a positive diagnosis for ADD. It will then be on the applicant to prove (through the HIMS process) that the diagnosis was incorrect. It will be at least a $3,500 problem. It is a spectrum disorder and apparently you have to be 16th percentile or better.

https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/com...ssuance-process-for-adhd.105784/#post-2368410
https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/com...n-likely-beaten-to-death.108646/#post-2454261
 
Yeah I told him it would be in his best interest to have a consult with Dr Bruce but he's already started the process and is a bit hard headed on top of that.
 
mscard88 said:
Yeah I told him it would be in his best interest to have a consult with Dr Bruce but he's already started the process and is a bit hard headed on top of that.
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Well, my only suggestion at this point is to go buy a small sailboat. It'll be cheaper.
 
azure said:
Hmmm... I thought this was a "spectrum disorder"? That depending on the results of psychometric testing, his case might be deemed mild enough to be certified? :dunno:
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It may be a spectrum condition in the medical community, but I believe in the FAA's mind, it's an "is or is not" kind of thing.
 
jbarrass said:
It may be a spectrum condition in the medical community, but I believe in the FAA's mind, it's an "is or is not" kind of thing.
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See this thread, and specifically Bruce's posts #35 and #37. Maybe I misread what Bruce was saying, but it sounds to me as if if you can beat the bottom 15% on the testing, you are certifiable to the FAA.
 
azure said:
See this thread, and specifically Bruce's posts #35 and #37. Maybe I misread what Bruce was saying, but it sounds to me as if if you can beat the bottom 15% on the testing, you are certifiable to the FAA.
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True, but once you have been diagnosed (i.e. prescribed the drugs), you then need to go through the (expensive) process to prove you are indeed 16th percentile or better. He probably has a good chance of succeeding, but now has to find a HIMS and spend the money. This is one of those touchpoint issues, where a lot of prescriptions were written unnecessarily. Parents just want Johnny to do better in school, so let’s fix it with a pill.
 
jbarrass said:
It may be a spectrum condition in the medical community, but I believe in the FAA's mind, it's an "is or is not" kind of thing.
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How so? You only have to beat the bottom 15th percentile of age matched pilots....
 
John221us said:
True, but once you have been diagnosed (i.e. prescribed the drugs), you then need to go through the (expensive) process to prove you are indeed 16th percentile or better. He probably has a good chance of succeeding, but now has to find a HIMS and spend the money. This is one of those touchpoint issues, where a lot of prescriptions were written unnecessarily. Parents just want Johnny to do better in school, so let’s fix it with a pill.
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Oh, of course, no argument there. My only point was that it's not an "is or is not" thing even in the FAA's eyes, so it's possible to be certified even if you actually do have a mild form of the condition. But yes, a lot of people have apparently been diagnosed with a condition they don't have, mostly to deal with behavioral issues caused by... what? The latest theory I've heard is stress due to being surrounded from early age by family strife borne of economic hard times. I really have no idea though...
 
John221us said:
True, but once you have been diagnosed (i.e. prescribed the drugs), you then need to go through the (expensive) process to prove you are indeed 16th percentile or better. He probably has a good chance of succeeding, but now has to find a HIMS and spend the money. This is one of those touchpoint issues, where a lot of prescriptions were written unnecessarily. Parents just want Johnny to do better in school, so let’s fix it with a pill.
Click to expand...

One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all
 
Got a text today from my student and he has officially been denied. Back in '88 he soloed so he had a Class Three. He thinks he can go Basic Med and go the Sport Pilot route.

1. Can he get a Basic?
2. Can he pursue a Sport Pilot Certifcate?
3. I have to look it up but he asked if I could help with the Sport training. I don't think I can as a regular CFI.

Thanks.

Edit: He just sent me the letter, and it says he is not qualified for any type of medical certificate, which sounds like that would include Basic. His file is being sent to FAA legal counsel for consideration of legal enforcement action. He disagrees...
 
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mscard88, being denied a medical, your student is knocked out of Sport Pilot, His 1988 medical is too far back to use toward Basic med. His only chance is testing and a special issuance( $$$ )for 3rd class and the letting it lapse into Basic or Sport.
 
biplanebob said:
mscard88, being denied a medical, your student is knocked out of Sport Pilot, His 1988 medical is too far back to use toward Basic med. His only chance is testing and a special issuance( $$$ )for 3rd class and the letting it lapse into Basic or Sport.
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That's right, no more than 10 years correct? I sent him Dr Chien's information and suggested he contact him for a consult. Poor guy.
 
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