Hello. I was diagnosed with ADD at a young age. Ever since I was a young child I wanted to be a commercial pilot. Thought about it day and night. I always protected my hearing and my health. When I went in for my physical to start my way down the path to become a pilot I was heartbroken when I found out that an ADD diagnosis was a disqualifying condition. I will never be a pilot even of a 2 seater airplane and it has completely derailed my life and crushed me. This was my only dream. I say this to warn parents to not be to hasty in assuming their child has ADD. I would give anything to be able to go back and stop my mother from deciding I have it.

Very sorry that is terrible. Is there any way you could wean off medication and maybe get other opinions? I'm guessing there is no way to reverse such a diagnosis but could there be a way?

Blacknight,

I was a private pilot for a number of years. Yeah, it was fun but it is not the only game in town. How about an aviation related occupation? Aeronautical engineer, A&P mechanic, etc.

But to warn parents not to intervene in the health problems of their children is not good advise. What if you had a heart condition or diabetes? They would disqualify you too. I'd say any parent that ignored their child's health is irresponsible.

I understand your disappointment and I feel for you. Part of maturing is learning how to deal with disappointments. It won't be the last you experience, believe me.

Bob

Thats not what I meant to say. I just wanted people to be aware that being diagnosed with ADD no matter how mild a case it is a disqualifying condition. And that they should think hard about the matter and not just jump on a diagnosis. Some people are just more active than others. And I think that is who I am. But if it is a real matter of the happiness of a child, or them getting a proper education, there is not question that treatment should be sought. I just wished that I knew it would disqualify me, and that my mother had talked to me about it and WE had decided the proper course of action. AND we ALL know (even those who wont admit it) that ADD is hugely over diagnosed. Every parent who cant get there kid to be quiet thinks its a case of ADD. A child who dosn't want to do homework or stare at a television for hours on end is seen as ADD in this culture. Youth is being medicated out of our children. I am not saying that there are not genuine ADD cases. Some people need a little assistance, and those are not the people I am talking about. ADD is a serious condition that can turn a bright person in to a Mcdonalds manager for the rest of their life. (No offence to anyone I hope) And to the person who asked about my options. The only option I have is to try to overturn the diagnosis as a misdiagnosis. I have spent more than 3500 bucks on Psychiatrist visits. A heavy price for a college student, expecially when the odds are against me ever being a pilot of even a two seater aircraft. But this is my dream and even if I have to fight it for 20 more years and untold mounds of cash are spent I will continue to fight for my dream.

Oh and about geting an aviation related occupation. I thought about it, but it would torture me inside to be that close to aviation and not be able to fly.

Is ADHD hugely over diagnosed? Do the majority of parents promiscuously drug their kids to shut them up?

I wasn't diagnosed until age 53. If anything, that suggests ADHD is hugely under diagnosed.

A series of tests that spanned two days is how my ADHD was diagnosed. I am sure the same series, called an ADHD evaluation, would show up a misdiagnosis. It costs no where near $3500. Talk to your shrink about it. That kind of documentation will get you pass the physical IF, and it is a BIG IF, the eval comes back negative.

I wish you the best.

Bob

Back when you were a child ADD isn't the "Popular affliction" it is now for children. Unfortunatly for you help wasn't as readly available or as widely known about. But today, everyone and their dog has it or atleast think they do. At work I was talking to a coworker about one of my tests and I had 3 people say Oh i have ADD. Bull. There was only 4 people there.

The psych eval required by the FAA is huge. It isn't just another eval to see if I have ADD it is a full psych battery. My doc had to order a bunch of the testing materials special because "No one uses this stuff" Or "I havn't used these tests in years" Including a bunch of tests that are unrelated (The FAA is a huge burocracy, the stuff is retarted even my phychatrist agrees) And since I am not being diagnosed with anything my insurance wont pay a penny. :( Whatever, its a small price to pay.

I believe I understand what you have been trying to say here. Given the fact that ADD is not a health risk like heart disease or diabetes and has no real conclusive biological tests to confirm in any way it is a biological disease, it could very well be misdiagnoised and misunderstood in the realm of disease/no disease.

So many parents are quick to believe the docs who diagnose it as a biological disease so you are simply warning them to be very, very careful, as it can effect their child's future as it has yours.

Some people might take your warning as an attack on ADD, which is not what you are doing...I get your point....that some children will definately be misdiagnoised and their future lives severly altered by it. Misdiagnosis, hurry to medicate most children is an unfortunate trend today.

Blacknight,

Dude ... Been there and done that. I was a drug addict - speed freak. Well, I wanted to clean up my life and did. Wanted to start flying again. Went for the medical and spilled my guts. "I was addicted to meth," told the doc. The doctor, if you can believe it, told me DON'T TELL THEM THAT. I said, "I want no skeletons in my closet. If I'm denied the privilege of flying, fine. But no BULL DROPPINGS." I think you know what "droppings" is euphemistic for?

Sure enough. I was denied the right to fly. Went for the full psych. Had psychologists send report to FAA. I never saw the results. Two or three months later, I had my medical with a stern warning: "If you ever use drugs illegally again, we will ground you forever."

Let me tell you, I love flying. I am good at it. Use to fly for biz. But I have a medical condition that prevents me. So?

Now working on a part of a computer program being used nationally that is running close to 300,000 lines of code. I find that every bit as exhilerating as landing a light bird in a heavy cross wind. Both take enormous skill and thousands of hours of practice. The upside? When my code crashes, I get to stay alive.

I know, the risk is part of the frill. Thinking about it is no good for me. Not long ago, a twin Commanche BLEW out of our local strip, over town, and those twin Lycomings sang the most beautiful song imaginable - while they shook the ground under my feet. I was nearly reduced to tears. Do I love flying?

Trouble is, have a medical condition that disqualifies me.

Bob