I am ADhD studying for my PPL. I am stuggling so bad. I feel like my instructor wants to strangle me at times. What people do not understand about people with adhd is- once we get it, we got it.. It's just quieting our minds long enough to get it. repitition repitition repitition, I have a Real Estate license in 2 states, I owned managed operated a restraunt for 6 years successfuly, drove a school bus full time, and sold real estate. I DID ALL 3 AT THE SAME TIME. So I know adhd is about knowing what you are doing. My mind only goes crazy when I am in the learning phase of doing something new. I will be more than fine once it clicks. I have never been diagnosed, nor do I want to.. I will not take prescription meds even if they were prescribbed.

The craziest part is I work with many surgeons on adderall or other adhd meds which ignites their genius within. This FAA ban on adhd meds is actually causing more danger. Are there any class action lawsuits on this discrimination?

I’d rather have a pilot with well managed ADHD with meds than someone forced to not disclose their diagnosis. That’s without mentioning the compulsory use of stimulant medication with US fighter pilots not long ago (Vietnam, Desert Storm, etc)

This is what put me into a state of depression that took me two years to get over. In fact, I'm still not over this.

I'm pissed about it. I'm really fucking pissed. I'd be a more effective pilot than the vast majority of people I know. If you can fly when you need vision corrective implements (glasses or contacts) and you can potentially not have them for some reason or they fall out, get damaged etc. during flight causing you to essentially be useless at most tasks in a cockpit why haven't the FAA banned all people with poor eyesight? It's total nonsense. I run my own business, I work two jobs (one of which my managers say I'm the best at my job they've ever seen) I play multiple instruments and just because I have to take a pill that has no negative effects on my health once I day I can't fly.

This is what I get for being honest. I was “unofficially diagnosed” with ADHD in high school (10 years ago) and was prescribed medication which I took for ~1 year. I just scheduled my expensive neuropsychological exam and I am STRESSING.

I got my pilots license at age 27. Was on my way to my IR when my daughter was born and I stopped flying. I somewhere along the line I was diagnosed with mild ADD and took medication for a period, I have a clean driving record, completed a Masters degree, etc. Would like to get back into flying but looking at this process, it encourages lying.

They are giving me such a hard time and I refuse to do the test. like you said I go to do the test and pass, but they probably won't give me my med cert.

Thank You! Nail on the head. Very frustrating. Glad I found out about this before spending thousands on training, I only had a few lessons and just started ground school. Nobody ever told me about the medical restrictions on ADHD, I found out by chance.

So how would someone go about getting this changed who would you talk to your congressman or senator?

This is an interesting topic. Thank you for sharing.

I’m wondering if there is legal precedent to sue the FAA/NTSB for discrimination based on disability. According to the ADA they are not allowed to discriminate for their employees based on disability, so how come that same luxury isn’t granted to those pilots seeking medical certification. While a good case could be made that ADHD in and of itself makes an unsafe pilot, a medicated pilot with ADHD is just as functional as one without. The drugs that are taken for ADHD are not proven to cause any issues when up at altitude. In fact the military will use amphetamines similar to those used in ADHD medication in order to do more long distance trips. There was a story of someone who appealed their denial to the NTSB based on their ADHD medication making them a safe competent pilot. The NTSB ruled that there were issues of heart attack(they ignored the fact that they were related specifically to young children and in fact the ADHD pills did NOT cause these issues) and that they could not guarantee that a pilot would take their medication every time they fly, despite the fact that they would allow pilots to use SSRIs for depression just a few years later. So they obviously don’t really believe that.

How can FAA still deny after doctors testing.. what are they denying based of

The neuropsychological exam costs a lot I paid $1,500 for mine and failed it on the PASAT. I am in debt to my flight school some days I just want to end it all.

Do you think this whole thing will be lifted?

i think i was diagnosed as a kid; haven’t also taken medication in over 10 years. what should i do

i was diagnosed with adhd as a kid i’m 16 now and i’ve been on meds since 6th grade. if i get of them my 10th grade year and control myself can i get a medical for the faa?

i take medications and i was told that if i want a ppl, i have to stop taking it all together. Is this a problem for me?

But they let people with narcolepsy fly as long as they don’t take stimulants 😌. It’s safer for someone to fall asleep in the cockpit, but as long as they don’t have a short attention span 😊. Hay hay ho ho the FAA has got to go.

I’m going to another country to fly because they won’t have my medical records there 😊

unfortunately this means that i cant join the raf 😔

This is ridiculous. The FAA is discriminatory and should go to jail for discrimination based on disability. I personally think that ADHD may not always be a disability but rather a different ability.