ADHD and the military. Diagnose or not?

[OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide]

DD is 12. She has always wanted to be a pilot, potentially in the RAF.

She is currently undergoing assessment for ADHD. When we spoke with the paed about her future desires they advised we may not want the diagnosis made formal if she was potentially going to want to join the military, as they will ask if she has ever been diagnosed and would have restrictions of the answer was yes.

She’s only 12 so things could change of course but someone said it would be better to take the diagnosis and get the support and hope that by the time she might be looking to a military career she would have the ADHD under control.

I think it’s too big of a risk in terms of narrowing her potential future options.

school have said confirmation of the traits is enough to get the support she may need for exams etc.

(It’s highly likely I have ADHD as well. Have forged a good career despite the struggles but do wonder what else I could have been had I had the support at her age.)

Shes in the NHS process as well but unlikely to be seen for 2.5-3 years. Plan would be for her to join air cadets at 13 to decide whether it is something she would want to pursue. If it puts her off she could then get the formal diagnosis at 15 ahead of GCSEs.

what would you do?

No worries.

I've not read the whole thread as about to hit the sack for an early start, but I'm a truck driver with ADHD (unmedicated) and I feel it actually helps me. Sitting at a desk was hell, but continually checking n/s mirror, checking o/s mirror, checking rear camera, etc, is no problem as it plays to my restless nature. I'm assessed annually (for my driving not ADHD) and am always praised for checking my mirrors more than most drivers, who often seem to get into lazy habits.

I'm not flying planes admittedly but I spend most of my day on civil construction sites with people all around my truck - could easily kill someone with just a momentary slip up.

BUT....I took ritalin as a child and it made a HUGE difference at school. I'd be wary of potentially contributing to difficulties at school for the sake of a dream which she might well grow out of. She's not even a teen and her understanding/attitude towards a military career could very well change. Getting her first boyfriend, for instance, might make her rethink whether she wants the life of a serving military person.

As an aside, I'm surprised they stipulate that you must be untreated. All the medication is supposed to do is make the patient function more like a neurotypical person. It shows up as amphetamine in drug tests (similar chemical structure to cocaine apparently) but our brains process it differently to others.

DS1 is in the army. When he initially filled in the online application he was rejected because he’d suffered with migraines as a teenager. He absolutely had to be honest about that because, if you haven’t, once they get your medical records and find out, you’re gone. He appealed, our GP wrote a letter and it was fine.

When he went to selection, however, he found out he’s severely colour blind. He’s right on the limit of being allowed in and is banned from doing a vast amount of trades. He’d have been broken if this had precluded him from getting in, especially as we had no idea about it.

You absolutely can’t hide anything from the military but, at the same time, there’s no guarantee you will get in even if you’re completely fit and healthy.

, I'm surprised they stipulate that you must be untreated. All the medication is supposed to do is make the patient function more like a neurotypical person.

For info and completeness ADHD drugs aren't being being singled out by the aviation docs, there's a whole host of medication, starting at the basic level with OTC cold cures, that are disqualifying for aviation purposes.

It's often the case that the regulators have perceived that a drug might ever so slightly raise the risk of an individual becoming incapacitated, have factored in the potential loss of live if that happens at work and decided that the drug is incompatible with holding a licence.

@OverTheHillAndDownTotherSide just saw there is literally a webinar on ADHD and the military at 6pm tonight UK time. Go to Additude website. BUT it will probably focus on military in USA as it's an American website as a caveat.

Ah. Only just seen that. She has forgotten all concept of a military career after I mentioned hospital corners. 😂😂😂

I’m so late to this thread - but thought it might be worth replying after reading it all!

OP I’m in the same position as you - DS is 12 and in the ADHD diagnosis process. He also desperately wants to join the RAF (his Plan A), Army Air Corps or Fleet Air Arm. He spends hours on simulators, knows everything about fast jets and helicopters, and found an air cadet squadron near us to join. We’ve also signed up for (irregular due to cost) flying lessons and he can actually fly - which I wondered about - when flying he has focus/clarity that we rarely see in other situations.

Re handling the ADHD/armed forces issue: I’ve ave spoken to him directly about medication and what the requirements are. I’ve also told him that my job as his mum is to try to do what’s best for him and to be honest about why I’m doing it. We’ll go through with the diagnosis because it’s what is best for him, and if medication is best then we’ll do that (which he’s ok with - we won’t force it down him!). He’ll still do air cadets, learn to fly and keep his dream. And when he’s old enough to make the decision for himself, he can come off medication in time to apply, if it’s still his dream. But I absolutely will not let my son go through his teenage years with unmedicated ADHD - I did it, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone tbh.

Thank you. DD still unmedicated but may review that.

I’ve since had my diagnosis: 9/9 on both measures and considering meds. Could be 5-7 years buying them privately which has some considerations. :-/

School are making changes to DD’s class to remove the distractions by kids with other needs. Will see how that impacts before considering meds for her. Again, would be 2-3 years worth of private prescriptions. Also looking into coaching to help her with the RSD aspects that affect her.

Hey OP - ah, so I went down the NHS right to choose route, and DS is going through NHS (it’s been over a year already but we’ve only a couple of months to go hopefully) so the prescription cost isn’t an issue. But the time has been its own issue!

Congratulations on your diagnosis - I certainly found it good just to know, it explained a lot.

If it helps, meds have been a game changer for me. I get through the days so much more easily and the big thing is that they’ve reduced my anxiety by about 80%. But, not everybody goes down the meds route and I know plenty of people who manage their ADHD with a mixture of coaching, exercise, mindfulness/meditation and in a couple of cases, supplements/vitamins.

Best of luck to you and DD!

It’s perhaps important to realise that there is much more to “flying”, especially at professional level, than making the houses get smaller and then eventually bigger…..the docs worry seems to be mainly about the possible effect of ADHD on other aspects of the job.

The link below provides just one vaguely informed POV:

https://www.aviationdoc.com/articles/2016-10-13-the-conundrum-of-adhd-in-pilots-and-pilot-applicants

No Right to Choose in Wales. There isn’t an adult ADHD team where I live currently. 😡. Been warned it will be over 5 years before I get close to NHS coverage.

@notimagain that's a really helpful post. 🙏

Unless they have changed the regulations radically since my son applied to the military a few years ago, any medication for ADHD beyond early childhood disbars you automatically, certainly taking it in the teen years then stopping before applying would be a no no. Similar to Asthma, you have to be able to prove that you "outgrew" it in early childhood to satisfy medical requirements, one random prescription for an inhaler later on and you're out!
Make sure you read the small print.
The American military is a bit more lenient I believe, but they are also less fussy about lots of things.
FWIW, I regret not pursuing a DX for DS1 during school years, we avoided due to his sporting hobbies and possible careers choices, but it meant he had to go back to college for two years later on to catch up which has been a bit of a grind and he is behind his peers.

She is 12!
I think before you worry about something she may or may not be interested in doing in 6+ yrs, you would be wise to consider what’s in her best interests now.

if she is exhausted from masking every day then there are clearly bigger issues to worry about. In the meantime there is the air cadets .

You might want to read my updates.

Ah well, semi zombie thread.
glad you’ve sorted that out.

Wow. All of the anguish through this thread and hospital corners put it into perspective. 😂

I know! She’s a monkey! Doubt this will be the last ringer she puts me through!!!