Physical & Mental Health Assessments Flashcards
6 cards from real AME practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Physical & Mental Health Assessments flashcards as text
What is the FAA's policy on applicants who are being treated for hypothyroidism with levothyroxine?
Answer: Hypothyroidism controlled with levothyroxine is a CACI condition - the AME can issue if TSH is in the normal range and the applicant is stable
Hypothyroidism managed with levothyroxine is included in the FAA's CACI program. AMEs can issue if TSH is within normal range, the dose has been stable, and there are no significant symptoms.
During a mental health assessment, an applicant admits to passive suicidal ideation in the distant past (5 years ago) with no plan and no current symptoms. They received brief counseling and have been stable since. How should the AME proceed?
Answer: Document the history, assess current mental status comprehensively, and defer to AMCD with a current psychiatric evaluation for Authorization determination
Any history of suicidal ideation, even passive and remote, warrants thorough documentation and AMCD referral with a current psychiatric evaluation to confirm stability and absence of ongoing risk.
What is the significance of an elevated resting heart rate (110 bpm) in an otherwise asymptomatic First-Class medical applicant during the AME examination?
Answer: Potential indicator of anxiety, thyroid disease, anemia, arrhythmia, or deconditioning requiring investigation before issuance
Persistent resting tachycardia above 100 bpm has multiple potential causes - some of which are disqualifying or relevant to certification - and warrants investigation before issuance.
A 50-year-old applicant reports a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) sustained 18 months ago in a car accident, with a 30-minute loss of consciousness. He reports full recovery with no current symptoms. What is the AME's appropriate action?
Answer: Defer to AMCD; any loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or more requires Authorization review
Loss of consciousness of 30 minutes meets criteria for significant TBI, and any TBI with LOC requires AMCD review as it may be associated with post-concussion syndrome, epilepsy risk, or cognitive sequelae relevant to flight safety.
When evaluating respiratory function in an applicant with a history of asthma, what does the AME focus on to determine certification eligibility?
Answer: Current symptom control, medication type and frequency, and whether symptoms or medications could cause incapacitation during flight
The key certification question for asthma is functional: whether the asthma is currently well-controlled, what medications are used and whether they have impairing side effects, and whether an acute exacerbation during flight would cause incapacitation.
What is the recommended approach when an AME suspects an applicant may be minimizing or denying symptoms of a potentially disqualifying psychological condition?
Answer: Use structured clinical interview techniques, review all available medical records, and if concern persists, defer to AMCD with a requirement for independent psychiatric evaluation
When clinical suspicion persists despite denial, AMEs should use structured interviewing and all available records, and defer to AMCD for independent psychiatric evaluation - balancing fair assessment with flight safety imperatives.