NEUROLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES IN PILOT ASSESSMENT FOLLOWING TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK AND STROKE

INTRODUCTION: Clinical manifestations of stroke include motor or somatosensory deficit, special sensory deficit, language disturbance and cognitive impairment. Risk of recurrence and residual neurological deficit that may result in sudden or subtle incapacitation are major considerations in medical certification policy and individual aeromedical disposition following stroke. Stroke may be thrombotic or hemorrhagic, and is a heterogeneous entity with many etiologies. This hampers development of a uniform regulatory policy toward certification following stroke and transient ischemic attack. Individual aeromedical disposition following stroke or TIA is similarly problematic for the aeromedical evaluator. There is considerable variability in policy among medical certification authorities. These vexing issues will be highlighted. Neurological concepts for pilot assessment following stroke or transient ischemic attack will be offered.