ADHD and the Meaning of Evidence

Part 3

What about the famous suggestion that these children have "different" or smaller brains? Well, the studies that came up with that theory look good until you spend five minutes reading them. After five minutes the reader will notice that the "research cohort" is in fact mixed, some children on medication, some not. Some of the "normal" children are several years older than those with the smaller brains. The statistics invite the well known scientific and legal observation, "correlates are not causes". This is the kind of science that concludes that oranges are different to avocados based on the fact that oranges are less green than avocados. How much more enlightened these "scientists" would become if they actually tasted the fruit! The language of the ADHD lobby is a wonderful indicator of how exact the science is that created it. "ADHD may be…" "ADHD is probably…" "Studies indicate…" "Scientists believe...". Not one piece of evidence exists to categorically place this condition in any classification of diseases.

The three kinds of evidence mentioned above are the categories of legal evidence. They are the material that decides the case for or against, guilty or not guilty. There is one that has been missed out.

Hearsay evidence is that which is reported second or third hand. It’s value to probandum (actual proof), is severely limited as it cannot be tested by the normal methods employed to examine the other kinds of tangible evidence. The person that relates it does not know the facts, only the facts as they were reported to them. Just like the Connors rating for ADHD.

"Little Johnny is hyperactive", says the teacher.
"Give him Ritalin", says the doctor.
"Little Jimmy can't concentrate on his schoolwork", says the teacher.
"Give him Adderal", says the doctor.
"Little Sally misbehaves in class", says the teacher.
"Give her Concerta", says the doctor.

How many doctors prescribe insulin to patients because their neighbor reports that they have seen them drinking lots of water and heard that their feet often tingle?

Next, ADHD and Evidence Part 4

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