List of alternative therapies for developmental and learning disabilities

This list covers alternative therapies for developmental and learning disabilities. None of these therapies are supported by scientific evidence.

Bioenergy therapies

• Bi-Aura therapy[1][2]
• Craniosacral therapy[2]
• Distant healing[1]
• Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Balancing Technique[1]
• magnetic field therapy[2]
• therapeutic touch (TT)[2] According to the American medical association,therapeutic touch is "little more than quackery".[3]
• Thought Field Therapy (TFT)[2]
• program practices for social development[4]
• Alexander technique[1]
• Chiropractic[1]
• Feldenkreis[1]
• Osteopathy[1]
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy for learning disabilities[1]
• Pilates[1]
• Yoga[1]
• Zero Balancing[1]

Dietary treatments

• additive-free diets[1][2][5]

• Antifungal medication[2]
• Ayurvedic medicine[1]
• B6-magnesium treatment[2]
• Chelation therapy[2]
• fatty acids[1][6]

• Feingold Diet
• food allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities (diet base)[1][5]
• Gluten-free, casein-free diet (GFCF)[2]
• glyconutritional supplement[6]
• herbal medicine[1][2][5][6]
• iron[1]
• lutein-free diet[2]
• megavitamins[2][5][6]
• refined sugar-free diet[1][5]
• secretin treatment[2]
• trace minerals, trace elements[5][6]
• vaccination (avoidance)[2]
• zinc[1]

Eclectic approaches

• Sunflower therapy[7]

Hearing therapies

• Auditory integration training (AIT), auditory processing training[1][2][5]
• Mozart Effect[6]
• music therapy[1]
• Spectral Activated Music of Optimal Natural Structure (SAMONAS)[1]
• The Tomatis Method[1]

Holistic healing

• Applied Kinesiology[5]
• crystal therapy[1]
• flower remedies[1]
• homeopathy[1][2]
• naturopathy[1][2]

Medical interventions

• anti-motion sickness medication and other types for Vestibular Dysfunction[5]

Movement-based therapies

• Brushing technique[1]
• Developmental Exercise Programme (inhibition of primitive reflexes)[6]
• Doman method[8]
• (Psychomotor) patterning[2][5]
• Dance Movement Therapy
• Physio-Neuro Therapy[9]

Pedagogical approaches and policies

• Full inclusion[2]
• Gentle Teaching[2]
• Person Centered Approach (PCA)[2]

Psychosocial interventions

• Floortime (aka DIR)[2]
• holding therapy[2]
• TEACCH[2]

Stress management

• caffeine-free diet[1]
• Laughter therapy[1]
• meditation[1]
• positive thinking[1]
• stress management[1]

Student profiling

• Learning styles[6]

Technological interventions

• Biofeedback[5]
• Facilitated Communication[2]

Several scientific studies have shown that facilitated communication is quackery by proving that what the Autistic patient "says" is influenced entirely by the facilitater.[10]

• Fast ForWord[2]

Touch therapies

• acupressure[1]
• acupuncture[1]
• aromatherapy[1]

• Bowen Technique[1]
• Brushing and joint compression[2]
• Emotional Freedom Technique[1]
• massage[1][2]
• reflexology[1]
• Reiki[1]

Training methods

• Positive behavior support (PBS)[2]
• Sensory integration therapy (SIT)[2]
• Whole Language[2]

Visual approaches

• Asfedic Tuning (TintaVision)[6]
• Coloured overlays[6]
• Dunlop test[1]
• Harris Filters[1]
• Intuitive Colorimeter[1][6]
• Irlen Syndrome[1]
• Optim-Eyes[6]
• Prism glasses[2]
• Tinted lenses, ChromaGen lenses[1][5][6]
• Visual Tracking Magnifier[1]

Emerging therapies

• Dolphin Assisted Therapy[1]
• Hypnotherapy[1]
• Light and Colour Therapy[1]

References

1. Chivers, Maria (2006). Dyslexia and Alternative Therapies. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-84310-378-3.
2. Jacobson, JW; Foxx M; Mulick JA (2005). Controversial Therapies for Developmental Disabilities. New Jersey: Erlbaum. pp. 1–505. ISBN 0-8058-4192-X.
3. http://www.quackwatch.org/search/webglimpse.cgi?ARCHID_1=1&query=+touch&rankby=DEFAULT&errors=0&age=&maxfiles=50&maxlines=30&maxchars=10000&cache=yes
4. addressing challenging behavior
5. Silver, Larry B (2003). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Clinical Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment For Health and Mental Health Professionals. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Pub inc. p. 247. ISBN 1-58562-131-5.
6. Reid, Gavin (2005). Dyslexia A Complete Guide for Parents (PDF). Chichester: John Wiley and Sons. p. 213. ISBN 0-470-86312-9.
7. Bull, L. (2007). "Sunflower therapy for children with specific learning difficulties (dyslexia): A randomised, controlled trial". Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 13 (1): 15–24. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.07.003.
8. American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Doman-Delacato treatment of neurologically handicapped children. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1968; 49:183-186.
9. American Health Journal
10. http://www.autism-watch.org/rx/fc.shtml

External links

• http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-autism-science-nov23,0,6519404,full.story