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
• Craniosacral therapy
• Distant healing
• Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Balancing Technique
• magnetic field therapy
• therapeutic touch (TT) According to the American medical association, therapeutic touch is "little more than quackery".
• Thought Field Therapy (TFT)
• http://www.challengingbehavior.org/do/resources/documents/rph_program_practices.pdf program practices for social development
• Alexander technique
• Chiropractic
• Feldenkreis
• Osteopathy
• Physiotherapy and occupational therapy for learning disabilities
• Pilates
• Yoga
• Zero Balancing

Dietary treatments

• additive-free diets

• Antifungal medication
• Ayurvedic medicine
• B6-magnesium treatment
• Chelation therapy
• fatty acids

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

Eclectic approaches

• Sunflower therapy

Hearing therapies

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

Holistic healing

• Applied Kinesiology
• crystal therapy
• flower remedies
• homeopathy
• naturopathy

Medical interventions

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

Movement-based therapies

• Brushing technique
• Developmental Exercise Programme (inhibition of primitive reflexes)
• Doman method
• (Psychomotor) patterning
• Dance Movement Therapy
• Physio-Neuro Therapy

Pedagogical approaches and policies

• Full inclusion
• Gentle Teaching
• Person Centered Approach (PCA)

Psychosocial interventions

• Floortime (aka DIR)
• holding therapy
• TEACCH

Stress management

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

Student profiling

• Learning styles

Technological interventions

• Biofeedback
• Facilitated Communication

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

• Fast ForWord

Touch therapies

• acupressure
• acupuncture
• aromatherapy
• Bowen Technique
• Brushing and joint compression
• Emotional Freedom Technique
• massage
• reflexology
• Reiki

Training methods

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

Visual approaches

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

Emerging therapies

• Dolphin Assisted Therapy
• Hypnotherapy
• Light and Colour Therapy

References

External links

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