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