List of alternative therapies for developmental and learning disabilities

This list covers alternative therapies for developmental and learning disabilities. Many of the treatments—including physiotherapy, massage and others—are neither generally considered as 'alternative therapies' nor as standard treatments for developmental and learning disabilities. They are, however, sometimes given or recommended as treatments specifically for these disabilities and therefore included in the list.

Additional recommended knowledge

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Daily Visual Balance Check

Daily Sensitivity Test

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]

• Thought Field Therapy (TFT)^[2]

Bodyworks

• 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][3]

• Antifungal medication^[2]

• Ayurvedic medicine^[1]

• B6-magnesium treatment^[2]

• Chelation therapy^[2]

• fatty acids^[1][4]

• food allergies, multiple chemical sensitivities (diet base)^[1][3]

• Gluten-free, casein-free diet (GFCF)^[2]

• glyconutritional supplement^[4]

• herbal medicine^[1][2][4][3]

• iron^[1]

• megavitamins^[4][2][3]

• refined sugar-free diet^[1][3]

• secretin treatment^[2]

• trace minerals, trace elements^[4][3]

• vaccination (avoidance)^[2]

• zinc^[1]

Eclectic approaches

• Educational kinesiology (Edu-K)^[4]

• Sunflower therapy^[5]

Hearing therapies

• Auditory integration training (AIT), auditory processing training^[1][2][3]

• Interactive Metronome^[1]

• Lexiphone^[1]

• Mozart Effect^[4]

• music therapy^[1]

• Spectral Activated Music of Optimal Natural Structure (SAMONAS)^[1]

• The Tomatis Method^[1]

Holistic healing

• Applied Kinesiology^[3]

• crystal therapy^[1]

• flower remedies^[1]

• homeopathy^[1][2]

• naturopathy^[1][2]

Medical interventions

• anti-motion sickness medication and other types for Vestibular Dysfunction^[3]

Movement-based therapies

• Brain Gym^[1][4]

• Brushing technique^[1]

• DDAT or the Dore Treatment; Balance Remediation Exercise Training Programme^[4]

• Developmental Exercise Programme (inhibition of primitive reflexes)^[4]

• Learning Breakthrough^[1]

• (Psychomotor) patterning^[2][3]

• Primary Movement^[1]

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

• Brain Organisation Profile (BOP)^[4]

• Learning styles^[4]

Technological interventions

• Biofeedback^[3]

• Facilitated Communication^[2]

• 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

• Davis Dyslexia Correction^[4]

• Positive Behavior Support (PBS)^[2]

• Sensory Integration Training (SIT)^[2]

• Whole Language^[2]

Visual approaches

• Asfedic Tuning (TintaVision)^[4]

• Coloured overlays^[4]

• Dunlop test^[1]

• Harris Filters^[1]

• Intuitive Colorimeter^[1][4]

• Irlen Syndrome^[1]

• Optim-Eyes^[4]

• Optometric evaluation and optometric visual training^[1][3]

• Prism glasses^[2]

• Tinted lenses, ChromaGen lenses^[1][4][3]

• Visual Tracking Magnifier^[1]

Emerging therapies

• Dolphin Assisted Therapy^[1]

• hypnotherapy^[1]

• Light and Colour Therapy^[1]

References