Nonstandard therapies in the developmental disabilities.

The complexity of management issues with regard to developmentally disabled children has led to a broad acceptance of a number of therapeutic approaches that purport to be effective for a wide range of problems. These are generally empiric in origin, and the efficacy of most of them cannot be supported by controlled research studies. In addition, there has been little or no investigation of potential or actual side effects. Acceptance of new therapies and validation of older approaches need to be based on appropriately designed, controlled studies.