J Child Neurol. 1995 Jan; 10 Suppl 1(): S96-100.

Controversial therapies.

Silver LB.

Department of Psychiatry, Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA.

Parents of children or adolescents with disabilities want the best treatment. They are vulnerable to any person who reports having a quick solution and possibly a cure. It is important that professionals be informed of these controversial therapies so that they can educate parents on what is known about these treatments. There is a relationship between brain function and nutrition, as well as between brain function and allergic reactions. These relations appear to be true for children with learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and other neurologic disorders. At this time, however, we do not understand these relationships and there are no known treatments based on these relationships that have been shown to be clinically successful. Professionals must educate parents on proposed new treatments. Parents need to ask themselves why this amazing approach is not used by everyone. If the person proposing the treatment tells them that "most professionals are biased and do not believe the findings because they are different from the traditional treatments," they should feel free to ask to see the data supporting the concept and the treatment. They should not accept without question popular books published by the person proposing the treatment or information provided in a flyer or on a television show by the person proposing the treatment. They should not put their son or daughter through something unproved and unlikely to help.