With the increase in the incidence of autism, there has been a corresponding increase in the number of treatments for this disorder. Professionals generally recognize the need for effective treatments. Effectiveness is typically considered to mean the use of quality research with good control over internal and external validity threats. Thus, only treatments that have quality research support showing effectiveness in alleviating negative symptomology of autism should be disseminated for use on a widespread basis. However, many fad treatments exist that have no such proof of effectiveness. The use of such treatments waste time and money, and prey upon the emotional vulnerability of parents and caregivers. Two such fad treatments, Sensory Integration Therapy and Relationship Development Intervention[R] are discussed in terms of data on effectiveness and cost of treatment.