THE INDEX

Every paper we have read

Each one summarised from the full article, not its abstract, and kept only if it speaks to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology or nursing. Newest first.

35,183 PAPERS · PAGE 250 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPOther2016Ratings of Broader Autism Phenotype and Personality Traits in Optimal Outcomes from Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren who no longer met autism criteria were rated by unfamiliar raters as more talkative and assertive than typically developing peers, yet more likely to get sidetracked in conversation, lose their point, and talk too much.
• SLPOther2016Comparing the Accuracy and Speed of Manual and Tracking Methods of Measuring Hearing Thresholds.Ear and hearingThe standard manual method and an automated tracking method produced similar hearing thresholds, but the manual method was faster. Two participants took very long with tracking.
• PTOther2017The effects of exercise using an ergometer with swaying saddle on chronic lower back pain.Journal of physical therapy sciencePain and disability scores fell after the Belly-bike exercise in students with chronic lower back pain. Flexibility scores also improved. With no control group, this does not show the bike caused the change.
• SLPSurvey2017Variables associated with communicative participation in Parkinson's disease and its relationship to measures of health-related quality-of-life.International journal of speech-language pathologyIn 378 people with Parkinson's disease, self-reported participation in daily communication was linked to perceived speech difficulty, speech use, cognition, emotion, fatigue, swallowing, age, sex and country. A communication-specific measure added information beyond quality-of-life scales.
• PTOTOther2017Motor Learning in Stroke: Trained Patients Are Not Equal to Untrained Patients With Less Impairment.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairStroke patients could train to match the pre-training performance of less impaired untrained people, but they plateaued. The untrained groups still had more room for rapid gains. Matching performance after training does not mean matching ability to improve further.
• SLPOther2017Effects of insertion depth on spatial speech perception in noise for simulations of cochlear implants and single-sided deafness.International journal of audiologyIn simulated single-sided deafness, adding a cochlear implant side helped mainly when speech and noise came from different places. Deeper insertion improved that benefit, but it stayed far below normal hearing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2017Correlations between slow-rate repetitive nerve stimulation and characteristics associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Chinese patients.Journal of physical therapy scienceSlow repetitive nerve stimulation showed abnormal electrical drops in 54% of ALS patients, mostly in neck muscles. Those with these drops progressed faster. However, the test was less sensitive than in myasthenia gravis, limiting its standalone diagnostic value.
• SLPOther2017Dog or chien? Translation equivalents in the receptive and expressive vocabularies of young French-English bilinguals.Journal of child languageFrench-English bilingual toddlers' cross-language word pairs grew from 48.53% to 61.15% of known words by 2;6, and balanced word growth predicted more. Parents over-reported comprehension by 16%, so direct assessment matters.
• PTPilot2017Benefits of using transcranial magnetic stimulation as a tool to facilitate the chronic knee injury rehabilitation.Journal of physical therapy scienceOne session of TMS before knee rehabilitation increased quadriceps EMG amplitude during training and after a 30 minute break, while sham stimulation did not. This was a small experimental study, not proof TMS improves strength or function.
• PTOTCohort2017Associations Between Foot Placement Asymmetries and Metabolic Cost of Transport in Hemiparetic Gait.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairIn stroke survivors, how far feet are placed ahead of the trunk predicts metabolic cost better than overall step length asymmetry. Targeting foot placement symmetry, not just step length, may improve walking economy.
• SLPOther2017Investigating the Receptive-Expressive Vocabulary Profile in Children with Idiopathic ASD and Comorbid ASD and Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA meaningful relative weakness in understanding words was not more common in boys with idiopathic ASD than boys with fragile X and ASD, but boys with idiopathic ASD had larger average gaps between understanding and spoken words. Assess both.
• PTOTRCT2017Guided Training Relative to Direct Skill Training for Individuals With Cognitive Impairments After Stroke: A Pilot Randomized Trial.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationNo overall difference in functional independence between guided and direct training after stroke, but guided scores were higher at 3, 6, and 12 months while direct scores were higher at discharge.
• PTCase Series2016Knee rotationplasty: motion of the body centre of mass during walking.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationIn three patients with knee rotationplasty, muscle work during walking was in line with normal values for speed, but push-off power was asymmetric. The unaffected limb supplied most power, while the rotated limb supplied much less.
• Cohort2016Pediatric Cancer Patients' Treatment-Related Distress and Longer-Term Anxiety: An Individual Differences Perspective.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAttention control was not directly associated with later treatment-related anxiety in children with cancer. It was associated with greater resilience and less distress during procedures, and both were linked to lower anxiety.
• SLPSystematic Review2016A Review of Dysphagia Presentation and Intervention Following Traumatic Spinal Injury: An Understudied Population.DysphagiaTraumatic cervical spine injury cases showed aspiration, pharyngeal residue, reduced pharyngeal movement, and decreased hyolaryngeal elevation. Reported care used tube feeding, diet texture changes, swallowing strategies, and steroids or antibiotics. The evidence was mainly case reports, so it does not prove these treatments work.
• SLPOther2016Understanding the Viscosity of Liquids used in Infant Dysphagia Management.DysphagiaMost infant formulas and breastmilk remain thin after adding powdered barium, but Enfamil AR formulas and pre-mixed Liquid E-Z-Paque behave differently. Check the exact product and preparation before assuming a thin liquid.
• PTOTNarrative Review2016Workplace Outcomes in Work-Disability Prevention Research: A Review with Recommendations for Future Research.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace disability prevention research often misses what employers actually care about. Scientists focus on health mechanisms and long-term recovery, while employers prioritize immediate costs, production disruption, and staffing impacts. Researchers need to measure outcomes that resonate with business goals, such as productivity and presenteeism, to secure employer engagement.
• OTSLPRCT2016A randomized problem-solving trial for adolescent brain injury: Changes in social competence.Rehabilitation psychologyA web-based problem-solving program did not improve social competence overall. However, it helped specific subgroups: younger teens with moderate injuries and older teens with severe injuries showed gains on parent-rated social skills. These improvements did not extend to measures of actual social participation.
• SLPQualitative2016Experiences of hearing loss and views towards interventions to promote uptake of rehabilitation support among UK adults.International journal of audiologyMost participants delayed seeking hearing support because they did not recognize their symptoms or feared stigma, not because of service barriers. A national screening program and professional training were viewed as the most acceptable interventions.
• SLPCase-Control2016A polymorphism in human estrogen-related receptor beta (ESRRβ) predicts audiometric temporary threshold shift.International journal of audiologyMusic students carrying a specific ESRRβ gene variant showed greater temporary hearing loss after brief noise exposure than those without it. This suggests the variant may increase susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, though the study did not test permanent damage or general populations.
• SLPOther2016A systematic variant annotation approach for ranking genes associated with autism spectrum disorders.Molecular autismAn autism genetics database ranked genes using rare and common variants linked to autism. SHANK3, CHD8 and ADNP scored highest. It ranks genes, not patients, and offers no clinical test or treatment guidance.
• Survey2016Staff Responses When Parents Hit Children in a Hospital Setting.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP23% of surveyed staff, or 658 people, reported seeing a parent hit a child. Among recent witnesses, 61.6% of staff not in direct care said they never took action, often because they did not know what to do.
• SLPRCT2016Impact of Hearing Aid Technology on Outcomes in Daily Life II: Speech Understanding and Listening Effort.Ear and hearingPremium and basic hearing aids showed no clear difference in speech understanding or listening effort for older adults with mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Hearing aids improved speech understanding and reduced effort versus unaided listening, with one small laboratory effort advantage.
• PTOTSLPCohort2016Unmet Health Services Needs Among US Children with Developmental Disabilities: Associations with Family Impact and Child Functioning.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPUnmet health service needs were not linked to children's behavioral problems the next year, but they were common, especially therapy and respite needs, and linked to family financial and employment impacts.
• OTOther2016Association Between Executive Function and Problematic Adolescent Driving.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPPerformance-based executive function scores were unrelated to self-reported crashes, tickets, or being pulled over in 46 drivers. Some self-reported executive difficulties, especially planning and inhibition, were associated with crashes or police contact.
• Narrative Review2016Robotic quantification of upper extremity loss of independent joint control or flexion synergy in individuals with hemiparetic stroke: a review of paradigms addressing the effects of shoulder abduction loading.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis paper describes laboratory methods for using robots to measure arm and hand impairment in stroke. It contains no patient results or clinical trials, so there are no findings to act on.
• RCT2016Parenting Intervention for Prevention of Behavioral Problems in Elementary School-Age Filipino-American Children: A Pilot Study in Churches.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFilipino-American parents in a church-based parenting program reported less parenting stress and less physical punishment than wait-list controls at 3 months. Other parenting and child behavior outcomes did not differ. The trial was small and preliminary.
• OTSLPCase Series2017The Cognitive and Behavioral Phenotypes of Individuals with CHRNA7 Duplications.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with CHRNA7 duplications often had speech or language delay, lower IQ scores, and reduced adaptive skills. Speech delay affected 11 of 18, and five scored below 70 on IQ testing. This is a pattern, not evidence that a treatment works.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2017The danger zone: Systematic review of the role of HMGB1 danger signalling in traumatic brain injury.Brain injuryHMGB1 levels in blood and spinal fluid rise after brain injury and predict death or severe disability. Animal studies show blocking HMGB1 reduces brain swelling and improves movement. These are biomarker and preclinical findings, not tested treatments for patients.
• PTOther2017Short physical performance battery for middle-aged and older adult cardiovascular disease patients: implication for strength tests and lower extremity morphological evaluation.Journal of physical therapy scienceInpatients with cardiovascular disease scored lower on the Short Physical Performance Battery than outpatients and healthy adults, especially on chair stands. Lower scores went with weaker knee extension and thinner thigh muscles.
• SLPOther2017The Effect of Pivotal Response Treatment in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Non-randomized Study with a Blinded Outcome Measure.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren receiving PRT showed lower observed autism severity after 6 months, while children receiving usual care showed higher severity. The trial was not randomised and the PRT group started at higher severity, so this does not prove PRT caused the change.
• PTOTSLPRCT2017Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Reducing Misconceptions Among Ethnic Minorities With Complicated Mild to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationA one-hour home visit by a bilingual educator cut misconceptions about brain injury recovery. This reduction held at one month for English speakers but faded for Spanish speakers, who may need booster sessions to keep the gains.
• Cohort2017Psychotropic Medication Use among Insured Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNearly half of insured children with autism spectrum disorder took a psychotropic medication in 2010, 48.5%. They were 11.4 times more likely to be treated than matched peers without autism. This describes prescribing, not proven benefit.
• SLPOther2017Phonological encoding in speech-sound disorder: evidence from a cross-modal priming experiment.International journal of language & communication disordersChildren with speech sound disorder did not show the predicted naming speed benefit from words that share the picture ending. They were faster than typical peers relative to the neutral tone, but this did not support the idea that their sound planning was less mature.
• OTSLPQualitative2017The meaning of participation for children in Malawi: insights from children and caregivers.Child: care, health and developmentRural Malawian children and carers described participation as helping at home, chatting and playing. Children with disabilities were often kept near home, not expected to do chores, and faced barriers from community attitudes and parents who denied them chances.
• SLPOther2017New Evidence That Nonlinear Source-Filter Coupling Affects Harmonic Intensity and fo Stability During Instances of Harmonics Crossing Formants.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationVoice intensity peaks became uneven and pitch jumps appeared when harmonics crossed vocal tract resonances in eight healthy adults using tube extensions. The voice and vocal tract likely interacted in a nonlinear way.
• PTOther2017Relative and absolute reliability of ultrasound measurements for the thickness of the soft tissue around the shoulder joint of young normal subjects.Journal of physical therapy scienceUltrasound measurements of shoulder soft tissue thickness were repeatable in 11 young healthy students. Changes larger than 0.26 mm in supraspinatus tendon, 0.18 mm in subacromial bursa, or 0.23 mm in biceps tendon may be real, not measurement noise.
• PTCase Report2017Nonhealing, progressive stress fractures of the foot in a 13-year-old basketball player: is vitamin K deficiency a risk factor?Journal of physical therapy scienceA 13-year-old basketball player had foot bone edema that progressed despite initial immobilization and physiotherapy. Vitamin K was low, but no follow-up level was checked, and return to sport at 6 months cannot be credited to diet.
• Other2017Elucidating the role of compression waves and impact duration for generating mild traumatic brain injury in rats.Brain injuryIn rats, repeated compression waves caused brain injury markers like tau aggregation and cell death. This confirms the animal model works for studying blast trauma mechanisms, but does not show how to treat or diagnose human patients.
• SLPNarrative Review2017Human Speech: A Restricted Use of the Mammalian Larynx.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationRoutine low-pitch speech may underuse laryngeal muscles, a theoretical voice review proposes. It reports no new patients or outcomes.
• SLPOther2017Validation of list equivalency for Mandarin speech materials to use with cochlear implant listeners.International journal of audiologyMandarin CI test lists previously deemed equivalent for normal-hearing simulations are not equivalent for real implant users. Excluding specific difficult lists restores equivalency. Monosyllable scores do not predict sentence or disyllable performance, so all three must be tested.
• SLPOther2017Efficacy of Six Tasks to Clear Laryngeal Mucus Aggregation.Journal of voice : official journal of the Voice FoundationHard throat clearing significantly reduced thick mucus lumps and severe thickness, while the four common alternative behaviors did not clear mucus. However, the study was too small to change clinical practice, and the alternatives remain biomechanically less harmful.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2016Computerized Cognitive Rehabilitation of Attention and Executive Function in Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationComputerized attention and executive training after acquired brain injury was often reported to improve test scores, but no standard program, control, or dose emerged, so it does not tell therapists which treatment to use.
• SLPOther2016Deriving gradient measures of child speech from crowdsourced ratings.Journal of communication disordersCrowdsourced ratings from nine untrained listeners accurately measure gradient speech errors like covert /r/ contrasts. Binary and visual analog scales produce equally valid results, but binary ratings are faster. This offers a practical alternative to acoustic analysis or expert panels for assessing speech development.
• Other2016Emergency Department Evaluation of Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States, 2009-2010.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationMost US emergency visits evaluated for brain injury result in a head CT scan, but 91% of those scans show no traumatic abnormality. This high volume of negative scans suggests a need for better triage tools to reduce unnecessary radiation and cost.
• SLPCohort2016Effects of Change in Tongue Pressure and Salivary Flow Rate on Swallow Efficiency Following Chemoradiation Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer.DysphagiaAfter chemoradiation for head and neck cancer, saliva flow fell and its change predicted swallowing efficiency change on 1mL thin, 3mL nectar, and 3mL pudding boluses. Tongue pressure and endurance showed no clear change. Check saliva before assuming tongue strength is the main problem.
• SLPOther2016Hearing protector fit testing with off-shore oil-rig inspectors in Louisiana and Texas.International journal of audiologyFit testing found many oil-rig inspectors could not reach the needed 25 dB earplug protection with their usual protectors. Retraining and different earplugs helped most reach it, but not all.
• SLPCohort2016Speech audiometry findings from HIV+ and HIV- adults in the MACS and WIHS longitudinal cohort studies.Journal of communication disordersWord recognition scores were similar in HIV+ and HIV- adults. HIV+ adults needed slightly louder speech to repeat words, but only borderline; HIV disease markers were not linked to either result.
• PTOTNarrative Review2016Implementation Science and Employer Disability Practices: Embedding Implementation Factors in Research Designs.Journal of occupational rehabilitationWorkplace return-to-work programs for musculoskeletal injuries often stall because of employer and organizational factors, not just clinical care. Therapists should expect and address leadership, culture, readiness, and modified-duty barriers before assuming a good treatment will be adopted.
• SLPOther2016Mimetic desire in autism spectrum disorder.Molecular autismSocial influence on preference did not differ between adults with autism and controls. Both groups rated objects as more desirable when they appeared to be someone's goal. The effect did not relate to reduced pleasure, depression, or social judgment.