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 521 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2024Distinct Neurodevelopmental Trajectories in Groups of Very Preterm Children Screening Positively for Autism Spectrum Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersVery preterm toddlers who failed two or more critical M-CHAT items had smaller brainstem and cerebellar volumes at term-equivalent age and more autism traits at age 4-7 than those who screened negative. The critical positive group also showed the most severe developmental delay.
• SLPRCT2024Stepped-Care Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Children on the Autism Spectrum with Co-occurring Anxiety.Journal of autism and developmental disordersStepped CBT helped autistic children with anxiety. Twenty-four percent improved after brief parent-led therapy. Among those who also needed therapist-led sessions, fifty-two percent improved. High dropout occurred, but families reported good satisfaction with the program.
• OTSLPRCT2024Effectiveness of a Robot-Assisted Psychological Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersRobot-assisted sessions did not clearly outperform therapist-only sessions. Both groups improved on autism symptoms, social cognition, inhibition and parent-reported problems, but the autism symptom change was too small to matter clinically.
• PTOTCohort2024The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Quarantine on Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Intellectual Disability: A Longitudinal Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersScores measured before, during, and after lockdown in adults with autism and intellectual disability showed more autistic traits during confinement, improved executive function and wellbeing after reopening, and worse balance, with no change in walking.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Spatial Neglect: An Exploration of Clinical Assessment Behaviour in Stroke Rehabilitation.Clinical rehabilitationStroke clinicians rarely use standardised spatial neglect assessments because they view it as a visual problem rather than a multisensory one. They lack knowledge of functional tools and feel assessment is outside their scope. Barriers include time, cost, and equipment. Clinicians want short, flexible tests and online training with practical demos.
• PTOTOther2024Defining a universal measurement unit and scale for gross motor development.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new theoretical scale places gross motor tasks on a universal 0-100 unit scale, anchored from supine to walking. It explains 87% of task difficulty variance using body position, movement, and support, but remains unvalidated in typical children.
• Other2024Less Negative Implicit Attitudes Toward Autism Spectrum Disorder in University Students: A Comparison with Physical Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersJapanese university students showed negative implicit attitudes toward autism and physical disabilities, while reporting positive explicit attitudes. The physical disability test produced longer reaction times. Explicit answers were related to wanting to look good, but implicit responses were not.
• PTOTNarrative Review2024Optimizing lower limb rehabilitation: the intersection of machine learning and rehabilitative robotics.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesMachine learning can make lower limb rehabilitation robots more accurate and personalized, but high costs and 'black box' algorithms currently block clinical use. Therapists should view these tools as emerging aids requiring explanation and trust-building, not proven replacements for manual care.
• SLPOther2024Rethinking the clinical utility of distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) signal-to-noise ratio.International journal of audiologyDPOAE SNR values stayed similar across four trials, but they varied more than DPOAE levels did. For monitoring cochlear change, DPOAE levels are less variable.
• SLPSurvey2024Sleep Problems Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, and Typical Development.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism spectrum disorder had more parent-reported sleep problems than children with Down syndrome or typical development. During the pandemic, children went to bed and woke later and had more night awakenings.
• SLPCohort2024Community-based Agency Delivery of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: Comparing Outcomes for Children with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Developmental Delays.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism or developmental delay did not differ from other children in parent-child interaction therapy length, graduation or parent-reported disruptive behavior change. Both groups improved after at least four sessions.
• SLPOther2024Adaptation at the Syntax-Semantics Interface: Evidence From a Vernacular Structure.Language and speechThe study found that native English speakers unfamiliar with a specific vernacular grammar structure rapidly learned its intended meaning after brief exposure. This was a laboratory experiment on language processing mechanisms, not a clinical trial.
• PTSystematic Review2024Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for patients with coronary heart disease: a systematic review and evidence mapping study.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAcross 62 reviews, exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation was reported as beneficial compared with usual care, but evidence quality was low and results were inconsistent.
• PTOTOther2024Simulation of a control method for active kinesiotherapy with an upper extremity rehabilitation exoskeleton without force sensor.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationSimulations suggest an upper-limb exoskeleton can detect patient movement intentions using only standard motor encoders, without force sensors or EMG. This approach could lower device cost and weight, but no human testing was performed to confirm safety or clinical benefit.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2024Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation alone and in combination with rehabilitation therapies on gait and balance among individuals with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationtDCS improved walking rhythm and reduced freezing of gait, but did not significantly change walking speed or stride length. It also helped balance on the Timed Up and Go test. No single optimal protocol for dose or placement has been established.
• OTOther2024Could Sensory Differences Be a Sex-Indifferent Biomarker of Autism? Early Investigation Comparing Tactile Sensitivity Between Autistic Males and Females.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTactile sex differences were not specific to autism. Girls were less sensitive than boys on discrimination and order tasks, but not simple detection or reaction time. The study was preliminary and not enough to change assessment.
• SLPSurvey2023Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Vanderbilt Fatigue Scale for Adults: The VFS-A-10.Ear and hearingA 10-item scale showed stable listening-fatigue ratings over about a month and higher scores in adults with self-reported hearing loss than adults without. It does not prove treatment works.
• SLPPilot2023Effects of Device-Facilitated Lingual Strengthening Therapy on Dysphagia Related Outcomes in Patients Post-Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial.DysphagiaDevice tongue exercise added to usual care did not improve the main tongue-pressure outcome more than usual care. Patients who added it did have better oral intake at 8 weeks, but this was a small pilot, and both groups improved over time.
• SLPCohort2023Prevalence of Childhood Hearing Loss in Rural Alaska.Ear and hearingAmong rural Alaska Native children aged 3 to 21 years, hearing loss was 10.5% by the older WHO cutoff and 23.4% by the newer cutoff in children aged 7 and older. Middle ear disease was common in youngest, high-frequency loss increased with age.
• SLPOther2023The Relationship Between Cochlear Implant Speech Perception Outcomes and Electrophysiological Measures of the Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potential.Ear and hearingIn 24 cochlear implant users, a nerve-response measure of how well the implant stimulates the hearing nerve best predicted speech scores, especially in noise. Faster nerve recovery also helped. These measures may guide expectations, not change programming.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Assessing Prevalence and Characteristics of Oro-bulbar Involvement in Children and Adults with SMA Type 2 and 3 Using a Multimodal Approach.DysphagiaOro-bulbar impairment is common in SMA types 2 and 3, particularly reduced mouth opening and tongue strength in children and non-ambulant adults. Objective tests often reveal problems that patients do not report, so clinicians should assess swallowing function directly rather than relying on patient complaints.
• SLPCohort2023The Influence of Bilingual Language Exposure on the Narrative, Social and Pragmatic Abilities of School-Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNarrative story structure was similar in bilingual and monolingual children on the autism spectrum. Social skills also showed no group difference. More balanced language exposure was linked to higher nonliteral language scores.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Factors associated with acute care service use after epilepsy hospitalisation in people with intellectual disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRHospital readmission and emergency presentations after epilepsy admission were common in people with intellectual disability, especially those with self-harm history, mental or developmental disorders, asthma, longer stays, or incarceration history.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Examining the Outcomes of Project ECHO® as an Interprofessional Community of Practice for Pediatric Feeding Clinicians.DysphagiaClinicians working with pediatric feeding disorders reported significantly higher confidence after joining a virtual case-based learning network. The program was highly rated for its practical, interactive format, which participants preferred over traditional lectures. Fewer requests for external clinical advice were observed during the program period.
• OTPilot2024Evaluating the impact of a darts game intervention on cognitive function in older adults with and without mild cognitive impairment: a pilot study.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA darts communication programme did not establish cognitive improvement in older adults. In those without mild cognitive impairment, forward weight shift while throwing had a possible link to later MoCA scores, but the link was not established.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Collegiate student-athletes concussion knowledge and attitudes: what a difference a decade Makes.Brain injuryIncoming college athletes showed a small increase in concussion knowledge but a large, safer shift in attitudes over a decade. Clinicians should focus education on reporting behaviors and correcting myths about imaging, rather than basic symptom recognition.
• SLPPilot2024Preliminary feasibility and effectiveness of a novel community language intervention for preschool children in the United Kingdom.International journal of language & communication disordersThe main language outcomes did not show a clear group difference: expressive and receptive vocabulary did not improve more in the intervention group than controls. Joint attention improved more, but this was a secondary measure.
• OTOther2024"I completely shut down": A mixed methods evaluation of the fear-avoidance model for young adults with a recent concussion and anxiety.Rehabilitation psychologyYoung adults with recent concussion and anxiety described symptoms, fear, avoidance, and depression making work, academics, and social life harder. Pacing, activity adjustment, social support, and mindfulness were described as helping some confront symptoms and recover.
• Narrative Review2024NSF DARE-transforming modeling in neurorehabilitation: a patient-in-the-loop framework.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for using computational models in neurorehabilitation. It does not test this framework on patients, so there are no findings to guide clinical practice.
• OTPilot2024Autistic-Delivered Peer Support: A Feasibility Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic-delivered peer support was feasible for 29 Medicaid-eligible autistic youth and adults. 90% were satisfied, 70% would recommend it, and 65% said it was culturally sensitive.
• PTRCT2024Alterations in functional connectivity in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain after motor control exercise: a randomized trial.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineMotor control exercise provided better long-term pain relief than manual therapy for chronic low back pain. While both helped immediately, only motor control exercise maintained significant improvements at six months. Brain scans showed motor control exercise changed connectivity in areas linked to pain and posture.
• Narrative Review2024Metrology in sEMG and movement analysis: the need for training new figures in clinical rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper argues that physical and occupational therapists need better training in measurement science to use tools like surface EMG. It reports no patient outcomes or intervention effects, so there is nothing here to change clinical practice.
• SLPCohort2024Speech timing and monosyllabic diadochokinesis measures in the assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Canadian French.International journal of speech-language pathologyIn French-speaking ALS patients, a rapid syllable repetition task detected early bulbar changes, while passage reading only distinguished those with established symptoms. Speaking rate and pause measures did not flag pre-symptomatic cases in French, unlike in English.
• SLPOther2024Comparing Taste Perception Across Modalities in Healthy Adults: Liquids Versus Dissolvable Taste Strips.DysphagiaHealthy adults rated custom-made dissolvable taste strips as less intense than liquid flavors, but liked them just as much. These strips match the flavors known to affect swallowing, offering a potential safe sensory tool for patients who cannot eat or drink by mouth.
• OTRCT2024Assessing effectiveness of serious game training designed to assist in upper limb prosthesis rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTask-specific and non-task-specific serious games did not improve prosthesis simulator use more than mouse-and-keyboard control in able-bodied students. Scores rose over testing, but training groups did not beat control, so transfer was not shown.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Parent-Therapist Partnership Survey: Parent Feedback and Psychometric Properties.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children receiving school-based therapies rated needs in two areas: being informed and empowered as team members, and needing support and guidance. A 36-item survey can ask these needs directly. It does not show that using it improves child or family outcomes.
• PTOTCohort2024Assessment of Mobility Trajectories Using Wearable Inertial Sensors During Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplant.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationPretransplant gait limitation measured by wearable sensors was linked to worse post-transplant function by clinician and patient report. During hospitalization, mobility fell early, then improved slowly but remained below pretransplant levels at discharge.
• SLPQualitative2024Re-Consenting Pediatric Research Participants as Legal Adulthood Approaches: Lessons from the SPARK Autism Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents recommended starting re-consenting conversations at 15 to 16, using simple 'transition to adulthood' language. They said keeping mothers informed could help teens act on invitations, and families wanted adult service resources, not just consent reminders.
• PTOTOther2024Accuracy and Reliability of Remote Categorization of Upper Limb Outcome After Stroke.Neurorehabilitation and neural repairRemote video assessment matched in-person upper limb outcome for 88% at 3 months and 96% at 6 months. It was less accurate at the chronic stage, 75% and 79%, and for the Good and Limited categories.
• SLPPilot2024A pilot study of an online self-compassion intervention for adults who stutter.International journal of speech-language pathologyTen adults who stutter finished an online self-compassion program and reported less self-judgment and isolation, more mindfulness, and reduced stuttering impact on daily communication and quality of life. This is pilot evidence, not proof the program works.
• PTSLPQualitative2024"It is more Important than food sometimes"; Meanings and Functions of Music in the Lives of Autistic Adults Through a hermeneutic-phenomenological Lense.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults described music as a tool to regulate arousal, manage emotions, and create safe spaces. However, they also reported significant stress from loud or unfamiliar music and fear of judgment. Agency over sound exposure was crucial for both benefits and harms.
• Other2024Development of Moral Judgments in Impersonal and Personal Dilemmas in Autistic Spectrum Disorders from Childhood to Late Adolescence.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children and adolescents with ASD, choosing to harm a person to save others in a personal moral dilemma did not decline with age as it did in typical peers. They also rated these choices as more appropriate while feeling less calm.
• SLPCase-Control2024Comparison of Mathematics Problem-Solving Abilities in Autistic and Non-autistic Children: the Influence of Cognitive Profile.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic and non-autistic children did not differ in math problem-solving strategy or accuracy. The study also found more autistic children in the lowest accuracy group, but this was a subgroup observation, not evidence that a therapy works.
• SLPOther2023Communicating Emotion: Vocal Expression of Linguistic and Emotional Prosody in Children With Mild to Profound Hearing Loss Compared With That of Normal Hearing Peers.Ear and hearingAverage pitch, pitch variation and loudness did not differ between children with hearing aids, cochlear implants or normal hearing. The hearing-loss groups showed a poorer pitch difference between happy and sad speech, but listeners were not tested.
• SLPOther2023A Hybrid Deep Learning Approach to Identify Preventable Childhood Hearing Loss.Ear and hearingA deep learning model classified tympanometry tracings with 95.2% sensitivity when used by laypersons, matching audiologist performance. This tool could enable non-experts to screen for infection-related hearing loss in low-resource settings, though 3.3% of layperson tracings had diagnostic errors.
• SLPNarrative Review2023Using Complex Networks in the Hearing Sciences.Ear and hearingSpoken word recognition depends partly on how words are linked in the word store. Words with less interconnected similar-sounding neighbors were recognized faster and more accurately. The paper suggests network-based hearing test development, but does not show better outcomes.
• SLPOther2023Acoustic Analysis of Voluntary Coughs, Throat Clearings, and Induced Reflexive Coughs in a Healthy Population.DysphagiaAcoustic analysis clearly distinguishes voluntary coughs, throat clearings, and reflexive coughs in healthy adults. This offers speech therapists an objective alternative to unreliable auditory assessment for identifying these protective maneuvers during swallowing evaluations.
• SLPOther2023A novel non-word speech preparation task to increase stuttering frequency in experimental settings for longitudinal research.Journal of communication disordersA laboratory task using pairs of non-words reliably raised stuttering rates to 39% across multiple sessions. This increase did not carry over to normal conversation or reading afterwards, so the task can be used for research without worsening the patient's baseline speech.
• Protocol2024Effects of blood flow restriction therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: protocol for an overview of systematic reviews.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper is a plan for a future review, not a report of results. It describes how the authors intend to search for existing systematic reviews on blood flow restriction therapy for knee osteoarthritis. There are no findings to act on.
• SLPSurvey2024Capabilities, opportunities and motivations of staff to provide hearing support to long-term care home residents with dementia.International journal of audiologyStaff in long-term care homes reported providing hearing support to only half of the residents with dementia they believed would benefit. They cited lack of time and resources as the main barriers, with care assistants and private homes reporting the lowest provision.