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 626 OF 704 · NEWEST FIRST

• SLPRCT2025Adaptation of COMPASS for use in Autism-Specific Schools in Australia: A Cluster Randomized Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdapting the COMPASS goal-setting programme for Australian autism schools improved student progress on individualized goals by the end of the year. The intervention group reached higher goal attainment scores than the usual care group, though no difference was seen at midterm.
• SLPMeta-Analysis2025The Effect of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions and Aided AAC on the Language Development of Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNaturalistic interventions help children with autism speak, but adding aided AAC boosts language growth further. The benefit was small to medium in direct comparisons. Introduce AAC early rather than waiting for speech to emerge, and ensure the device fits the child's specific needs.
• RCT2025Enhancing astronaut training: effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on manual rendezvous and docking skill acquisition.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBilateral brain stimulation sped up learning of a complex bimanual docking task. It improved composite scores and attitude control during training, and boosted retention after three weeks. Position accuracy and propellant use showed no benefit over sham.
• SLPCohort2025Screening Options in Autism Telediagnosis: Examination of TAP, M-CHAT-R, and DCI Concordance and Predictive Value in a Telediagnostic Model.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe Developmental Check-In predicted autism diagnosis better than the M-CHAT-R in a telediagnostic model. Its Talk and Social subdomains were the strongest predictors, raising the probability of identifying autism from .50 to .76 compared to .66 for the M-CHAT-R.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2025A panoramic review of transcranial focused ultrasound neuromodulation: from basic research to clinical applications.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationTranscranial focused ultrasound shows promise for tremor and pain, but most evidence comes from small studies and animal models. Clinical effects vary widely due to skull differences and auditory confounds. It is not yet a proven therapy for common neurological conditions.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025'A certain magic' - autistic adults' experiences of interacting with other autistic people and its relation to Quality of Life: A systematic review and thematic meta-synthesis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults describe connecting with other autistic people as relieving and effortless, often contrasting with exhausting interactions elsewhere. This contact supports identity and well-being, but it is not a universal fix and does not replace specialist mental health care.
• SLPOther2025Developmental Assessment in Children at Higher Likelihood for Developmental Delays - Comparison of Parent Report and Direct Assessment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 167 toddlers referred for delay, a standardized parent interview was strongly related to direct cognitive testing. At a cutoff of 70, it caught 0.83 of children diagnosed with global delay; at 69, it caught 0.80 of children with cognitive scores of 70 or below.
• OTOther2025Psychometric properties of the Danish version of the resilience scale for adults in individuals with acquired brain or spinal cord injury, and their family members.Journal of rehabilitation medicineIn adults with acquired brain or spinal cord injury and their family members, the Danish Resilience Scale for Adults may be useful as five separate subscales. Do not use the Structured style subscale or the total score.
• SLPCohort2025The Role of Implementation Climate in Moderating Educator Use of Evidence-Based Practices and Outcomes for Autistic Students.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSchools with a stronger climate for using evidence-based practices saw better implementation by educators. This climate mattered most for providers with less hands-on autism experience. In high-poverty districts, more resources for these practices were linked to better math scores for autistic students.
• OTQualitative2025'If I Don't Have My Support Worker in the Room…': A Multi-perspective Mixed Methods Study of Remote Daily Living Support for Neurodivergent Young Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSupport workers were far more interested in remote daily living support than the young adults they help. Many service users feared losing the trust and practical presence of in-person visits, describing a 'body doubling' effect where having someone in the room was essential to getting tasks done.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Exposure to visual perturbations elicits adaptation in step kinematics during gait in those with chronic ankle instability.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationDuring treadmill walking, nineteen people with chronic ankle instability shifted from cautious wide steps to reactive step-to-step adjustments when exposed to optical flow or stroboscopic vision. These kinematic changes persisted briefly after the perturbations stopped.
• PTRCT2025The effects of combining anodal transcranial direct current stimulation with robot-assisted gait training on lower limb motor function and the motor cortex regulation of stroke patients.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationStroke patients on a 34-point lower limb motor scale improved more when anodal tDCS was added to robot-assisted gait training plus standard drug and rehabilitation care: 8.16 points on average versus 4.21 points with robot training plus standard care. No sham stimulation was used.
• PTOTQualitative2025"What standard should we set?": A qualitative study of rehabilitation professionals' perspectives on rehabilitation needs after traumatic injuries.Journal of rehabilitation medicineRehabilitation professionals describe a gap between legally mandated services and community reality. They report patients with traumatic injuries often lack support for cognitive impairment, mental health, and meaningful daily life, with resources focused only on basic physical care.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Optimal exercise modalities for post-intervention motor function changes in stroke survivors: a pairwise and network meta-analysis.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationResistance training best preserved walking endurance, and robotic training best preserved walking speed after stroke rehab ended. However, no exercise modality significantly improved balance or limb motor control during follow-up, suggesting gains in these areas often fade without continued supervision.
• PTRCT2025The Borg scale is safe and efficacious for prescribing and monitoring self-administered balance and resistance exercise in patients with chronic kidney disease: a post-hoc analysis of RENEXC, a randomized controlled trial.Journal of rehabilitation medicineSelf-administered balance exercise or resistance exercise, each with aerobic exercise, did not differ in CKD stages 3-5. Both groups improved functional reach, quadriceps strength and sit-to-stand using Borg intensity 13-17. Berg balance scores did not change, no incidents were reported, and effects cannot be separated.
• SLPOther2025Implementing Pivotal Response Treatment to Teach Question Asking to High School Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAll three students increased their use of taught questions during PRT. However, only one educator reached the required fidelity standard. This suggests the intervention helped, but the training was insufficient to ensure consistent implementation by school staff.
• OTSLPRCT2025Building Better Bridges: Outcomes of a Community-Partnered New School Transition Intervention for Students on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver coaching improved school transition ratings for students on the autism spectrum in under-resourced schools. Teachers reported significantly higher transition success with coaching. Caregiver ratings showed a non-significant trend. Self-efficacy increased with coaching, but worry decreased similarly in both groups.
• OTQualitative2025Close Relationships Despite the Challenges: Sibling Relationships and Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen siblings of autistic adolescents described close, loving relationships despite aggression, conflict, and caregiving worries. Some sisters felt they were both siblings and carers and wanted help with arguments, isolation, and future caring roles.
• Other2025The Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism who had experienced more adverse childhood events were less likely to get the recommended amount of sleep. This link held even after accounting for age, race, health, and autism severity. Sleep problems were also more common in Black children and those with moderate or severe autism.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Post-stroke facial palsy: Prevalence, recovery patterns within the first 7 days, risk factors, and effect of hyperacute treatments.Clinical rehabilitationFacial palsy affects 43% of stroke patients on admission, but only 37% recover fully within the first week. Older age and severe motor or sensory impairments predict slower recovery. While thrombolysis was linked to better outcomes, this may reflect patient selection rather than treatment effect.
• SLPOther2026Brief Report: Relationships Between Caregiver-Reported Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersToddlers with caregiver-reported autism behaviors plus ADHD or externalizing problems had higher M-CHAT-R/F scores. Adding internalizing problems did not show the same pattern. A positive screen still needs comprehensive assessment.
• PTCohort2025Autism Among Adults with Down Syndrome: Prevalence, Medicaid Usage, and Co-Occurring Conditions.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdults with both Down syndrome and autism used significantly more Medicaid services and had higher costs than those with either condition alone. They also had the highest rates of epilepsy, though their overall chronic condition profile resembled that of adults with Down syndrome alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Rethinking the Accessibility of Hearing Assessments for Children with Developmental Disabilities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with developmental disabilities were nearly four times more likely than peers to miss gold-standard hearing assessments within three months. This gap was widest for those with cerebral palsy or multiple diagnoses, leaving many children undiagnosed and unable to access hearing technology or early intervention.
• OTSLPCohort2025Completion of Upper Secondary Mainstream School in Autistic Students in Sweden.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic students in Sweden were far less likely to finish upper secondary school than their peers. The gap was largest for autistic girls and those with ADHD. This suggests current educational support systems are failing to meet the needs of this population.
• OTSLPOther2025Game Changer: Exploring the Role of Board Games in the Lives of Autistic People.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic adults described board games as a social lubricant that removes the pressure of small talk. The clear rules and shared focus on the game allow them to interact authentically without masking, helping them form friendships and reduce anxiety.
• SLPCohort2025Cognitive Profiles are Better Predictors of Literacy Attainment Than Diagnostic Outcomes in Children with High ADHD Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCognitive profiles predicted literacy skills in children with high ADHD symptoms, but a clinical diagnosis did not. Children on waiting lists showed similar difficulties to those diagnosed, suggesting support should start based on cognitive needs rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Dual-target tDCS and dual-task training modulate neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity: transcriptomic and behavioral evidence in stroke rehabilitation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdding dual-target brain stimulation to dual-task training improved walking, thinking, and mood in stroke survivors more than sham stimulation. Both groups also received standard physical, occupational, or speech therapy, so the specific contribution of each component cannot be separated.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025A novel multimodal pharmacologic approach using guanfacine, N-acetylcysteine, and donepezil in severe TBI: a case series.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesTwo men with severe TBI showed large MoCA score improvements after taking guanfacine, NAC, and donepezil alongside rehab. This cannot prove the drugs caused the gains. Do not change practice based on these two cases.
• Protocol2025Enhancing functional recovery after ACL injury. A protocol for a randomized control trial of transcranial direct current stimulation over the motor cortex.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper describes the plan for a future trial of brain stimulation added to ACL rehab. It contains no data, no results, and no findings. It does not tell us whether the treatment works.
• SLPPilot2025Integration of Family Navigation into ECHO Autism for Pediatric Primary Care in Underserved Communities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPediatric primary care clinicians in underserved Virginia areas reported greater confidence in autism screening, referral, and managing co-occurring conditions after a 12-month videoconference training with family navigation. Families also received navigation help, but child and service-access outcomes were not measured.
• Cohort2025Predictors of Change in Wellbeing and Mental Health of Parents of Autistic Pre-Schoolers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of Autistic pre-schoolers showed no average change in wellbeing or mental health over a year. They consistently reported lower wellbeing and higher distress than population norms. While some individual factors predicted change, these results were not robust after correcting for multiple comparisons.
• Cohort2025Bullying Victimization is Associated with Heightened Rates of Anxiety and Depression Among Autistic and ADHD Youth: National Survey of Children's Health 2016-2020.Journal of autism and developmental disordersBullying is linked to much higher rates of diagnosed anxiety and depression in autistic and ADHD teens compared to their peers. These mental health impacts are significantly stronger in girls and in teens who have both autism and ADHD.
• PTOTOther2025Smart Device-Based Therapy on Hand Motor Function Improvement in Stroke Survivors During Rehabilitation: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesMost studies showed hand function improvements with smart device therapy, but the evidence is too mixed to say it works better than standard care. Home-based tech is feasible, yet results varied widely by device and study quality.
• SLPCohort2025Sex Differences in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Insights from the Australian Biobank.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFathers showed more aloofness and rigidity, but mothers had more social and pragmatic difficulties when sex-specific norms were applied. Female siblings showed higher social cognition difficulties than males. Parental traits did not predict autism severity in diagnosed children, but maternal traits predicted sibling traits.
• PTCase Series2025Enhanced rehabilitation after total joint replacement using a wearable high-density surface electromyography system.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesWearable muscle-signal monitoring after knee or hip replacement tracked individual recovery patterns. High activation did not always mean good coordination, and patient-reported scores did not always match muscle signals. This is a method test, not proof of better rehabilitation.
• SLPSystematic Review2025Racial Differences in the Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersUS autism prevalence has shifted by race. Once highest in White children, it is now higher in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander children born after 2010. This reflects better access and diagnosis in minority groups, not necessarily a change in underlying rates.
• OTQualitative2025Investigation of Menstrual Hygiene and Self-Care Skills of Adolescent Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Mother Views.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of girls with ASD described ongoing help with toileting, bathing, pad use and hair cleaning. All reported no puberty preparations, and mothers were the main caregivers.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Investigating dose-response patterns in virtual reality rehabilitation: a pilot study of patient satisfaction in subacute stroke.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo significant relationship was found between virtual reality dosage and patient satisfaction in 19 subacute stroke patients. The study was underpowered and heavily confounded by hospital length of stay, meaning VR exposure reflected stroke severity rather than a controlled treatment parameter.
• SLPOther2025Stability and Validity of Self-Reported Depression and Anxiety in Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth give consistent self-reports of anxiety and depression over two weeks. However, standard screening cutoffs are often too high. Lower thresholds are needed to catch cases, especially for social anxiety and depression, though some scales fail to detect generalized anxiety.
• PTOTOther2025Responses and reliability of candidate intensity measures to different mental and motor load levels of an upper limb exergame in children and adolescents with neurological diagnoses.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesChildren with neurological diagnoses reported higher effort and performed fewer movements as exergame difficulty increased. Heart rate variability also dropped during harder motor tasks. However, these measures were not reliable when repeated on separate days, so they cannot yet track therapy intensity in practice.
• Other2025Improving neuroplasticity and Quality of Life in children with Cerebral Palsy: a customized intensive motor training protocol integrating the HABIT-ILE approach.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis paper outlines a new intensive motor training protocol for children with cerebral palsy but reports no patient outcomes. It describes the planned intervention structure and theoretical basis, offering no evidence on whether the treatment works or improves quality of life.
• PTOTQualitative2025Perceptions of occupational therapists and physiotherapists of early intervention therapy services for infants with or at risk of cerebral palsy: A qualitative interview study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTherapists report that fragmented communication between hospital and municipality services forces parents to carry medical records back and forth. This burden delays care and creates conflicting advice, while a focus on gross motor skills often causes therapists to miss the early window for hand function intervention.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Relationship Between Obesity and Intellectual/Developmental Disability in an Ohio Telepsychiatry Clinic: A Retrospective Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities seen in a telepsychiatry clinic, 52.4% were obese. Obesity prevalence was highest in those with autism alone and lowest in those with profound intellectual disability. This association does not prove cause.
• SLPCase-Control2025Spontaneous Generation of Unconventional Language and Its Link with Grammatical Performance in Chinese Adults With and Without ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCantonese-speaking autistic adults produced more unconventional language and shorter sentences than controls, but their unusual word choices tracked with speech disfluencies rather than grammatical errors. This suggests their language patterns reflect processing effort, not a lack of grammatical knowledge.
• OTRCT2026Process Evaluation of a Randomized Controlled Trial of an Enhanced Rehabilitation Transition Program for Stroke Survivors.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationStroke survivors receiving home modifications and strategy training had better daily activity performance and fewer home barriers than those receiving education alone, but community participation did not improve. The intervention cost a median of $544 per person and was well-adhered to at 12 months.
• PTSLPSystematic Review2026Group rehabilitation for adults with acquired neurological disorders: A systematic review of mono- and interdisciplinary interventions in physical and speech-language therapy.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationGroup therapy works for aphasia, especially intensive approaches, but shows no clear advantage over individual therapy for stroke mobility. No studies tested true integrated PT/SLT care, leaving a major gap in evidence for combined treatment.
• OTQualitative2026Multicultural Implementation-Experiences of Peer Support Workers in MH Services: Qualitative Findings of UPSIDES Innovative Intervention-An International Multi-Site Project.Journal of occupational rehabilitationPeer support workers across sites described UPSIDES training and delivery as supporting their own recovery, vocational skills and staff relations, while role clarity and service integration remained difficult.
• OTCohort2026ReacStick: Evaluating Executive Function Independent From Level of Education.American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitationReacStick accuracy scores were unaffected by education level, unlike Trail Making Test B. This suggests ReacStick may offer a less biased way to screen executive function in adults with lower literacy or fewer years of schooling.
• PTOTSLPOther2025The interplay between haptic guidance and personality traits in robotic-assisted motor learning.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationRobotic guidance did not improve motor learning in healthy adults. Personality traits shaped how people interacted with the robot. Those who seek challenges performed better without assistance. Those who feel they control outcomes reduced their physical effort with guidance. Those who feel outcomes are external increased their force.
• SLPCohort2025Performance of the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 for the Assessment of Autistic Behaviors in a Sample of Canadian Preschool-Aged Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCanadian preschoolers scored significantly lower on the SRS-2 than the US children used to set its norms. Because the Canadian sample was more educated and White, using US norms may underestimate autism traits in Canadian children, leading to missed diagnoses.