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Paediatrics research

Everything we have read on paediatrics. Each paper is summarised from the full article rather than its abstract, so the limitations are in there too, and the funding wherever the paper declares it.

2,466 PAPERS · PAGE 15 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSurvey2020Schooling for Pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Parents' Perspectives.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of 1799 Swedish pupils with autism reported school absence without illness, more often in girls, and named staff autism knowledge and poor school adaptation more than bullying.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Multi-stage Screening in Early Intervention: A Critical Strategy for Improving ASD Identification and Addressing Disparities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEmbedding two-stage autism screening in Early Intervention caught 83.7% of diagnosed cases. Follow-through was high, and gaps in diagnosis for children of color or those with limited English vanished after Stage 1. This model helps therapists identify risk without relying on pediatric referrals.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2021Developmental outcomes after early surgery for complex congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInfants with complex heart defects score below average on motor and cognitive tests. Single-ventricle patients continue to have lower IQ and language issues into school age, while two-ventricle patients often catch up to typical ranges.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Brief Report: Reduced Heart Rate Variability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had lower heart rate variability than typically developing peers, but variability did not differ in response to or recovery from a task. In the autism group, lower variability was linked to caregiver-reported attentional responses to sensory input, not social communication scores.
• OTCohort2020Atypical Development of Attentional Control Associates with Later Adaptive Functioning, Autism and ADHD Traits.Journal of autism and developmental disordersA plateaued parent-reported attention trajectory between 10 and 25 months was associated with higher autism and ADHD traits and lower adaptive functioning at age 3. Most infants later diagnosed with autism showed typical attention development.
• PTOTCohort2020Motor behaviour in infancy is associated with neurological, cognitive, and behavioural function of children born to parents with reduced fertility.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInfants with slow adaptability and performance scores had lower IQs at age 9. Slow adaptability also predicted less optimal neurological function. Non-optimal variation and fluctuating fluency were linked to more internalizing problems, though these behavioural differences were small.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Measuring child functioning: Assessing correlation and agreement between caregiver and child responses at the Iganga-Mayuge health and demographic surveillance site in Uganda.Disability and health journalChildren aged 11 to 17 in Uganda reported their own disability levels with agreement similar to their caregivers. Clinicians can trust child self-reports for physical and cognitive domains, but should still interview caregivers to capture context and mental health nuances.
• PTOTQualitative2021Participation in leisure activities from the perception of children with disabilities and their families in Brazil.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChildren with disabilities and their families identified environmental barriers as the main obstacle to leisure participation, outweighing physical limitations. Overprotective family attitudes and inaccessible public spaces were frequent barriers. Family support and adapted environments were the primary facilitators.
• PTOTCohort2021Brief report: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health behaviors in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Disability and health journalIn nine adolescents with ASD, self-reported physical activity fell from 4.17 to 2.27 days per week, while screen time rose. Sleep duration did not change, but four said bedtime shifted later.
• PTOTCase-Control2021Mu Rhythm during Standing and Walking Is Altered in Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy Compared to Children with Typical Development.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren with unilateral CP showed lower peak brainwave frequencies and altered connectivity during standing compared to typically developing peers. However, brain activity changes during walking were similar between groups. These EEG measures may help track motor development, but need larger studies.
• OTCohort2020Early Motor Differences in Infants at Elevated Likelihood of Autism Spectrum Disorder and/or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAt 10 months, infants with a family history of autism or ADHD crossed the body midline less often during block play than typical infants. The difference was not seen at 5 or 14 months, and it was not accompanied by differences in motor scores.
• PTOTPilot2020Virtual Reality in Pain Rehabilitation for Youth With Chronic Pain: Pilot Feasibility Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesIn 17 youth receiving intensive pain treatment, Fruity Feet was feasible and acceptable. Among 8 with repeated daily reports, pain, fear, avoidance, and functional limitations decreased, while activity engagement and pain reactivity did not change.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Prevalence of intellectual disability among eight-year-old children from selected communities in the United States, 2014.Disability and health journalIntellectual disability affected 11.8 of every 1,000 eight-year-olds in nine US states. Prevalence was twice as high in boys as girls and highest in Black children. Rates dropped as neighborhood income and education rose. Children in lower-income areas were tested later.
• OTSLPCohort2021Trajectories of Autism Symptom Severity Change During Early Childhood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutism symptom severity changed during early childhood. Most children stayed stable, some decreased, and some increased. Baseline severity did not predict direction, so watch for both improvement and worsening.
• PTOTCohort2021IQ and Sensory Symptom Severity Best Predict Motor Ability in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had lower motor scores than children in the typically developing or intermediate groups, but sensory symptom severity and IQ predicted motor ability better than diagnosis. Assess sensory and cognitive factors before assuming motor problems follow from diagnosis alone.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2020Parents' knowledge of their child with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities: An interpretative synthesis.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of children with profound disabilities describe knowing their child through a physical, intuitive bond. This knowledge is hard to transfer via written logs but can be shared by showing caregivers how to interact or by telling stories, helping them understand the child's needs.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2021The impact of injury: The experiences of children and families after a child's traumatic injury.Clinical rehabilitationInjured children and parents describe discharge as a time when hidden problems surface. Late-onset fatigue, fear of re-injury, and coordination gaps leave families feeling abandoned. Therapists should proactively manage activity restrictions and screen for post-traumatic stress symptoms after hospital discharge.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Teacher-Reported Prevalence of FASD in Kindergarten in Canada: Association with Child Development and Problems at Home.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeacher-reported FASD in Canadian kindergarten was uncommon. Children with FASD only generally scored higher than children with other neurodevelopmental disorders on teacher-rated development, but teacher-reported home problems were more common in the FASD groups.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Measurement of range-of-motion in infants with indications of upper cervical dysfunction using the Flexion-Rotation-Test and Lateral-Flexion-Test: a blinded inter-rater reliability study in a clinical practice setting.The Journal of manual & manipulative therapyTwo manual tests for infant neck stiffness show poor agreement between therapists. The tests cannot reliably measure reduced mobility. Therapists should not use these tests alone to diagnose or decide on treatment for infants.
• OTCase-Control2020Sensory profiles in adults with and without ADHD.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdults with ADHD reported different sensory processing than matched adults, even after accounting for anxiety or depression. They missed weak stimuli more, were more sensitive to detail, and sought more sensation, but did not report more avoidance.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021A High Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Preschool Children in an Immigrant, Multiethnic Population in Sweden: Challenges for Health Care.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a high-immigrant Swedish district, 3.66% of preschoolers were diagnosed with autism, rising to 4.32% with later cases. Most had intellectual disability and multiple risk factors, including maternal migration and family history, challenging standard care models.
• PTOTRCT2020Intensive upper extremity training improved whole body movement control for children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.Gait & postureHABIT improved tray-carrying symmetry but not walking. CIMT improved walking speed and stride length but not tray symmetry. Both improved toe clearance. Neither approach fixed both hand and leg problems, so choose the intervention based on the specific deficit you want to treat.
• OTSLPCohort2020Factors associated with enrollment into a clinical trial of caregiver-implemented intervention for infants at risk for autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies invited to a clinic-based caregiver intervention trial for 12-month-olds were less likely to enroll when mothers worked full time, household income was $60,000-$100,000, or they lived more than 30 miles away. Infants with higher communication scores were also less likely to enroll.
• OTOther2020Comparative analysis of self-injurious behaviour topographies in young children with and without developmental delay.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRParents rated five self-injury actions as more common in children with developmental delay than typically developing children. Five actions were also rated as a bigger problem. Children with developmental delay were more likely to have two or more actions.
• PTOTSystematic Review2020Meniscus or Cartilage Injury at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear Is Associated With Worse Prognosis for Patient-Reported Outcome 2 to 10 Years After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Systematic Review.The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapyPatients with ACL tears who also have meniscus or cartilage injuries report worse knee function and quality of life two to ten years after surgery. These concurrent injuries are a strong predictor of poor long-term outcomes, unlike age or sex which showed no association.
• OTSLPOther2020The role of staffing and classroom characteristics on preschool teachers' use of one-to-one intervention with children with autism.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn autism preschools, therapists and teachers did more planned one-to-one teaching than aides. Classrooms with more aides were linked to less planned teaching. Classrooms with more children were linked to less spontaneous teaching.
• PTOTOther2020Construct Validity of a Task-Oriented Bimanual and Unimanual Strength Measurement in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy.Physical therapyA new measure of task-oriented strength in children with unilateral cerebral palsy correlates moderately with grip strength but poorly with functional skill scores. It captures strength during lifting tasks, not general manual dexterity or parent-reported performance, so it adds distinct information rather than replacing existing assessments.
• OTSLPOther2020Autism spectrum disorder/Takiwātanga: An Integrated Data Infrastructure-based approach to autism spectrum disorder research in New Zealand.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceNew Zealand linked data identified 9555 children and young people with autism. The identified group had much higher co-occurring intellectual disability and disruptive behaviours than non-autistic children, but the method likely undercounts cases.
• OTSLPCohort2021Using phecode analysis to characterize co-occurring medical conditions in autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePeople with ASD had more constipation, dental problems, hearing loss, convulsions, sleep disorders, anxiety, conduct disorders and developmental delay than matched controls, with more frequent and longer visits. Later first ASD code was linked to more respiratory, gut and psychiatric conditions.
• PTOTSLPRCT2020A web-based daily care training to improve the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial.Research in developmental disabilitiesMothers of children with severe cerebral palsy who added a 12-week web-based care training to routine occupational therapy reported better physical health quality of life and less musculoskeletal pain. Anxiety, depression, and stress did not improve more than with routine care alone.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Service use by youth with autism within a system-driven implementation of evidence-based practices in children's mental health services.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceYouth with autism in public mental health services received more total claims and longer care than matched peers. They received less psychotherapy but more case management, medication, and crisis services. Behavioral parent training was their most common primary evidence-based practice.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021The Emergence of Autism Symptoms Prior to 18 Months of Age: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of autism and developmental disordersInfants later diagnosed with autism showed subtle deficits in gaze, smiling, gestures and motor skills from 6 to 12 months, before full symptoms appeared. These early signs were often less frequent typical behaviors rather than unusual excesses, making them hard to spot without careful monitoring.
• OTSLPOther2021Assessing Irritability in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Using the Affective Reactivity Index.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe ARI effectively measures irritability in children with autism. Noncompliance was a stronger predictor of irritability than anxiety. Anxiety only increased irritability in children who did not have high levels of noncompliance.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2020Parents' perceptions and concerns about physical activity participation among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents describe promoting physical activity as an overwhelming burden. They struggle to find activities that are predictable, meaningful and adaptable, often relying on rigorous planning and advocacy to manage their adolescent's anxiety and social difficulties.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2020Sleep health practices and sleep knowledge among healthcare professionals in Dutch paediatric rehabilitation.Child: care, health and developmentAllied health professionals in Dutch paediatric rehabilitation addressed sleep less often than physicians, had low sleep knowledge, and many did not feel they knew enough. If you work with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, ask about sleep and refer when needed.
• OTSLPQualitative2021How is COVID-19 Affecting the Mental Health of Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and Their Families?Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with special needs reported that school closures disrupted routines and removed specialist support, leading to increased anxiety, challenging behaviour and feelings of being overwhelmed. A minority described reduced stress at home.
• OTCohort2021Epilepsy in adulthood: Prevalence, incidence, and associated antiepileptic drug use in autistic adults in a state Medicaid system.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEpilepsy is highly prevalent in autistic adults, especially those with intellectual disability. Many autistic adults on antiepileptic drugs lack epilepsy diagnoses, suggesting off-label use for behavior. Clinicians should screen for epilepsy in aging autistic adults with ID.
• OTSLPCase-Control2020Developmental-behavioral profiles in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPreschoolers with autism and gastrointestinal symptoms showed more self-injury, sensory sensitivities, sleep issues, and aggression than those without GI symptoms. These behavioral changes occurred regardless of cognitive level or sex, suggesting problem behaviors may signal physical discomfort in young children.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Prevention and management of respiratory disease in young people with cerebral palsy: consensus statement.Developmental medicine and child neurologyRespiratory disease is a leading cause of death in cerebral palsy, but there is no high-level evidence that any intervention prevents or treats it. These guidelines rely on expert consensus to recommend risk screening for swallowing, mobility, and reflux.
• PTOTQualitative2020Swedish parents' experiences of their role in treatment for children with congenital limb reduction deficiency: Decision-making and treatment support.Child: care, health and developmentSwedish parents of children with congenital limb reduction deficiency described making treatment choices as both expected and uneasy, wanting clinicians to support their decisions rather than make them. They also carried daily device practice, school coordination, and aftercare duties.
• OTSurvey2021Brief Report: Parent Perspectives on Sensory-Based Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents valued sensory interventions for their children with autism, but many found them difficult to use due to cost, access, and child resistance. They preferred low-tech, home-based items over specialized equipment. This reflects parental experience, not proof that these treatments work.
• PTOTOther202124-hour activity for children with cerebral palsy: a clinical practice guide.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA parent-completed checklist covering sleep and activity for children with cerebral palsy took 5 to 10 minutes on average. Clinicians reviewed it in no more than 2 minutes, and pilot feedback was positive, but validation is still needed.
• PTOTPilot2021Cardiovascular Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Bimanual Training in Children With Cerebral Palsy.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationCombining brain stimulation with hand therapy did not improve heart rate or blood pressure control in children with cerebral palsy. The study was too small to confirm any benefit, and the treatment did not change autonomic function as hypothesized.
• PTOTSLPOther2020The Effect of Vibration Therapy on Walking Endurance in Children and Young People With Cerebral Palsy: Do Age and Gross Motor Function Classification System Matter?Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildren and young people with cerebral palsy walked 12% further on average after 20 weeks of vibration therapy. Those with limited mobility (GMFCS levels III and IV) saw the largest percentage gains, increasing by 40% and 57% respectively. Age did not significantly change the absolute benefit.
• OTQualitative2021Safe environments-Through the eyes of 9-year-old schoolchildren from a socially vulnerable area in Sweden.Child: care, health and development9-year-olds in a vulnerable Swedish area defined safety by what they could see and do: bright, clean, colourful spaces with fun activities and trusted people nearby. They felt unsafe in dark, dirty, isolated places or where they risked physical harm.
• PTOTSLPOther2020Sleep Assessments for Children With Severe Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationNo single sleep assessment captures all relevant domains for children with severe cerebral palsy undergoing postural care. Clinicians should pair the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children with actigraphy to track changes over months, as no individual instrument met all suitability criteria.
• PTOTSurvey2021The effects of COVID-19 restrictions on physical activity and mental health of children and young adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.Disability and health journal61% of parents of children and young adults with physical or intellectual disabilities reported negative physical changes, and over 90% reported worse mental health during UK lockdown. Median sitting time increased from 2 to 4 hours daily to 4 to 6 hours daily.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021START-Play Physical Therapy Intervention Impacts Motor and Cognitive Outcomes in Infants With Neuromotor Disorders: A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial.Physical therapyInfants with significant motor delays showed short-term gains in sitting, fine motor skills, and problem solving with START-Play. Infants with mild delays showed no benefit and some negative long-term motor trends. The study was underpowered, so results are tentative.
• PTOTPilot2021Preliminary Improvements in Dynamic Postural Control after A Group-based Intervention Program for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationA 10-week group program improved dynamic balance but not static balance in 12 children with DCD. Nine participants improved their dynamic control scores. The lack of a control group and small sample size mean this is preliminary evidence, not proof the program works.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Mediating effects of family functioning on the relationship between care burden and family quality of life of caregivers of children with intellectual disabilities in Mongolia.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDBetter family functioning partially buffered the link between care burden and poor family quality of life. For therapists, assessing how a family communicates and copes is as crucial as measuring the child's disability, as these dynamics directly influence the family's well-being.