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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 17 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPSurvey2021How have youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder managed quarantine derived from COVID-19 pandemic? An approach to families perspectives.Research in developmental disabilitiesParents reported that children with autism were generally happier and calmer during quarantine, with many showing increased autonomy and participation in family routines. However, some children became more irritable or developed new stereotypies, while families missed external support and struggled with work-life balance.
• PTOTOther2021Relative independence of upper limb position sense and reaching in children with hemiparetic perinatal stroke.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with hemiparetic perinatal stroke varied in upper limb position sense and reaching. Robot tests showed no significant link between the two, so a child can have impaired position sense but normal reaching, or the reverse.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Neurodevelopmental profiles of children with unilateral cerebral palsy associated with middle cerebral artery and periventricular venous infarctions.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy caused by middle cerebral artery infarction had significantly worse hand function, sensation, and cognition than those with periventricular venous infarction. Therapists should screen for sensory and cognitive barriers in this group before starting upper limb training.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021A Data Driven Approach Reveals That Anomalous Motor System Connectivity is Associated With the Severity of Core Autism Symptoms.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism showed weaker brain connectivity between the right posterior cerebellum and the left inferior parietal lobule. This specific connectivity pattern correlated with more severe social deficits and repetitive behaviors, but showed no significant link to motor imitation or ball-catching scores.
• OTSLPCohort2021Touch and olfaction/taste differentiate children carrying a 16p11.2 deletion from children with ASD.Molecular autismChildren with idiopathic autism showed more touch and taste/smell issues than children with a 16p11.2 deletion. Both groups had higher sensory scores than typical children. The deletion group’s touch and taste/smell profiles looked more like typical children.
• OTOther2021ADHD severity as a predictor of cognitive task performance in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Research in developmental disabilitiesIn children with autism, higher parent-reported ADHD symptom severity was linked to poorer performance on attention and memory tasks. Autism symptom severity was not linked to these tasks. The study cannot show cause.
• PTOTCohort2021The multi-directional reach test in children with Down syndrome.Hong Kong physiotherapy journal : official publication of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association Limited = Wu li chih liaoChildren with Down syndrome showed shorter backward reach distances than typical peers. Younger children with Down syndrome also had shorter forward reach. They relied on hip and mixed movement strategies, never the ankle strategy used by typical children.
• PTOTOther2021A Scoping Review of Evidence-Informed Recommendations for Designing Inclusive Playgrounds.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThirteen design recommendations emerged from 35 studies, including flat surfaces, ramps to elevated structures, and sensory variety. Trained staff and involving families in the design process were also key to reducing barriers for children with disabilities.
• PTOTSLPCohortAssociation of Positional Plagiocephaly and Developmental Delay Within a Primary Care Network.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPInfants diagnosed with positional plagiocephaly in primary care were more likely to later receive a developmental delay diagnosis, particularly for motor and language delays. The skull shape diagnosis typically appeared months before the delay, suggesting it may serve as an early marker for children who need closer developmental monitoring.
• PTOTQualitative2021Parents' Perspectives on a Computer Game-Assisted Rehabilitation Program for Manual Dexterity in Children With Cerebral Palsy: Qualitative Analysis of Expectations, Child Engagement, and Benefits.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesParents found game-assisted hand therapy more engaging than conventional therapy for children with cerebral palsy, noting improved dexterity and interest. They requested more frequent updates to maintain challenge and expressed interest in home-based use.
• OTSLPCohort2021Understanding Stability and Change in Perceived Social Support in Parents of Autistic Children and Adolescents.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesPerceived social support, parent stress, and child behavior problems remained stable over one year. Higher support predicted lower stress and fewer behavior problems at 6 months, but stress and behavior did not predict later support. Interventions targeting support may help, but stability suggests early access is key.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Predictors of mental health among parents of children with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran: A web-based cross-sectional study.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregiver burden predicted anxiety, depression, and stress more strongly than income or education. About half of parents reported anxiety symptoms. For therapists, this means assessing and reducing the daily load of care, not just the child's function, is central to supporting the family.
• OTSLPOther2021Listening Effort in School-Aged Children With Limited Useable Hearing Unilaterally: Examining the Effects of a Personal, Digital Remote Microphone System and a Contralateral Routing of Signal System.Trends in hearingA personal remote microphone helped children with one-sided hearing loss understand speech and listen with less effort in most classroom-like conditions. A CROS system only helped when speech came from the deaf side. It made listening worse when speech came from the hearing side.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Not just at school: Inclusion of children with autism spectrum disorder in a weight management program in a community pediatric setting.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism completed an inclusive weight management program at the same rate as peers without autism. They achieved similar weight outcomes. Adaptations like predictable routines and sensory adjustments allowed them to participate fully alongside typically developing children.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Evaluation of sex differences in preschool children with and without autism spectrum disorder enrolled in the study to explore early development.Research in developmental disabilitiesPreschool boys and girls with autism symptoms scored almost identically on behavior, development, and screening tests. Small differences in restricted interests were not clinically meaningful. Screening tools appear equally sensitive for young children of both sexes, so do not assume girls present differently at this age.
• PTOTOther2021Scoping Review of Judgment-Based Measures of Ambulation with Assistive Devices for Children and Youth.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsExisting judgment-based measures for children walking with assistive devices rarely specify the device type or separate walkers from crutches. This makes it hard to track progress when a child switches devices. Current tools also use vague response scales that do not clearly define difficulty versus assistance.
• PTOTPilot2021Assessing Physical Function and Mobility following Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury with the NIH Toolbox Motor Battery: A Feasibility Study.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsThe NIH Toolbox Motor Battery is feasible for children with traumatic brain injury, taking about 23 minutes. It detects endurance and balance problems that parents may not report, but it fails in children under 5 due to distraction and difficulty following instructions.
• OTCohort2021Associations Between Emotional Competence and Prosocial Behaviors With Peers Among Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesPreschoolers with autism who spoke in complex sentences showed lower non-obvious emotion understanding, less positive coping, and lower emotion regulation. These traits, not negative temperament, tracked with weaker prosocial behavior.
• PTOTPilot2021Immersive virtual reality in children with upper limb injuries: Findings from a feasibility study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a small feasibility study, children with upper limb injuries reported that immersive virtual reality games made rehabilitation exercises more enjoyable, easier, and less painful than usual therapy. Physiotherapists observed increased range of motion and engagement, though the study lacked a control group and baseline data.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Feeding and eating problems in children and adolescents with autism: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFeeding problems, especially food selectivity driven by sensory issues, are pervasive in autistic youth. True eating disorders involving weight or shape concerns are rarely studied, yet evidence suggests higher risk. Clinicians must distinguish between sensory-based refusal and body-image pathology to avoid misdiagnosis and select appropriate treatment.
• PTOTOther2021Development and sensibility assessment of a health-related quality of life instrument for adults with severe disabilities who are non-ambulatory.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDCaregivers and professionals found a new Dutch caregiver-rated questionnaire for adults with severe non-ambulatory disabilities meaningful, understandable and usable. It takes about 20 minutes to complete, but further testing is needed before routine clinical use.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Surviving and Thriving: Early Intervention for Neonatal Survivors With Developmental Disability in Uganda.Infants and young childrenA peer-led early intervention for infants with disability in Uganda improved family quality of life and caregiver confidence. Neurological scores rose slightly, but developmental quotients did not change. Nutritional status worsened, with more children underweight and stunted after the program.
• OTPilot2020Examining child mealtime behavior as parents are coached to implement the Mealtime PREP intervention in the home: Findings from a pilot study.The British journal of occupational therapyParents coached in home mealtime strategies used more techniques over time. Child problematic behaviors and parent-reported mealtime issues significantly decreased. This pilot suggests coaching parents in structured mealtime routines may improve behavior, but lacks a control group to prove causation.
• PTOTCohort2021Gripforce reduction in children with an upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChildren with upper neonatal brachial plexus palsy had significantly weaker grip in their affected hand compared to healthy controls. This weakness was not linked to reduced sensation, shoulder movement, or poor bimanual coordination, suggesting the cause is unclear rather than a simple sensory or mechanical deficit.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Youth Baseball Caregiver Understanding of Safe Pitching Guidelines and Player Injury.International journal of sports physical therapyMost caregivers of youth pitchers did not know safe pitching guidelines existed. Caregivers who knew the rules monitored pitch counts better. Pitchers throwing breaking balls or pitching for more than six months a year were more likely to report arm pain.
• OTOther2020Development of Learning Media for the Elderly to Promote Child Health in the Community.Occupational therapy internationalGrandparents caring for young children most often needed help with daily self-care. A web-based media package for brushing, eating, dressing, bathing, and toileting was rated easy to use in a trial of 58 users, but no child outcomes were tested.
• PTOTOther2021Assessing the validity of administrative health data for the identification of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Ontario.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOntario administrative health data identified only 50.0% of children and youth with autism, and 56.6% of those flagged actually had autism. Billing data alone misses many and may mislabel others.
• OTNarrative Review2021Effects of extreme weather events on child mood and behavior.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAfter extreme weather events, children may show posttraumatic stress, depression, anxiety, aggression, sleep problems, and school difficulties. Social support and caregiver presence are associated with less severe or shorter mood symptoms; other factors are mixed.
• OTSLPSurvey2021It took a pandemic: Perspectives on impact, stress, and telehealth from caregivers of people with autism.Research in developmental disabilitiesCaregivers of children with autism reported that loss of daily structure and difficulty with emotion regulation were the biggest stressors during pandemic shutdowns. While many families found telehealth helpful for continuing care, it was often less effective for children with significant communication challenges.
• PTOTOther2021Assessing the Reliability of Handheld Dynamometry and Ultrasonography to Measure Quadriceps Strength and Muscle Thickness in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsHandheld dynamometry and ultrasound produced repeatable quadriceps strength and thickness readings in healthy children, adolescents, and young adults. Using the top two of three strength trials made readings more consistent. The study did not test patients with motor impairment.
• OTSLPCohort2021Impact of sleep, neuroendocrine, and executive function on health-related quality of life in young people with craniopharyngioma.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents reported worse quality of life in children with diabetes insipidus, but only because they also reported more executive function problems. The child's own view of their quality of life was not linked to sleepiness, brain involvement, or diabetes insipidus.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021DSM-5 symptom expression in toddlers.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregiver reports distinguish autism from other delays in toddlers. Repetitive behaviors and relationship deficits were most common. Insistence on sameness was rare, so two of the three remaining repetitive behavior criteria are needed for diagnosis. No single behavior is unique to autism.
• OTCase-Control2021Tactile cortical responses and association with tactile reactivity in young children on the autism spectrum.Molecular autismEarly brain responses to touch did not differ between autistic and neurotypical children, but a later response peaked about 10 ms sooner in autism. Autistic children had more parent-reported tactile difficulties, and early responses tracked tactile reactivity differently by group.
• OTOther2021Psychometric Properties of the Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist: English Version.Occupational therapy internationalFilipino parents could use the English Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation Checklist to report children's sensory and regulation behaviours consistently over time, and scores lined up with other parent checklists.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Early intervention evidence for infants with or at risk for cerebral palsy: an overview of systematic reviews.Developmental medicine and child neurologyEarly motor interventions for infants at risk of cerebral palsy show limited evidence. Active, task-specific training and environmental enrichment are weakly supported, but many trials are low quality. Passive techniques like stretching are ineffective. Clinicians should prioritize engaging, goal-directed activities over generalized stimulation.
• PTOTCase Report2021Gait training using a hybrid assistive limb after botulinum toxin treatment for cerebral palsy: a case report.Journal of physical therapy scienceA single case report describes a man with cerebral palsy who received botulinum toxin injections followed by robot-assisted gait training. Walking speed, endurance, and gross motor function improved and were maintained for three months. This describes one person's outcome, not a proven treatment.
• PTOTSLPPilot2021Short report on research trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and use of telehealth interventions and remote brain research in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practice6 children with ASD engaged in 60-minute Zoom gross-motor or seated-play activities twice weekly for 8 weeks. Children gave satisfaction 4.4 and parents 4.3 out of 5. No completed trial results are reported.
• OTSLPOther2021'No idea of time': Parents report differences in autistic children's behaviour relating to time in a mixed-methods study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic children reported significantly lower scores on time management and planning compared to parents of neurotypical children. Qualitative descriptions highlighted three key differences: struggles with learning time concepts, inflexible planning for the future, and time perception heavily influenced by the child's specific interests.
• PTOTSystematic Review2021Effect of virtual reality therapy, combined with physiotherapy for improving motor proficiency in individuals with Down syndrome: A systematic review.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdding Nintendo Wii exercise to standard physiotherapy or occupational therapy did not show overall better motor proficiency in Down syndrome. Agility improved in some studies, but balance, strength and coordination were mixed or inconclusive.
• OTSLPSurvey2021Needs assessment in unmet healthcare and family support services: A survey of caregivers of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder in Delaware.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers of 263 children and youth with autism reported unmet needs for speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills, and family support, especially provider shortages and access barriers.
• OTQualitative2021Implementing Partnering for Change in Québec: Occupational Therapy Activities and Stakeholders' Perceptions.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieTherapists spent most time on classroom-wide activities and building trust with staff. Stakeholders valued this collaboration but felt one day a week was insufficient to support all students and educators equitably.
• OTOther2021A video game based hand grip system for measuring muscle force in children.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA video game hand grip matched published grip norms in 14 of 20 age groups, and all but one of 13 patients with muscle disease finished. It is not yet a tested clinical measure for therapy changes.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Exploration of Sensory Processing Difficulties among Children Attending Primary School in Denmark.Occupational therapy internationalParents of 1,723 Danish primary school children reported that 21.3% showed definite sensory processing difficulties, with boys more affected than girls. The most common issues were sensory seeking and auditory filtering, suggesting a need for classroom awareness rather than clinical diagnosis.
• OTSurvey2021An investigation of the diet, exercise, sleep, BMI, and health outcomes of autistic adults.Molecular autismAutistic adults were less likely than non-autistic adults to meet minimal diet, exercise, and sleep recommendations, with more sleep problems and dietary restrictions, especially among autistic females.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021A Narrative Review of Function-Focused Measures for Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA review identified 14 ICF-based tools for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Most focus on participation and activity rather than body function. Seven target cerebral palsy, but three can be used for any child regardless of diagnosis.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Fathers Matter: Enhancing Healthcare Experiences Among Fathers of Children With Developmental Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesFathers of children with disabilities said they were involved, but clinicians said fathers were less involved. Seven fathers and 13 clinicians described ways to include fathers: direct attention, explain, take time, and accommodate schedules.
• OTCohort2021Mealtime behaviours of young children with sensory food aversions: An observational study.Australian occupational therapy journalMealtimes averaged 17.5 minutes in 21 children with sensory food aversions. They accepted 18.2 preferred bites and 1.5 targeted bites. Longer mealtimes and licking were linked to targeted food acceptance; caregiver strategies were not.
• OTSLPRCT2021Examining a stepped-care telehealth program for parents of young children with autism: a proof-of-concept trial.Molecular autismParents using a stepped-care website for imitation training had higher fidelity and self-efficacy than usual care. Children in the program showed better parent-reported social communication, but objective imitation scores did not reach significance.
• OTSurvey2021Clinicians' Views on the Need for Cultural Adaptation of Intervention for Children with ADHD from the Ultraorthodox Community.Occupational therapy internationalTherapists treating Ultraorthodox children with ADHD report needing to adapt communication methods and visual materials. Parents often lack knowledge about the condition's biological basis, and stigma leads to hiding diagnoses. Standard digital contact and culturally mismatched images hinder engagement.
• OTSLPCohort2021Cataloguing and characterizing interests in typically developing toddlers and toddlers who develop ASD.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFor toddlers at high risk for autism, the unusualness of their interests, not just their intensity, better distinguished those who developed ASD from those who did not. High-risk siblings showed more intense interests than low-risk peers, regardless of diagnosis.