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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 19 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPCohort2022Which Factors Influence Teacher Report of Adaptive Functioning in Autistic Children?Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeachers reported very low adaptive functioning in autistic children. Scores dropped as age and parent-reported autism severity increased. Higher nonverbal ability and expressive language predicted better scores. Direct autism assessment did not predict adaptive functioning, except for motor skills.
• PTOTSurvey2022The impact of COVID-19 on the lifestyles of adolescents with cerebral palsy in the Southeast United States.Disability and health journalMost adolescents with cerebral palsy reported less exercise and less contact with friends and family during the pandemic. Many also had low mood or loss of interest. These are self-reported experiences, not evidence that any treatment worked.
• OTOther2021Examining the Effects of Parent-Created and Parent-Implemented Video Prompting to Teach Daily Living Skills to an Adolescent with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor one adolescent with autism, his mother's videos plus escalating prompts helped him complete three daily living tasks independently at home. One week later he used videos less and still completed most steps, but this single case cannot show it works for others.
• OTSLPCohort2022Trajectories of Symptom Severity in Children with Autism: Variability and Turning Points through the Transition to School.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAmong 187 children with autism followed from diagnosis to age 10, 51 improved continuously and 136 improved then plateaued around age 6. Higher scores on language, cognitive, and adaptive behavior measures were seen in the continuously improving group.
• OTRCT2022A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Daily Living Skills Intervention for Adolescents with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism who completed a 15-week daily living skills program showed significant improvements in hygiene and self-care compared to a waitlist group. Both groups improved in cooking and laundry over time, suggesting natural development or home practice also helps.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Review of Cognitive Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Performance on Six Subtests on Four Versions of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism consistently score high on Block Design and low on Coding, regardless of IQ or diagnosis. However, the classic profile of very low verbal scores disappears in higher-IQ children, who instead show strong language skills alongside these specific visual-motor weaknesses.
• OTCohort2022Application of Second-Order Growth Mixture Modeling to Longitudinal Traumatic Brain Injury Outcome Research: 15-Year Trajectories of Life Satisfaction in Adolescents and Young Adults as an Example.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost adolescents and young adults with TBI stayed high in life satisfaction over 15 years. Some stayed low, and others changed over time. Baseline employment, sex, race and cognitive independence were linked to these groups.
• OTSLPPilot2022Identifying Predictors of Momentary Negative Affect and Depression Severity in Adolescents with Autism: An Exploratory Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 17 autistic boys, poor social interaction quality predicted higher momentary negative affect. Early puberty showed more people boosted positive mood, while late puberty showed only interaction quality mattered. Emotional instability predicted parent-reported depression, but affect autocorrelation did not.
• OTOther2022Mental Health and Health Behaviour Changes for Mothers of Children with a Disability: Effectiveness of a Health and Wellbeing Workshop.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with disabilities reported lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores six weeks after attending a one-day workshop. They also felt more empowered and reported better wellbeing for themselves and their children, though no changes were seen in family cohesion or community access.
• OTOther2022Clinical utility of a pediatric hand exoskeleton: identifying users, practicability, and acceptance, and recommendations for design improvement.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn 10 children and adolescents with upper-limb impairment, wearing PEXO improved assisted-hand use in a two-hour assessment (AHA median 55 to 68 of 100) but did not improve the Box and Block Test; donning needed help, and technical failures occurred.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on therapy service delivery and functioning for school-aged children with disabilities in the United States.Disability and health journalCaregivers of children with disabilities reported losing therapy services during the pandemic, with 42% losing all therapy. Over half saw declines in endurance, communication, social skills, and behavior. Children with multiple diagnoses experienced greater declines across most domains.
• OTSLPCohort2022Evaluating the Feasibility of The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery for Autistic Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost autistic children completed the NIH Toolbox cognitive tests, but those with IQs below 70 struggled with the later tasks. The tests identified specific cognitive weaknesses in inhibition and processing speed, but did not show expected differences in flexibility or memory.
• OTSLPQualitative2022A Taxonomy of Reported Harms in Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening: Provider and Parent Perspectives.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents and providers reported seven domains of harm from autism screening, including psychological distress, social strain, and financial costs. Providers noted that borderline scores caused anxiety and doubt about clinical abilities. Parents reported feeling torn between advancing screening and maintaining family harmony.
• OTQualitative2021The experiences of mothers of children and young people with intellectual disabilities during the first COVID-19 lockdown period.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDMothers reported feeling abandoned by withdrawn services and overwhelmed by constant care duties, leading to worsened mental health. However, six described reduced challenging behaviours in their children due to less daily pressure. The study highlights the strain of isolation and the benefit of lower demands.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Electronic health record and patterns of care for children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost care for children with cerebral palsy happens without the child physically present. For every in-person visit, there were five care coordination interactions like calls or emails. Therapy and emergency visits were mostly in-person, while neurology and rehab relied heavily on remote coordination.
• OTSLPOther2022Externalizing Behaviors are Associated with Increased Parenting Stress in Caregivers of Young Children with Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExternalizing behaviors like aggression and tantrums predicted higher parenting stress in caregivers of young children with autism, more strongly than the autism diagnosis itself. Clinicians should prioritize managing these behavioral challenges to support caregiver well-being.
• OTSLPCohort2022Comparison of Adaptive Functioning Measures in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder Without Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism and average IQ scored significantly lower on the Vineland-3 than the ABAS-3. The Vineland-3 identified more severe deficits in daily living skills, which were far below their cognitive abilities. Choose the measure based on whether you need to document impairment or plan intervention.
• PTOTPilot2022Altered white matter diffusivity and subtle motor function in a pilot cohort of adolescents with sports-related concussion.Brain injuryAdolescents with recent concussion showed subtle motor deficits and higher mean diffusivity in the superior corona radiata. This brain measure correlated with worse motor scores. These findings suggest subtle motor tests may reflect white matter changes, but the small pilot sample cannot confirm this as a diagnostic marker.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Characteristics Associated with the Use of an Inpatient Rehabilitation or Skilled Nursing Facility after Acute Care in Children with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.Developmental neurorehabilitationChildren with severe TBI in the UK had 93% lower odds of inpatient rehabilitation than US peers. Longer acute stays predicted home-based care. Younger children and African Americans in the US were less likely to be admitted to inpatient rehab, though these demographic findings were unadjusted.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Health-Related Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients with Syndromic Autism and their Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers reported children with syndromic autism had low quality of life, especially physical functioning. Rett syndrome scored lowest. Families rated emotional well-being as the area most strained. Therapists should ask about mobility, pain, energy, self-care, school participation, and family stress.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Cognitive and Electrophysiological Correlates of Working Memory Impairments in Neurofibromatosis Type 1.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe main EEG memory measure did not differ between 16 children with NF1 and 16 controls, but NF1 showed shorter brain-wave timing and different scalp patterns. Behaviourally, NF1 had poorer working memory and attention.
• OTSLPQualitative2022"Together in a pressure cooker": Parenting children with disabilities during the COVID-19 lockdown.Disability and health journalParents described losing school-based therapy and support as forcing them to become their child's teacher and therapist overnight. They reported stress, guilt, and job strain from juggling these roles alone, though some found closer family bonds in the downtime.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Parental Views of Families of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Developmental Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of children with autism described the lockdown as a mix of strain and unexpected gain. They reported lost school support and social isolation, but also more time together, improved father-child interaction, and new self-care or verbal skills in their children.
• OTSLPOther2022Characterizing Social Functioning in School-Age Children with Sensory Processing Abnormalities.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with sensory abnormalities had worse social functioning than typically developing children and similar functioning to children with autism, even when communication differences were considered.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Parent Questionnaires in the Evaluation of Pre-School Children Referred for Neuropsychiatric Assessment.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParent questionnaires tracked with autism severity, but the ABC missed many children with higher IQs. The ESSENCE-Q identified almost all diagnosed cases regardless of ability. Use these tools as guides for assessment, not as standalone diagnostic proof.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Surgery versus botulinum neurotoxin A to reduce drooling and improve daily life for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities: a randomized controlled trial.Developmental medicine and child neurologyBilateral submandibular duct ligation reduced drooling and daily care demands more effectively than botulinum toxin A at 8 and 32 weeks. Surgery caused more short-term adverse events but no long-term complications. It improved satisfaction with family relationships and life in general.
• OTSLPOther2021Parental relationship status and age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis of their child.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren whose biological parents were not together received an autism diagnosis 1.4 years later on average than children whose parents were together. This delay persisted after adjusting for income, race, insurance, and symptom severity. Families with separated parents may need extra navigation support.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Professionals' motivation to support parental self-management regarding children with physical disability in Dutch rehabilitation services: 'Please mind your gap'.Child: care, health and developmentMost therapists believe parents should actively manage their child's care, but few expect them to lead independently. Professionals struggle to balance giving control versus taking over, often steering parents toward their own preferred methods despite valuing partnership.
• OTCohort2022Psychosocial Adjustment in Emerging Adults With and Without Spina Bifida: A 14-Year Follow-up Study.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAt 22-23 years, emerging adults with spina bifida were less likely to be married, dating, working or studying, and had fewer friends and family supports, but reported similar emotional symptoms and relationship quality.
• PTOTCohort2021Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination Clinical Use to Recommend Therapist Assessment of Functional Hand Asymmetries.Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy AssociationHINE asymmetry score 4 or higher in infants 3-12 months flagged infants for therapist HAI assessment. It caught all infants with a 3-point hand difference and correctly cleared 88% of those without that difference. For 2-point differences, it did not catch all infants.
• OTSLPCohort2022Impact of School Closures due to COVID-19 on Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Japan.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSchool closures increased aggressive behavior and externalizing problems in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, with anxiety and depression rising only in those with intellectual disability. Most children showed small changes, but some deteriorated markedly.
• OTSLPCohort2021What are the odds? Predicting the likelihood of a negative episode in a sample of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIgnoring a toddler's request for help or jumping in before they ask made a negative episode more likely. Specific comforting actions did not change the odds. Watch for the child's cues and wait for them to ask before stepping in.
• PTOTOther2021Determination of the conceptual structures of the disturbed activities of daily living due to Katakori by evaluating patients' values or perceptions using a patient-elicitation technique.Journal of physical therapy sciencePeople with Katakori, a Japanese term for neck and shoulder stiffness, identified 24 distinct ways it disturbs daily life. The most common issues were using computers and phones, while caring for children was rated the most burdensome. Existing questionnaires missed these specific problems.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Spasticity-related pain in children/adolescents with cerebral palsy. Part 1: Prevalence and clinical characteristics from a pooled analysis.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineSpasticity-related pain is common in children with cerebral palsy, affecting over 80% of those with lower limb spasticity and nearly 70% with upper limb spasticity. Pain intensity increases with physical demand, being highest during exercises and hard tasks rather than at rest.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Executive function as measured by the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-2: children and adolescents with Williams syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Williams syndrome show severe executive function deficits, particularly in cognitive regulation. Inhibit difficulties predict attention problems, while Shift difficulties predict anxiety. These parent-reported deficits are unrelated to intellectual ability but strongly linked to poor adaptive living skills.
• OTOther2022Food insecurity in households of children with ASD in COVID-19 pandemic: A comparative analysis with the Household Pulse Survey data using stabilized inverse probability treatment weights.Disability and health journalHouseholds of children with autism were nearly four times more likely to face very low food security during the pandemic compared to the general population. They relied more on school meals and faced greater barriers to delivery and grocery shopping than other families.
• OTSLPCohort2021Developmental Outcomes in Early-Identified Children Who Are Hard of Hearing at 2 to 3 Years of Age.Ear and hearingHard-of-hearing toddlers with hearing aids scored lower than hearing peers in language and adaptive behavior, but not in emotional or behavioral problems. Their social competence lagged specifically in areas requiring conversation, not basic empathy.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Effectiveness of Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance intervention in improving motor skills of children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized waitlist-control trial.Clinical rehabilitationChildren with developmental coordination disorder improved their self-rated motor performance and satisfaction, and these gains lasted three months. However, they did not show immediate improvement in general motor skills on standardized testing. Children with co-occurring ADHD did not show this delayed general transfer.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Social and non-social sensory responsivity in toddlers at high-risk for autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchToddlers who later developed autism showed higher sensory responsivity to both social and non-social stimuli at 12 months. These differences widened by 24 months, suggesting early sensory irregularities are generalized rather than limited to social contexts.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2021Using the Ecological Validity Model to adapt parent-involved interventions for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Latinx community: A conceptual review.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdapting parent-led autism interventions for Latinx families requires addressing language, family roles, and cultural values. Using bilingual materials and involving extended family improves engagement. This framework guides clinical practice but does not prove these adaptations increase child outcomes.
• PTOTRCT2022The effects of short bouts of ergometric exercise for severely burned children in intensive care: A randomized controlled trial.Clinical rehabilitationShort bouts of ergometric exercise in the burn ICU were safe and feasible but did not improve lean body mass, total weight, or walking distance compared to standard care alone. Both groups improved similarly. The study was small and underpowered, so a benefit cannot be ruled out.
• PTOTSLPRCT2021Longitudinal Changes in the Sensorimotor Pathways of Very Preterm Infants During the First Year of Life With and Without Intervention: A Pilot Study.Developmental neurorehabilitationNon-sedated MRI scans in very preterm infants were feasible, with high retention and image quality. Brain white matter structure changed predictably over six months. Differences between intervention groups were inconsistent and could not determine if the therapy worked.
• OTSLPCohort2022Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic early adolescents reported more severe depressive symptoms than neurotypical peers, with females reporting higher severity than males. These effects were additive, meaning autistic females had the highest scores. Autistic youth specifically endorsed more interpersonal problems and negative self-esteem, including beliefs of worthlessness.
• PTOTQualitative2022Walking activities beyond gait training: Priorities in everyday life for parents and adolescents in pediatric neurorehabilitation.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineParents prioritized school group movement and obstacle navigation, while adolescents focused on independent public transport use. These distinct priorities suggest gait therapy goals should shift from normalizing movement patterns to practicing specific, meaningful daily activities for each age group.
• OTSLPCohort2021Peer preferences and characteristics of same-group and cross-group social interactions among autistic and non-autistic adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic students strongly preferred interacting with other autistic peers, while non-autistic students showed no significant preference for either group. Over five months, both groups increasingly sought out same-neurotype partners. Social interactions between autistic peers were more reciprocal and relational than those across neurotypes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Evidence-based position paper of the UEMS PRM on the role of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physician in the management of children and adults with spinal dysraphism.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineThis consensus statement defines the role of the rehabilitation physician in managing spinal dysraphism across the lifespan. It recommends interdisciplinary team care, ICF-based assessment, and lifelong follow-up, but provides no evidence on whether these interventions improve patient outcomes.
• OTSLPSurvey2022The Impact of COVID-19 on Anxiety and Worries for Families of Individuals with Special Education Needs and Disabilities in the UK.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver anxiety and awareness of the pandemic predicted higher anxiety in children with special needs, more than age or diagnosis did. Anxiety and worries about lost routine rose sharply in both SEND children and their siblings when schools closed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Risk factors for development of long-term mood and anxiety disorder after pediatric traumatic brain injury: a population-based, birth cohort analysis.Brain injuryChildren who sustained a traumatic brain injury at age 5 or older had a higher risk of developing anxiety or mood disorders by age 25 than those injured before age 5. Injury severity and other factors showed weaker or inconsistent associations.
• OTCohortAdolescent Chronic Health Conditions and School Disconnectedness.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFifteen-year-olds with chronic health conditions, especially developmental or behavioral ones, reported feeling less part of school, more trouble with teachers and peers, and more bullying than peers without conditions.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Factors Contributing to Psychological Ill-Effects and Resilience of Caregivers of Children with Developmental Disabilities During a Nation-wide Lockdown During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersDuring lockdown, over half of caregivers of children with developmental disabilities screened positive for depression and anxiety. Poor guidance from therapists and difficulty keeping children indoors were key predictors of distress, while higher resilience was linked to better support.