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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 20 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPCohort2022Adding the missing voice: How self-report of autistic youth self-report on an executive functioning rating scale compares to parent report and that of youth with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or neurotypical development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic youth self-report executive function problems that match their parents' overall pattern but are consistently less severe. Their own reports identify flexibility as a primary struggle, validating the use of self-report alongside parent forms to capture the patient's perspective.
• OTCohort2022Eating Problems in Autistic Females and Males: A Co-twin Control Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits and autism diagnosis were linked to more eating problems in adolescents and adults, even after accounting for ADHD and anxiety. This link was strongest in females, who reported more difficulty eating in social situations outside the home.
• OTSLPCase-Control2022Spatial Hearing Difficulties in Reaching Space in Bilateral Cochlear Implant Children Improve With Head Movements.Ear and hearingBilateral cochlear implant children struggled with front-back sound location and distance, but allowing head movements significantly improved their accuracy. Clinicians should encourage active head orientation during listening tasks rather than enforcing stillness, as this natural behavior helps resolve spatial confusion.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Mortality in pediatric hydrocephalus.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn children with hydrocephalus, death is more often caused by other medical conditions than by the hydrocephalus itself. When hydrocephalus did cause death, half the cases involved catastrophic shunt failure, while others followed decisions to withhold surgery based on perceived poor neurodevelopmental outcomes.
• OTSLPCohort2022Early-Life Environmental and Child Factors Associated with the Presence of Disruptive Behaviors in Seven-Year-Old Children with Autistic Traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMany early-life factors link to disruptive behaviors in autistic children, not just autism itself. Smoking, difficult temperament, and family stress were specific to the disruptive group. Screen for these to tailor behavioral support.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Thirty-Second Single-Leg Stance Identifies Impaired Postural Control in Children After Concussion: A Preliminary Report.Journal of sport rehabilitationA 30-second single-leg stance test identified postural control deficits in children after concussion, even after clinical recovery. This static task was more sensitive than dynamic gait tests for detecting subtle, persistent balance issues in this preliminary study.
• OTSLPQualitative2022In their own words: The impact of subtle language and communication difficulties as described by autistic girls and boys without intellectual disability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children without intellectual disability reported word-finding, listening, group conversation and explaining emotions as breaking down communication. They linked these difficulties to stress, avoidance and missed daily activities, and named written supports and familiar topics as helpful.
• OTCohort2022Sensory Processing in Williams Syndrome: Individual differences and changes over time.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost children with Williams syndrome had parent-reported sensory difficulties, especially with sound, noticing sensory input, discomfort and avoiding stimuli. Over follow-up, fewer systems were impaired, but difficulties noticing sensory input remained common.
• PTOTOther2021Sex differences in sensory processing in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchGirls with autism had higher parent-reported hearing and balance and motion sensory scores than boys with autism, while typically developing girls and boys did not differ.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Caregiver perspectives on the impact of uncertainty on the everyday lives of autistic children and their families.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents of autistic children described school and routine changes as major sources of anxiety. Children reacted with repetitive questions, shutdowns or avoidance, leading to missed education and social opportunities. Parents managed this through extensive preparation, reassurance and family accommodation.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Goal Attainment Scaling: An Idiographic Measure Sensitive to Parent and Teacher Report of IEP Goal Outcome Assessment for Students with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAn independent observer's goal attainment ratings correlated with parent and teacher reports of progress, but not with standardized behavior scales. This supports using individualized goal tracking for IEPs, while suggesting broad norm-referenced tests miss specific skill changes.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022A community-engaged approach to examining barriers and facilitators to accessing autism services in Korean immigrant families.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKorean immigrant parents described barriers to autism services including long waitlists, school dismissals, and stigma. They valued family-centered care, bilingual providers, and community organizations. These findings highlight specific communication and navigation needs for therapists working with this population.
• PTOTRCT2022Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCerebellar tDCS did not improve motor sequence learning speed in children with DCD. Accuracy showed only an unconfirmed improvement.
• PTOTOther2022Physical rehabilitation interventions in children with acquired brain injury: a scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNine studies mapped physical rehab for children with acquired brain injury, but none reported intervention intensity. While all showed positive body-function gains, the evidence is too heterogeneous to prove which treatments work best or how much practice is needed.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Early childhood neurodevelopmental outcome after open prenatal spina bifida aperta repair.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAt 2 years, cognition was low-average at 95.15, still lower than the norm mean of 100. Language and motor were also lower, with motor composite 77.78 and only 50.8% walking with or without devices.
• OTSurvey2022Child and Parental Mental Health as Correlates of School Non-Attendance and School Refusal in Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents reported children on the autism spectrum missed 6.3 full days and 3.8 half days over 20 school days. School refusal accounted for 57.2% of full-day absences. Parents not in paid work were linked to more absences.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Sitting on the Sidelines: Disparities in Social, Recreational, and Community Participation Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism from lower-income households and those with caregivers having less education participate significantly less in sports, clubs, and paid work. Males with autism join fewer clubs and organized activities than females. These disparities are present during middle and high school.
• PTOTQualitative2022Research agenda setting with children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Lessons learned.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with juvenile arthritis prioritized research on how the condition affects their future schooling, work, and relationships, followed by fatigue, pain, medication administration, and safe sports participation. These priorities differed significantly from those of adults and clinicians.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Muscle strength and executive function in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism showed lower muscle strength and poorer executive function than healthy peers. Higher muscle strength predicted better executive function specifically in the autism group, but not in healthy children. BMI was unrelated to these outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Nutrient adequacy, dietary patterns and diet quality among children with and without intellectual disabilities.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with intellectual disabilities ate far fewer vegetables than typical peers, but overall diet quality was poor in both groups. Most children missed key nutrients like vitamin D and calcium regardless of disability status. Snack intake correlated with higher BMI in children with ID.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Content validation of common measures of functioning for young children against the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and Code and Core Sets relevant to neurodevelopmental conditions.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceNo single standard assessment for young children with neurodevelopmental conditions covers enough of the ICF framework to be comprehensive on its own. Clinicians need to use a battery of measures alongside clinical reasoning to get a complete picture of a child's functioning.
• OTCohort2022Neurocognitive functioning of children with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders: profile characteristics and predictors of behavioural problems.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with mild intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders showed major weaknesses in processing speed and working memory. However, these cognitive deficits did not predict behavioural problems. Verbalising during tasks and better visual-spatial skills were linked to internalising symptoms, while no consistent pattern emerged for externalising behaviours.
• PTOTSLPRCT2022Effects of ATLAS 2030 gait exoskeleton on strength and range of motion in children with spinal muscular atrophy II: a case series.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationThree non-ambulatory children with SMA type II showed increased lower limb strength and range of motion after ten sessions with the ATLAS 2030 exoskeleton. Hip extension and knee flexion improved most. Without a control group, these gains cannot be separated from natural variation or concurrent stretching.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2021Mechanisms of Aminoglycoside- and Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity.American journal of audiologyAminoglycosides and cisplatin enter inner ear hair cells through specific ion channels, causing permanent hearing and balance loss. Inflammation, noise exposure, and certain co-administered drugs significantly worsen this damage. Clinicians should monitor high-risk patients closely during and after treatment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Effect of sex chromosome number variation on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms, executive function, and processing speed.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with Turner syndrome showed broader deficits in attention, hyperactivity, and executive function than controls. Children with Klinefelter syndrome showed specific weaknesses in working memory and attention problems, but not hyperactivity. These distinct profiles suggest different clinical management strategies for each condition.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Teacher Characteristics, Knowledge and Use of Evidence-Based Practices in Autism Education in Ireland.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost Irish primary teachers have low knowledge of autism evidence-based practices, relying instead on traditional methods. Teachers with more training and frequent access to allied health support report higher knowledge and use of these practices.
• OTSLPCohort2022Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) given for poor feeding in at-risk infants also improves their motor abilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineInfants who achieved full oral feeds after taVNS paired with bottle-feeding showed greater gains in head and neck control than those who did not. Responders improved their motor scores by an average of 1.7 points, while non-responders showed no change.
• OTRCT2022A preliminary randomized, controlled trial of executive function training for children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practice10 hours of computer executive-function training plus coaching changed children's brain response during a conflict task, but did not improve lab or parent-reported executive function. A reduction in repetitive behaviors was not a planned main result.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Predictors of Satisfaction with Autism Treatment Services During COVID-19.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of autistic children reported lower satisfaction with speech, occupational, and behavioral therapy when delivered via telehealth compared to in-person. However, higher caregiver stress predicted higher satisfaction with psychotherapy and occupational therapy. These are associations from a survey, not proof of cause.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Capturing and Operationalizing Participation in Pediatric Re/Habilitation Research Using Artificial Intelligence: A Scoping Review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesArtificial intelligence tools currently measure only observable behavior, failing to capture how children actually feel or think during therapy activities. These tools also rely on data from autistic boys, meaning they cannot yet assess the full experience of participation for all patients.
• OTCase-Control2022Real-world executive functioning for autistic children in school and home settings.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children were rated as having greater everyday executive function difficulties at school and at home, especially shifting between activities. Age-related differences appeared mainly in school, and ratings tracked adaptive behavior in the same setting.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Experience of Autistic Children and Their Families During the Pandemic: From Distress to Coping Strategies.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost parents and many autistic children found the pandemic stressful. Parents reported routines, understanding needs, and social contact helped; lost services, isolation, and school demands hindered. Children valued electronics, while parents often saw too much access as a barrier.
• OTOther2022Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder of All Ages, Levels of Symptom Severity and General Cognitive Ability Display Low Processing Speed Index Scores Warranting Special Educational Assistance.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism and no intellectual disability had low processing speed scores. The low scores were present across ages, general ability, symptom severity and uneven verbal and reasoning score profiles. This suggests school support may be needed regardless of those differences.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2021Relation of sensory processing and stomatognical system of oral respiratory children.CoDASMouth-breathing children showed significantly more sensory processing dysfunction than nasal-breathing peers, especially in balance and movement. This may contribute to head movements and food escape during eating. Screen for sensory issues in mouth-breathers who struggle with mealtimes.
• OTSLPOther2021Child Psychological Functioning During the COVID-19 Lockdown: An Ecological, Family-Centered Approach.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPDuring lockdown, children's internalizing problems linked to parent depression and poor attachment security. Externalizing problems linked to family chaos and dysfunction. Children's COVID-19 anxiety tracked with their own fear of being alone and their parents' anxiety, not family income.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022The diagnostic trajectory of developmental coordination disorder in the Netherlands: Experiences of mothers.Child: care, health and developmentMothers of children with DCD were mostly satisfied with the diagnosis, yet 40% found the process stressful and it took about three years. Satisfaction depended heavily on the diagnosing professional's manner and the support provided after the diagnosis.
• OTSystematic Review2022Cognitive rehabilitation in people with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review of emerging virtual reality-based approaches.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 17 small studies of 226 people with autism, virtual reality training often reported improved attention, memory, executive skills, or daily skills, but only nine showed clear gains. Evidence is too uneven to change routine practice.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Intrauterine drug exposure as a risk factor for cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyInfants with intrauterine drug exposure had a 5.2% rate of cerebral palsy, ten times higher than the general population. Even after excluding very preterm infants, the rate remained significantly elevated. These children warrant high-risk developmental surveillance regardless of other medical complications.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2021The impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of caregivers of autistic children and youth: A scoping review.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchCaregivers of autistic children reported severe stress from lost therapies and school closures. Parents managed by creating new routines and connecting online. Telehealth helped some families but failed those with limited access or complex needs. The review found no evidence that these remote adaptations actually improved child or parent outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Early Intervention Referral Information, Transmission, and Sources-A Survey of State Part C Coordinators and Analysis of Referral Forms.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPState Early Intervention referral forms vary widely, with healthcare settings sending the most referrals but only 25% of forms explicitly targeting providers. Parents remain a major source, yet few forms are translated. Clinicians should verify local referral pathways, as electronic data exchange between health and education systems is rare.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Using ICF to Describe Problems With Functioning in Everyday Life for Children Who Completed Treatment for Brain Tumor: An Analysis Based on Professionals' Documentation.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesRecords for nine brain tumor survivors focused almost exclusively on body functions, ignoring how these problems link to school and social participation. Therapists should stop assuming medical charts capture daily life barriers and explicitly document activity limitations and environmental supports.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Exploring interpersonal and environmental factors of autistic adolescents' peer engagement in integrated education.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePeer engagement depended on shared interests and peers' acceptance of social styles. Autistic students thrived when activities allowed them to connect over common passions, while rigid behavioral expectations often led to rejection.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in a large, diverse metropolitan area: Variation by sociodemographic factors.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchActive surveillance found ASD in 36 per 1,000 public school children in four New Jersey counties. Prevalence varied widely by district and county. Hispanic children were identified less often than White peers. Mid-income districts showed higher rates than low or high-income ones.
• OTCohort2022Impact of Disclosure over Time on the Emotional Well-Being of Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV Infection in South Africa.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPGradual HIV disclosure with caregiver support did not appear to worsen emotional well-being over 18 months. Depression, anxiety, and behavior scores stayed low or decreased; HIV medicine adherence did not change.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2021Analysis of the SPARK study COVID-19 parent survey: Early impact of the pandemic on access to services, child/parent mental health, and benefits of online services.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFamilies of children with autism reported severe service disruptions, especially for speech, OT, and PT. Parents of younger children and those with greater impairments or language delays saw the least benefit from online services. Low-income families hoped for future online options.
• PTOTSLPCohort2021Individuals with FOXP1 syndrome present with a complex neurobehavioral profile with high rates of ADHD, anxiety, repetitive behaviors, and sensory symptoms.Molecular autismMost patients with FOXP1 syndrome have ADHD and anxiety, but only 23% receive treatment. Autism scores on standard tests are high, yet clinical consensus diagnoses it in just 24%. Therapists should prioritize managing attention and anxiety symptoms over relying solely on autism screening tools.
• OTCohortParent-Reported Social Skills in Children with Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Longitudinal Patterns and Relations with Attention and Cognitive Functioning.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents reported social skills challenges in 32% of young children and 24% of school-age children with NF1. Early childhood inattention predicted later social difficulties. Cognitive ability did not correlate with social skills. Most children did not have significant social deficits.
• PTOTCohort2022Muscle synergy structure and gait patterns in children with spastic cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy who walked with different gait patterns showed highly similar muscle synergy structures. While specific muscle weights varied, these differences were small and not clearly linked to the gait pattern or walking speed, suggesting individual motor control strategies rather than pattern-specific neural signatures.
• PTOTSLPOther2021Critically Examining the Person-Environment Relationship and Implications of Intersectionality for Participation in Children's Rehabilitation Services.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThis perspective argues that clinicians should look at a child's whole identity and environment together, not just single traits like age or ethnicity. This helps spot hidden barriers to therapy participation. It suggests using family-centered care to co-create solutions and advocate for system changes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Parental engagement in early intervention for infants with cerebral palsy-A realist synthesis.Child: care, health and developmentWeekly face-to-face coaching and accessible home materials help parents stick with infant therapy. However, home programmes do not consistently improve infant motor skills, and parents often find the process stressful despite high adherence.