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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 23 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPOther2022Elevated symptoms of executive dysfunction predict lower adaptive functioning in 3-year-olds with autism spectrum disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchToddlers with autism had higher parent-rated executive function difficulties than siblings, children with other delays, and typically developing peers. These difficulties were linked to poorer communication, socialization, and daily living skills, even after accounting for development and autism severity.
• PTOTCohort2022A further study of relations between motor impairment and social communication, cognitive, language, functional impairments, and repetitive behavior severity in children with ASD using the SPARK study dataset.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 13,887 children with autism, parent-reported motor problems were worse when social communication, repetitive behavior, cognitive, language, or daily-living difficulties were greater. Writing, cutting, ball skills, and coordination problems were most linked to those difficulties.
• PTOTOther2022Motor skills predict adaptive behavior in autistic children and adolescents.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMotor skills, especially manual dexterity, were associated with adaptive behavior scores in autistic children and adolescents even when IQ and autism severity were considered. Higher movement or manual dexterity scores went with higher daily living, communication, and socialization scores.
• OTSLPCohort2022Attention/Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adolescent and Young Adult Males With Fragile X Syndrome.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilities42% of adolescent and young adult males with Fragile X Syndrome met DSM-5 criteria for ADHD, mostly the inattentive type. The CBCL rating scale missed nearly 20% of these cases, so relying on it alone can lead to under-diagnosis in this group.
• OTRCT2022Effect of Occupation Performance Coaching with Four-Quadrant Model of Facilitated Learning on Children with Specific Learning Disorder.Occupational therapy internationalSix mothers coached in a combined problem-solving and learning model reported that their children with specific learning disorder improved in daily activities and executive function. The intervention was delivered to mothers, not children, and the small sample size prevents firm conclusions about efficacy.
• OTSLPCohort2022Associations among co-occurring medical conditions and cognition, language, and behavior in Down syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesChildren with Down syndrome and gastrointestinal issues showed more social difficulties, maladaptive behaviors, and executive function challenges than those without. No such differences were found for hearing loss, vision problems, or heart defects. Screen for GI issues when behavior or social skills are a concern.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022A qualitative examination of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children and adolescents with autism and their parents.Research in developmental disabilitiesMost parents reported their children lost previously mastered skills, but others noted gains in daily living and reduced stress. Families need flexible service delivery and caregiver training to navigate disruptions.
• OTMeta-Analysis2022Effectiveness of mindfulness parent training on parenting stress and children's ADHD-related behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTMindfulness parent training showed small-to-large reductions in parenting stress and ADHD symptoms within treatment groups. However, when compared directly to active controls, effects were inconsistent and based on few studies. Evidence is preliminary due to high risk of bias and publication bias.
• OTCase-Control2022Reduced mismatch negativity in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder is associated with their impaired adaptive functioning.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn children and adolescents with autism, a smaller brain response to unexpected sounds was linked to lower parent-reported daily living skills, not to autism symptom severity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Participation of children with and without disabilities in home, school, and community in Hong Kong: A 2-year longitudinal study.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTOver two years, children with and without disabilities in Hong Kong played fewer indoor games and used more technology at home. School event attendance rose, but community physical activity showed a non-significant decline. How involved children felt in these activities stayed largely unchanged.
• OTOther2022Handwriting legibility across different writing tasks in school-aged children.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTHandwriting legibility drops significantly as task complexity increases, with free-writing being hardest to read. Letter formation is the strongest predictor of overall legibility across all tasks. Assess children on both copying and generating text to catch hidden difficulties.
• OTOther2022Cross-cultural adaptation and reliability of the Arabic version of Children's Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ).Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Arabic hand-use questionnaire became understandable and repeatable for Jordanian children with one-hand dysfunction after wording changes. Knife-and-fork and card activities fit local daily life less well.
• OTSLPCohort2022Early predictors of language skills at 3 years of age vary based on diagnostic outcome: A baby siblings research consortium study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchFor infants later diagnosed with autism, higher gesture scores at 12 months predicted lower language skills at 3 years, unlike in typically developing infants. Maternal education strongly predicted language outcomes in the autism group, with those whose mothers had less than a college degree showing the lowest scores.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Developmental profiles of children at risk for autism spectrum disorder at school entry.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren referred for autism assessment but not diagnosed showed functional profiles at school entry nearly identical to those who were diagnosed. Both groups scored significantly lower than typically developing peers across social, emotional, and communication domains, suggesting comparable support needs despite differing funding eligibility.
• OTSLPSurvey2022Remote and Hybrid Schooling During COVID-19: Associations with Child Behavior and Sleep.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents reported that elementary children in remote schooling had more hyperactivity, peer problems, and total behavior difficulties than those in-person. Remote learners also showed later sleep midpoints and higher odds of co-sleeping. Hybrid learners had fewer issues than remote, but some social deficits remained.
• OTCohort2022Social and community inclusion outcomes for adults with autism with and without intellectual disability in Australia.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRMost adults with autism in this Australian cohort had poor or very poor overall outcomes, especially those with intellectual disability. Many lived with family or in supported accommodation, attended day programmes, and had limited peer relationships.
• OTOther2022Research on Children's Cognitive Education Based on Pathological Linguistics.Occupational therapy internationalThis paper describes the design and development of a computer-based system for assessing children's cognitive and language skills. It does not report a clinical trial, cohort study, or case series with patient outcomes that would allow for a summary of treatment effects or diagnostic accuracy. Consequently, there are no clinical findings to report.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Limitation of developmental test to measure functional independence of children: Relationship between the Japanese version of WeeFIM II® and KSPD.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineDevelopmental test scores do not reliably predict how much daily support a child needs. For children under two, the link is negligible for most tasks. Only for older children does the test correlate moderately with independence, and even then, it fails to fully explain required support.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022Retrospective Case-Control Study of Communication and Motor Abilities in 143 Children With Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Speech: Effect of Concomitant Diagnosis.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsChildren with suspected childhood apraxia of speech and another major diagnosis showed more severe speech and motor delays than those without. They sat, crawled, and walked later, had smaller sound inventories, and often had feeding difficulties, suggesting a need for broader assessment.
• PTOTCohort2022Association of ethnicity and adaptive functioning with health-related quality of life in pediatric myelomeningocele.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineHispanic children with spina bifida reported higher quality of life than White peers when adaptive skills were high. This link was absent at lower skill levels. Clinicians should ask families about their specific goals for independence rather than assuming motor skills drive well-being.
• OTOther2022Design of an Intervention and Education System for Children with Emotional Disorders Based on Semantic Analysis.Occupational therapy internationalThis is a system design report, not a clinical trial. It gives no clear sample, intervention outcomes, or methods, so there is nothing here to change practice.
• OTOther2023Pain sensitivity and perceptual sensitivity are associated with severity of emotional dysregulation in children with ADHD: a cross-sectional analysis using the Temperament in Middle Childhood Questionnaire.Disability and rehabilitationChildren with ADHD who react strongly to minor pain or notice small environmental changes more often had severe emotional outbursts. Parents reported these children were more likely to cry when hurt or be upset by a small cut, correlating with higher irritability and anger scores.
• PTOTRCT2022Comparison of Six-Minute Walk Test and Modified Bruce Treadmill Test in Paediatric Patients With Severe Burns: A Cross-Over Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineThe treadmill test pushed children with severe burns to higher heart rates and perceived effort than the six-minute walk. The walk test was easier to complete and remains a useful option for patients who cannot tolerate the treadmill.
• PTOTRCT2023Elbow flexion contractures in neonatal brachial plexus palsy: A one-year comparison of dynamic orthosis and serial casting.Clinical rehabilitationAfter one year, a dynamic night orthosis and serial casting reduced elbow contractures in children with brachial plexus injury by a similar amount. Serial casting worked faster in the first few months, but the difference disappeared by 54 weeks. Functional outcomes and adherence were comparable.
• PTOTOther2023Spasticity-related pain in children/adolescents with cerebral palsy. Part 2: IncobotulinumtoxinA efficacy results from a pooled analysis.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with cerebral palsy reported less spasticity-related pain after incobotulinumtoxinA injections, with relief deepening over four cycles. By the fourth cycle, 33.8% were pain-free during hard tasks. Without a placebo group, some improvement may reflect natural variation rather than the drug alone.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2022Telehealth and Remote Interventions for Children With Cerebral Palsy: Scoping Review.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesEvidence for telehealth in children with cerebral palsy is scarce and of poor quality, primarily from underpowered pilots. While aggregate results suggest telehealth may match or improve face-to-face care for hand function, clinical recommendations are not possible due to methodological flaws and inconsistent outcome measures.
• PTOTCohort2022Hip subluxation in Italian cerebral palsy children and its determinants: a retrospective cohort study.International journal of rehabilitation research. Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue internationale de recherches de readaptationHip displacement worsens fastest in early childhood and around puberty. Standing and walking devices with weight relief were linked to lower migration, especially when combined with botulinum. Surgery reduced displacement, but soft tissue surgery did not prevent progression long-term.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Effects of inpatient rehabilitation after acute care on functional and quality-of-life outcomes in children with severe traumatic brain injury.Brain injuryChildren with severe TBI and low consciousness scores at discharge who went to inpatient rehab had better global function at 12 months than those who did not. No difference was found for those with higher consciousness scores or for quality of life.
• PTOTRCT2022Goal Attainment after Treatment with Abobotulinumtoxina and a Tailored Home Therapy Programme in Children with Upper Limb Spasticity: Descriptive, Exploratory Analysis of a Large Randomized, Controlled Study.Journal of rehabilitation medicineChildren achieved their upper limb goals when botulinum toxin was paired with a tailored home therapy programme. Goal attainment was generally maintained across three treatment cycles, but dropped below expectations in the fourth cycle for children with more severe motor impairment.
• PTOTPilot2022Hand Use and Grasp Sensor System in Monitoring Infant Fine Motor Development.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationA sensor-equipped toy system tracked 12 infants at home and captured how their grasping changed as they grew. Peak force, grasp duration, and bimanual use increased with age, while force variability and hand-use asymmetry decreased, mirroring typical fine motor maturation.
• PTOTSLPOther2022Determining the Agreement Between Common Measures Related to Vestibulo-ocular Reflex Function After a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Children and Adolescents.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSymptom provocation during vestibular screening did not agree with performance-based tests of eye-head coordination in children with concussion. Clinicians should not use one to infer the other, as they likely measure different things.
• PTOTOther2022Accuracy and comparison of sensor-based gait speed estimations under standardized and daily life conditions in children undergoing rehabilitation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationA single ankle sensor estimates children's gait speed accurately, but only if you average four walking trials. Children walk at different speeds in daily life compared to a 10-metre test, so clinical assessments may not reflect their real-world mobility.
• PTOTSystematic Review2022Determining optimal mobile neurofeedback methods for motor neurorehabilitation in children and adults with non-progressive neurological disorders: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAcross 30 studies in 223 adults, brain-computer interface training improved motor scores, but gains were inconsistent and often not clinically significant. More sessions correlated with better outcomes, but no single feedback method proved superior.
• PTOTOther2022Mental health problems among adolescents and young adults with childhood-onset physical disabilities: A scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesDepression, anxiety and social difficulties were the most common concerns mapped among adolescents and young adults with physical disabilities, but reported rates varied widely and few people received mental health care. Stigma, family caregiver mental health, and missing peer or vocational supports shaped access.
• OTSLPCohort2022Exploring Sensory Subgroups in Typical Development and Autism Spectrum Development Using Factor Mixture Modelling.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver reports on a sensory questionnaire separated autistic children into different patterns. Two more atypical patterns had more anxiety and sleep problems at the first visit; later differences were weaker. It did not test treatment.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Reduction in school individualized education program (IEP) services during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNearly half of students with Individualized Education Programs experienced reduced service frequency during the pandemic. Unmet needs were highest for occupational and physical therapy. Clinicians should ask families about service gaps to support advocacy for compensatory education.
• OTSLPOther2023The Impact of COVID-19 Restrictions on Psychological Distress in Family Caregivers of Children with Neurodevelopmental Disability in the UK.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities reported higher psychological distress than those of typically developing children. Distress was linked to child challenging behaviours and coping styles like denial and behavioural disengagement. Caregivers felt unsupported and struggled to explain pandemic rules to children.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2022Pandemic intake questionnaire to improve quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of outpatient neurologic and developmental care at the Kennedy Krieger institute during the COVID-19 pandemic.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesGuardians of children with neurodevelopmental disorders reported worsened mood, behavior, sleep, and therapy-access problems during the pandemic. A pre-visit questionnaire surfaced these concerns, and Five out of six program directors found it helpful.
• PTOTCohort2023Time-matched accelerometers on limbs and waist in children with CP give new insights into real-life activities after botulinum toxin treatment: A proof of concept study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineAfter botulinum toxin injections plus home training, children with cerebral palsy walked less from three weeks through three months. In children injected in an arm, the more affected arm was not used more; the better arm was used more.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Balancing Fidelity and Flexibility: Usual Care for Young Children With an Increased Likelihood of Having Autism Spectrum Disorder Within an Early Intervention System.Journal of autism and developmental disordersEarly intervention providers serving toddlers with autism or suspected autism report using naturalistic strategies but often lack formal training in manualized programs. Parent-led goals, contractor pay and limited guidance make training hard, so usual care is flexible but variable.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Developmental Skills of Individuals with Angelman Syndrome Assessed Using the Bayley-III.Journal of autism and developmental disordersExpressive communication was a weakness in children with Angelman syndrome regardless of genetic subtype. Deletion subtypes had lower receptive communication and motor scores than other genetic subtypes. Bayley-III did not credit gestures, signs or AAC.
• PTOTOther2023Promoting Positive Health Outcomes in an Urban Community-Based Physical Activity Intervention for Preschool Aged Children on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPreschoolers with autism improved ball skills and upper body strength after 12 weeks of community-based physical activity. Locomotor skills and daily physical activity levels did not change. The intervention combined motor training, behavioral coaching, and group play.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Executive Function in Autism: Association with ADHD and ASD Symptoms.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with autism, executive function problems tracked with ADHD severity, not autism severity. Flexibility and emotional control were unrelated to either diagnosis. This suggests ADHD symptoms, not autism itself, drive most observed executive function deficits.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2023Education on the consequences of traumatic brain injury for children and adolescents with TBI and families/caregivers: a systematic scoping review.Brain injuryPediatric TBI education mostly reached caregivers, not children alone. Written discharge instructions were common, and adding verbal or multimedia support appeared better for recall.
• PTOTSLPMeta-Analysis2022Serum Vitamin D, Folate and Fatty Acid Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism had significantly lower vitamin D levels than controls, but folate levels showed no significant difference. The vitamin D finding had very high variability between studies, so it should not be treated as a consistent biological marker.
• OTSLPOther2022Self-Determination in Autistic Transition-Aged Youth without Intellectual Disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic youth rated their self-determination skills higher than parents did, but both groups agreed that home opportunities exceeded school ones. Fewer executive function problems and less depression linked to better self-reported skills. Discrepancies mean you need both perspectives to plan transitions.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Parent Perspectives on Supports and Barriers for Autistic Youth Transitioning to Adulthood.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents of autistic teens described barriers like not knowing where to find services or finding them too expensive. They reported supports came from their child's specific interests, such as coding or welding, and from extracurricular activities that built confidence and practical skills.
• OTPilot2022Brief Report: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Remote-Based Nutrition Education Program for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A COVID-19 Pilot Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTen adolescents with autism found a four-week remote nutrition program acceptable and feasible. High attendance and positive feedback from students, parents, and teachers suggest Zoom is a viable delivery method, though efficacy on eating habits was not tested.
• OTSLPQualitative2022Opportunities and Challenges in Developing Technology-Based Social Skills Interventions for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Qualitative Analysis of Parent Perspectives.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents described technology as a double-edged sword for their adolescents with autism. It offered calm and creative control, but also triggered meltdowns when things went wrong and encouraged withdrawal from real-world interaction.
• OTSLPCohort2022The Mediating Effects of Alexithymia, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Anxiety on the Relationship Between Sensory Processing Differences and Restricted and Repetitive Behaviours in Autistic Adults.Journal of autism and developmental disordersSensory processing differences were linked to restricted and repetitive behaviours in autistic adults. This link was partly explained by difficulty identifying emotions and intolerance of uncertainty, but anxiety did not mediate the relationship with insistence on sameness.