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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 25 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSurvey2022COVID-19 and mental health of primary school children: Comparison of 2019 and 2020.Child: care, health and developmentPrimary school children's overall emotional symptom scores showed no clear difference between June 2019 and June 2020. A few individual items differed slightly, but the authors did not treat these as clear differences.
• OTCohort2022Stigma, Intrusiveness, and Distress in Parents of Children with a Disorder/Difference of Sex Development.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents' distress was not caused by stigma directly. It arose when stigma made the child's condition feel like it was intruding on daily life. Therapists should target this interference and help parents maintain engagement in valued activities.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Modelling quality of life in children with intellectual disability using regression trees.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDaytime sleepiness and low community participation were the strongest factors linked to poorer quality of life in children with intellectual disability. Eye contact during communication also mattered. These findings suggest clinicians should prioritize screening for sleep issues and facilitating social engagement.
• PTOTRCT2023Comparative effects of kinect-based versus therapist-based constraint-induced movement therapy on motor control and daily motor function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized control trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationKinect-based therapy matched traditional therapist-led CIMT for hand use and daily function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy, but it reduced trunk compensation during reaching. The small sample and lack of follow-up mean this is promising, not definitive.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Developmental referrals of pre-school children in a diverse community in England: The importance of parental migration for referral rates.Child: care, health and developmentIn a Bristol community paediatric service, children with two migrant parents were three times more likely to be referred for developmental concerns than those with two UK-born parents. Somali children had six times the referral rate for autism compared to white or mixed-heritage peers.
• OTSurvey2022Role of Individual, Family, and Community Resilience in Moderating Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Mental Health Among Children.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with 4 or more adverse experiences were more likely to have ADHD, anxiety, behavior disorders, or depression. High individual resilience was linked with lower likelihood for all four outcomes.
• OTSLPCohort2022Inequalities in the distribution of COVID-19-related financial difficulties for Australian families with young children.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies already facing financial disadvantage before the pandemic were significantly more likely to suffer multiple financial hardships during it. This inequality persisted despite government welfare increases, suggesting that standard support measures may not adequately protect the most vulnerable households.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Trajectories of Executive Functions After Early Childhood Traumatic Brain Injury: Teacher Ratings in the Initial 81 Months Postinjury.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationTeacher ratings showed two groups: 65% stayed in the normal range, while 35% had executive function concerns that worsened over time. Children in the struggling group were more likely to have had a brain injury, lower socio-economic status, and authoritarian parenting.
• OTSLPRCT2022Supporting peer engagement for low-income preschool students with autism spectrum disorder during academic instruction: A pilot randomized trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceTeachers trained to embed social communication strategies into small group academic instruction used them more consistently. While all students improved in joint engagement and language, only the treatment group showed significantly increased peer engagement. This suggests the approach specifically targets peer interaction during classroom activities.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Microanalysis of Daily Living Skills in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder without an intellectual disability.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with autism and average intelligence showed daily living skills far below age expectations. Money management, cooking, and hygiene were major challenges. Communication was a relative strength, but overall adaptive skills lagged significantly behind cognitive ability.
• OTSLPOther2023Validity of the SNAP-IV For ADHD Assessment in South African Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersThe SNAP-IV ADHD scale shows mixed validity in South African children with neurodevelopmental disorders. It correlates well with other behavioral measures, but specific items like 'talks excessively' fail in non-verbal children, and 'does not listen' is often misinterpreted as autism symptoms rather than inattention.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022'This battle, between your gut feeling and your mind. Try to find the right balance': Parental experiences of children with spinal muscular atrophy during COVID-19 pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentParents of children with SMA prioritized protecting their child's health, leading them to cancel therapies and isolate the family. They felt responsible for continuing home exercises and struggled with conflicting advice on returning to school.
• PTOTSurvey2022Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and screen time among youths with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRYouths with Down syndrome saw physical activity halve during lockdown, and it did not return to pre-pandemic levels even after restrictions eased. Sedentary and screen time spiked but recovered. Parents’ activity also remained low, breaking the link between parent and child activity levels.
• PTOTCohort2022Asymmetry in sleep spindles and motor outcome in infants with unilateral brain injury.Developmental medicine and child neurologyIn infants with unilateral brain injury, asymmetry in sleep spindles on EEG predicted later unilateral cerebral palsy with 95% accuracy. This retrospective study of 40 infants suggests EEG could help identify high-risk babies, but the small sample and lack of comparison to standard assessments limit current clinical use.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Pain trajectories and well-being in children and young people with cerebral palsy: A cohort study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy fell into five distinct 5-week pain patterns. Those with high or changing pain reported lower physical and psychological well-being than those with stable low pain. Repeated brief pain checks may help spot children at risk for poor well-being.
• OTCase-Control2023Atypical Tactile Perception in Early Childhood Autism.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYoung autistic children responded more slowly and inconsistently to touch. Some differences in judging strength or timing of touch did not remain after accounting for non-verbal cognitive scores.
• OTSLPCohort2023Longitudinal development of language and fine motor skills is correlated, but not coupled, in a childhood atypical cohort.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEarly skill level in one domain did not predict rate of change in the other. Language and fine motor growth rates were strongly correlated, but that did not show a driving effect.
• OTCohort2022Clinical, electrophysiological, and imaging findings in childhood brachial plexus injury.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMRI nerve root scores and EMG denervation scores identified participants who needed surgery at some thresholds among 21 participants with brachial plexus injury. Nerve conduction amplitudes did not predict surgery.
• OTRCT2023Coaching While Waiting for Autism Spectrum Disorder Assessment: A Pilot Feasibility Study for a Randomized Controlled Trial on Occupational Performance Coaching and Service Navigation.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCoaching families while they wait for an autism assessment was feasible, with 75% retention. Families in the coaching arms reported larger gains in goal performance and satisfaction than those in usual care, though the study was too small to prove effectiveness.
• OTSurvey2023Adaptation of Parents Raising a Child with ASD: The Role of Positive Perceptions, Coping, Self-efficacy, and Social Support.Journal of autism and developmental disordersParental confidence, support, coping, and positive perceptions were linked with lower stress or better wellbeing, family quality of life, or satisfaction. None weakened the link between child behaviour problems and parent adaptation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2022Neuroimaging and neurological outcome of children with acute encephalitis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyNearly one third of children had poor long-term recovery after acute encephalitis. Severe MRI findings and need for ventilator therapy were linked to worse outcomes. A normal early MRI did not guarantee good recovery, as one fifth of those with normal scans still had poor outcomes.
• PTOTOther2022Validation of the North Star Assessment for Limb-Girdle Type Muscular Dystrophies.Physical therapyThe North Star Assessment for Limb-Girdle Type Muscular Dystrophies reliably measures motor function across 14 different LGMD subtypes. It works for both ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients, with high agreement between different therapists scoring the same video.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Do Autism-Specific and General Developmental Screens Have Complementary Clinical Value?Journal of autism and developmental disordersCombining autism-specific and general developmental screens at 18 months did not reach acceptable sensitivity and specificity levels for both conditions. The ordinally scored Q-CHAT-10-O showed better sensitivity than the M-CHAT-R/F, while a failed communication subscale was a strong red flag for autism or delay.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023What is the concordance between parent- and education professional-reported adaptive functioning in autistic children using the VABS-II?Journal of autism and developmental disordersParents rated autistic children's adaptive skills higher than school staff did, particularly in socialisation and motor domains. Agreement was poor overall, meaning a child's function looks different at home than at school. Both perspectives are needed for accurate assessment.
• OTSLPCohort2023Early Social Behavior in Young Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies (XXX, XXY, XYY): Profiles of Observed Social Interactions and Social Impairments Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with extra X or Y chromosomes showed less social interaction and more independent play than peers, especially when social demands were high. They also had elevated autism-related social impairments in daily life. These patterns appeared early and persisted after accounting for cognitive and language differences.
• PTOTOther2022The subtypes of developmental coordination disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with developmental coordination disorder fall into four distinct performance profiles. Some show broad difficulties across motor, cognitive, and visual skills, while others have isolated gross or fine motor issues. This means a single test score can hide very different needs.
• OTSLPRCT2023Reexamining Pathways Early Autism Intervention in Children Before and After the Third Birthday: A Randomized Control Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children under 3 whose parents were coached in Pathways made larger social communication gains than services as usual when tested by an unfamiliar adult. For over 3, gains were smaller and the study did not show a clear benefit.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2022Early intervention for very young children with or at high likelihood for autism spectrum disorder: An overview of reviews.Developmental medicine and child neurologyEarly interventions for children under three improved development, but the evidence quality was critically low. Gains were largest on specific skills targeted in therapy, not on standardized tests. Current guidelines recommending 25 to 40 hours weekly are not supported by high-quality evidence.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022An interdisciplinary nationwide complex intervention for lifespan neurodevelopmental service development: Underpinning principles and realist programme theory.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesStakeholders identified seven practitioner-level mechanisms for successful service change: being action-oriented, providing concise evidence-informed information, and being an accessible team. These principles guided the National Autism Implementation Team in Scotland.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023Bimanual movements in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review of instrumented assessments.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMotion capture tools distinguish children with CP from typically developing peers during bimanual tasks, but their reliability and ability to track therapy change remain unproven. Lab protocols fail to capture real-world movement, limiting their use as standalone clinical measures.
• OTQualitative2022Lived experiences of adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFour adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder described anxiety as a primary barrier to daily activities. They identified routines, supportive relationships, and using personal talents as key factors that helped them overcome this anxiety and participate.
• PTOTCohort2023Dystonia in individuals with spastic cerebral palsy and isolated periventricular leukomalacia.Developmental medicine and child neurologyDystonia was found on expert video review in 50 of 85 ambulatory children and adults with spastic cerebral palsy and isolated periventricular leukomalacia. It was more common with higher gross motor impairment, and often affected the fingers or hips.
• PTOTCohort2023More Physical Activity Is Correlated With Reduction in Kinesiophobia for Adolescents With Persistent Symptoms After Concussion.Journal of sport rehabilitationFor adolescents with persistent concussion symptoms, taking more steps and exercising more often during recovery correlated with a moderate reduction in fear of movement. This link was not seen in those who recovered quickly, and intensity or duration did not matter.
• OTSurvey2023COVID-19 Induced Environments, Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes and Problematic Behaviors: Evidence from Children with Syndromic Autism Spectrum Disorders.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with syndromic autism, caregiver reports linked lower child quality of life to reduced parent mental health appointments and TV at least 3 hours daily. Outdoor time was linked to fewer angry outbursts and daze, but not clearly to total quality of life.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Urgent computed tomography angiography in paediatric stroke.Developmental medicine and child neurologyUrgent CT angiography quickly identified large vessel strokes, enabling timely endovascular therapy. Children with atypical symptoms like seizures or vomiting were diagnosed much slower, missing treatment windows. CT angiography is a useful first step when MRI is not immediately available.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sports participation reduces the progression of idiopathic scoliosis and the need for bracing. An observational study of 511 adolescents with Risser 0-2 maturation stage.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicineAdolescents with idiopathic scoliosis who played non-competitive sports regularly had a lower risk of curve progression and needing a brace. The risk decreased further as weekly sports frequency increased from one to four times. This observational data supports encouraging activity, not replacing specific exercises.
• OTQualitative2023In Their Own Words: Mothers Narrate the Lived Experience of Raising Children with Developmental Disorders Who Engage in Socially Disruptive Conduct.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with disruptive behaviors described feeling overwhelmed by conflicting roles and isolated by a lack of emotional and financial support. Journal writing provided a private outlet for these feelings, with many reporting a shift from distress to calm after short writing sessions.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2022A Comparison of Factors Associated with Running-Related Injuries between Adult and Adolescent Runners.International journal of sports physical therapyBoth adult and adolescent runners with a history of injury reported intentional weight loss and scored lower on movement quality tests than uninjured runners. These factors appear relevant across age groups, though the cross-sectional design cannot prove they caused the injuries.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Sociocultural variables have a major impact on participation in patients treated for paediatric posterior fossa tumours.Child: care, health and developmentChildren treated for posterior fossa tumours face high rates of school and social difficulties. These barriers were linked to a cumulative load of risk factors, including maternal education level, lack of regular physical activity, and treatment side effects like cerebellar mutism.
• PTOTCohort2023Movement smoothness during dynamic postural control to a static target differs between autistic and neurotypical children.Gait & postureAutistic children moved jerkily and slowly during a balance task. They often stepped instead of leaning, unlike neurotypical peers. However, they were equally accurate. Small sample size limits generalizability to children with lower IQs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Vision function in children 10 years after grade 3 or 4 intraventricular haemorrhage with ventricular dilation: A masked prospective study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTen years later, every child tested had at least one visual impairment, averaging four per child. Parents reported normal vision for most, missing eye movement and processing deficits linked to lower cognitive scores and extra school support.
• OTPilot2023Pediatric tele-coaching fidelity evaluation: Feasibility, perceived satisfaction and usefulness of a new measure.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA new checklist helped track how well coaches stuck to a tele-health program for families waiting for child development services. All four coaches met the 85% fidelity target within the first few sessions, and the coaches found the tool useful for spotting areas to improve.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023A scoping Review of Tools to Evaluate Existing Playgrounds for Inclusivity of Children with Disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo single tool captures playground inclusion well. Most check physical access but miss social play and user input. Australian government tools covered the most criteria. Use these to audit spaces, but remember they are not validated and often ignore the child's experience.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Dysphagia Research Following Stroke: A Scoping Review and Qualitative Analysis.DysphagiaMost stroke dysphagia trials ignore patient experience. The two common tools miss environmental barriers like support and attitudes. Use them with caution, knowing they do not capture the social impact of swallowing problems.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Participation of children and young people with cerebral palsy in activities of daily living in rural Uganda.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy in rural Uganda attended fewer daily activities than peers and were less involved when present. Community activities showed the largest gaps. Severe motor limitations predicted lower participation, but age and sex did not.
• OTSLPQualitative2023The experiences of parents raising children with developmental disabilities in Ethiopia.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceEighteen Ethiopian parents described stigma, poverty, and missing services shaping daily care for children with developmental disabilities. They sought medical, traditional, and religious help, while faith and attention to children's strengths sustained hope.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2023Transition to adult services experienced by young people with cerebral palsy: A cross-sectional study.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost young people with cerebral palsy did not experience key transition practices. Only 13% had a written plan, 16% met the adult team, and 10% knew their GP got a discharge letter. Services reported providing these practices more often than young people experienced them.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Telehealth delivery of paediatric rehabilitation for children with neurodisability: A mixed methods realist evaluation of contexts, mechanisms and outcomes.Child: care, health and developmentTelehealth improved access and scheduling for families of children with neurodisability, but only worked when offered as a choice alongside in-person care. Practitioners lacked training and organizational support, leading to inconsistent delivery and poor documentation of goals.
• OTCohort2022Autism spectrum disorder during French COVID-19 lockdown: The importance of individualized support.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with autism who received regular, individualized support from their existing care team showed no significant worsening in anxiety or behaviour during the French lockdown. Parents reported stable child outcomes, though family anxiety and school work difficulties remained moderate.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2022Functional activity and communication-social ability of youths with developmental disabilities: a qualitative study.Journal of physical therapy scienceParents reported that although most youths walked independently and had high overall function scores, they struggled with specific tasks like using a knife, managing stairs safely, and understanding deeper meanings. Many needed reminders and supervision to complete self-care activities.