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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 28 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTSLPCohort2023Sex differences in the course of autistic and co-occurring psychopathological symptoms in adolescents with and without autism spectrum disorder.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn adolescents with autism, social communication difficulties were similar for males and females. However, autistic males showed more repetitive behaviors and resistance to change than females. Anxiety and depression increased in females but decreased in males, a pattern identical to those without autism.
• OTSLPPilot2023Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Family Literacy Program in an Under-Resourced Community During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAn online bilingual literacy program for Latino families was feasible and acceptable during the pandemic. Parents valued the ability to participate alongside their children and access healthcare professionals. The study tested feasibility, not whether the program improved children's school readiness or language skills.
• PTOTRCT2023Efficacy of integrating a semi-immersive virtual device in the HABIT-ILE intervention for children with unilateral cerebral palsy: a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationReplacing half the hands-on therapy time in a HABIT-ILE camp with a virtual screen device improved hand function and daily life skills just as well as usual therapy. It did not improve walking, so keep lower-limb practice physical.
• OTCohort2022Psychosocial, Medical, and Demographic Variables Associated with Parent Mealtime Behavior in Young Children Recently Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPParents of very young children with new Type 1 diabetes who have better problem-solving skills report less frequent and less problematic mealtime behaviors. Fear of hypoglycemia and family functioning were linked to mealtime stress but did not independently predict behavior after accounting for problem-solving ability.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Variable patterns of daily activity participation across settings in autistic youth: A latent profile transition analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost autistic teens stay in low-participation groups at school and in the community from early to middle adolescence. Only 8% are active across all settings. Environmental supportiveness predicted participation more strongly than income or IQ, suggesting barriers matter more than ability.
• OTQualitative2023Swimming Lessons for Children With Autism: Parent and Teacher Experiences.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthParents sought swimming lessons primarily to prevent drowning, but later valued them for family connection and sensory regulation. Teachers relied on trial and error due to a lack of specialized training, creating access barriers based on individual teacher personality rather than standard support.
• OTSLPRCT2023The earlier the better: An RCT of treatment timing effects for toddlers on the autism spectrum.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceToddlers who started intensive, individualized parent coaching at 18 months made larger gains in language, social communication and daily living skills than those who started the same coaching at 27 months. The effect was not seen for less intensive group education.
• OTCohort2023Social Network Diversity and Mental Health Among Mothers of Individuals With Autism.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesHaving a wider variety of relationships, not just more friends, protected mothers of adults with autism against depression over 12 years. Mothers with diverse networks had lower symptoms, and those with fewer symptoms maintained more diverse ties.
• OTSLPCohort2023Short report: The role of oral hypersensitivity in feeding behaviors of young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceYoung autistic children with oral hypersensitivity showed more food acceptance problems and caused caregivers more negative feelings, but their mealtime behaviors and oral motor skills did not differ from non-hypersensitive peers. Screening for taste and texture sensitivity helps identify which feeding issues to target.
• OTQualitative2023Social Participation and Navigation: Formative Evaluation of a Remote Intervention for Autistic Adolescents and Young Adults.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthExperts recommended adapting a remote social participation program for autistic teens by using experienced clinicians instead of peer coaches, focusing on one functional goal at a time, and avoiding interventions targeting core autistic traits like eye contact.
• OTSLPQualitative2023Factors influencing the mental health of autistic children and teenagers: Parents' observations and experiences.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents identified school environment and communication skills as critical for their autistic teenagers' mental health. Bullying, sensory overload, and rigid academic expectations worsened anxiety, while specialist schools with accepting peers and visual supports improved well-being. Lack of ongoing support services left parents feeling helpless.
• OTCohort2023Associations Between Technology Use, Responsive Feeding, and Child Temperament Among Prior Prenatal Intervention Participants.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPMothers who watched TV or used phones during dinner were significantly less responsive to their toddlers' fullness cues. Children of distracted mothers showed stronger early signs of being full, while mothers with children rated as more difficult were more likely to use devices.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023The role of lung volume recruitment therapy in neuromuscular disease: a narrative review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesLung volume recruitment reliably increases cough strength and lung inflation during the manoeuvre, but recent randomised trials show no long-term benefit on lung function or quality of life. It is not proven to prevent infections or slow disease decline.
• OTOther2023Sensory Processing and Autistic Traits: Mediation Effect of Frontal Alpha Asymmetry.Occupational therapy internationalIn 73 neurotypical adults, sensation avoiding predicted autistic traits directly and indirectly through relative right-sided cortical activity. This brain pattern partially mediated the link, suggesting withdrawal motivation may underpin how sensory avoidance relates to autistic features.
• PTOTPilot2023Reliability, Validity and Minimal Detectable Change of a Power Leg Press Test in Individuals with Cerebral Palsy.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsA modified leg press test reliably measures leg power in children and adults with cerebral palsy. To detect true change, average peak power must improve by more than 10.7% in adults or 19% in children. This test takes 15 minutes and costs about $6,500.
• OTSLPOther2023Consistency between parent report and direct assessment of development in toddlers with autism spectrum disorder and other delays: Does sex assigned at birth matter?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOverall, parent report and direct testing did not differ for language and fine motor skills; in matched diagnostic groups, parents reported lower receptive language and fine motor skills, and expressive language agreement differed by sex assigned at birth in autism.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2023Anodal Contralesional tDCS Enhances CST Excitability Bilaterally in an Adolescent with Hemiparetic Cerebral Palsy: A Brief Report.Developmental neurorehabilitationIn one adolescent with cerebral palsy, anodal tDCS to the contralesional hemisphere increased corticospinal tract excitability bilaterally for 30 minutes. This neurophysiologic change was not seen with sham stimulation. Clinical motor outcomes were not measured.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Development of expert consensus to guide physical rehabilitation in children and adolescents with acquired brain injury during the subacute phase.Journal of rehabilitation medicineExperts agreed physical rehab for children with brain injury must be family-centred and participation-focused, but could not agree on optimal dose. They set 'following simple commands' as the minimum cognitive bar for active participation, while leaving specific frequency and intensity decisions to clinical judgment.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Lifetime Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Adolescents with Unexplained Weight Loss, Underweight, or Poor Appetite.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdolescents presenting with unexplained weight loss, underweight, or poor appetite had a 69.6% lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder and a 21.3% prevalence of eating disorders. These symptoms should trigger comprehensive mental health screening and close follow-up, not just nutritional intervention.
• OTQualitative2023Experiences of Using Weighted Blankets among Children with ADHD and Sleeping Difficulties.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with ADHD and sleep problems described weighted blankets as helping them stay calm, feel safe, and fall asleep faster, but only if the weight, bed setup, and household routines fit their individual needs. Some found them painful, too hot, or too heavy, and a few preferred the lighter control blanket.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Genetic and environmental contributions to co-occurring physical health conditions in autism spectrum condition and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Molecular autismChildren with autism or ADHD, even at subclinical levels, have higher odds of epilepsy, asthma and gut problems. Twin data show shared genetic factors drive most of these links. This suggests screening for physical health issues is warranted across the neurodevelopmental spectrum.
• OTSystematic Review2023A scoping review of interventions using occupation to improve mental health or mental wellbeing in adolescent populations.The British journal of occupational therapyThe most common occupation or activity interventions for adolescent mental health were physical activity and relaxation, often delivered in schools, and were reported to have some benefits. Study quality was low, and none targeted choice or balance of everyday occupations.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Family Perspectives on In-Home Multimodal Longitudinal Data Collection for Children Who Function Across the Developmental Spectrum.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPFamilies want in-home data collection to be flexible, pausable during medical crises, and to include siblings. They value receiving their own data to understand their child's invisible symptoms. This feedback shapes how to design accessible research for complex needs.
• OTPilot2023A Telehealth Delivered Toilet Training Intervention for Children with Autism.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthFamilies completing all telehealth coaching by an occupational therapist, email check-ins, and online education reported child toileting gains. The intervention was rated acceptable, but no control group means cause cannot be confirmed.
• OTSLPCohort2023Working memory of school-aged children on the autism spectrum: Predictors for longitudinal growth.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFor autistic children, learning behaviours and teacher closeness predicted working memory gains, but special education services did not. Higher socioeconomic status meant better starting scores, yet the gap never closed. Early support matters most, as later services failed to catch those behind.
• OTSLPCohort2023Executive Functioning, Language, and Behavioral Abilities Related to Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Down Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPYouth with Down syndrome and untreated sleep apnea showed significantly more emotional regulation and internalizing behavior challenges than those with treated or no apnea. No significant differences were found for language, attention, or overall social functioning scores, though untreated groups trended worse.
• OTOther2023Initial diagnostic impressions of trainees during autism evaluations: High specificity but low sensitivity.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchWhen trainees thought autism was present after five minutes, 86% were later diagnosed. When they thought autism was absent, 29% still had autism. Extremely confident trainee impressions matched the final diagnosis 96% of the time.
• OTOther2023The Pictorial Interview of Children's Metacognition and Executive Functions (PIC-ME): Cultural Adaptation for Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Populations.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists reported avoiding the PIC-ME tool for ultra-Orthodox children because the pictures did not match their lives. Adapting the images to include specific dress codes and religious activities helped typically developing children in this group understand the test items.
• OTPilot2023Assessment Fidelity of Parents Implementing a Standardized Telehealth Infant Autism Screener.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthParents coached via telehealth administered an infant autism screener with 82% fidelity. While lower than trained in-person examiners, this level was acceptable. Structured items were performed better than unstructured ones. Clinicians should use clear scripts and video demos to support parents.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Psychometric properties of inhibitory control measures among youth with Down syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRMost computerised inhibitory control tests failed feasibility criteria for youth with Down syndrome, but parent and teacher rating scales were reliable. Analogue tasks with manipulatives worked better than screens. For clinical use, rely on the BRIEF2 or simple physical tasks like the Statue test.
• OTCase Report2023Cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) approach as telehealth for a child with developmental coordination disorder: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAn eight-year-old boy with developmental coordination disorder improved his handwriting, cycling, and playground skills after ten weekly telehealth sessions. The therapist coached him to discover strategies via video, while his mother filmed homework practice for review.
• OTSurvey2023Disabled Students' perception of the sensory aspects of the learning and social environments within one Higher Education Institution.The British journal of occupational therapyDisabled students described libraries and lecture halls as overwhelming due to noise, poor lighting, and crowding. Over half reported acoustic issues, and many felt forced to hide in bathrooms or leave campus to cope with sensory overload.
• OTSLPCohort2023Relationship between quantitative digital behavioral features and clinical profiles in young autistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn 485 toddlers, tablet-recorded gaze and movement patterns lined up with parent and clinician measures of autism-related behavior, language, and fine motor skills. The authors call this an initial validity check.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Characterizing the autism spectrum phenotype in DYRK1A-related syndrome.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with DYRK1A syndrome showed social communication deficits similar to other children with autism and intellectual disability, but parents reported more severe nonverbal issues. They displayed fewer rigid routine behaviors and more repetitive sensory motor movements than children with idiopathic autism.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023The prevalence and developmental course of auditory processing differences in autistic children.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAuditory filtering difficulties are common in autistic children and remain stable from age 3 to 9. Children with more reported auditory difficulties at age 3 showed more agitation, hyperactivity, and lower adaptive skills at age 9, independent of their cognitive ability.
• OTQualitative2023Building Families' Capacities: Community Forums with Parents and Occupational Therapists.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieParents and therapists identified nine principles for family-centred care, prioritising flexible scheduling, avoiding home-programme overload, and addressing siblings' needs. These are expert recommendations for service design, not tested interventions that prove better child outcomes.
• PTOTSystematic Review2023The impact of pregnancy on women with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a scoping review.European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicinePregnancy does not cause average curve progression in treated adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, but some women progress regardless. Back pain is common but rarely severe. Surgical patients face higher caesarean rates and difficult epidurals, though analgesia is usually eventually achieved.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Cecostomy tubes improve bowel continence for pediatric patients with spina bifida: A retrospective analysis of outcomes from a single clinic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with spina bifida who had cecostomy tubes reported bowel continence one step better on a five-point scale. This means moving from daily to weekly accidents, or weekly to monthly. The tubes were used alongside other management strategies, so the exact contribution of the tube alone is unclear.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Visuospatial perspective taking in people with Down syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesPeople with Down syndrome matched typically developing children on visuospatial perspective taking when tested with a verbal task, but both groups struggled with a picture-choice task. Assessment methods significantly alter observed ability, so choose tasks that reduce cognitive conflict.
• PTOTPilot2023Feasibility of temperature monitoring smart socks in adolescents and young adults with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineHalf of the adolescents who tried continuous temperature monitoring socks never wore them. Of the seventeen who did, nine found them comfortable and easy to put on. The socks measured foot temperature reliably, but the study was too short and small to detect any pressure injuries.
• OTOther2023Sensory processing, autonomic nervous function, and social participation in people with mental illnesses.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTIn people with mental illness, lower parasympathetic activity was linked to higher sensory avoidance, which in turn was associated with reduced social participation. This suggests assessing sensory processing patterns before interventions aimed at increasing social engagement.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2023Feasibility and Acceptability of a Codesigned Health Care Transition Intervention for Young People With Spinal Cord Injuries.Topics in spinal cord injury rehabilitationYoung people with spinal cord injury and clinicians found a new transition website easy to use and helpful for preparing for adult care. They said it works best when a therapist introduces it in clinic, rather than expecting families to find it alone.
• PTOTPilot2023Parent/caregiver's role in nutrition, physical activity, and food access among children diagnosed with spina bifida.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies with spina bifida who reported poorer eating and activity habits had children with higher BMI scores. Most caregivers had average nutrition knowledge, but food security was rarely an issue.
• PTOTOther2023Investigating Subtypes of Motor Skills and Activities of Daily Living among Young Children with Motor Delay.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with motor delay fell into three groups based on fine and gross motor skills. The group with poor skills in both areas dressed significantly worse than the group with relatively good motor function. No differences appeared in eating or toileting, suggesting daily activity assessments may miss quality issues.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Utilization and Cost of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services for Pediatric Patients Treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Using a Commercial Claims Database.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationOutpatient PT and OT use in pediatric ALL rose to 54% by 2013-2017, and first visits came earlier, but SLP use stayed low. Access was uneven, with patients outside the Midwest less likely to receive rehab.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Using Billing Codes to Create a Pediatric Functional Status e-Score for Children Receiving Inpatient Rehabilitation.Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitationMost of the top billing codes ranked by their relationship to discharge WeeFIM mobility, self-care, and cognition/communication scores were also chosen by expert clinicians. This is a first-step score model, not a validated clinical tool.
• PTOTCase Report2024A big data approach to evaluate receipt of optimal care in childhood cerebral palsy.Disability and rehabilitationA new scoring method measured how closely two children's cerebral palsy care matched best-practice guidelines. Both children had low adjusted scores, primarily because they did not see physical, occupational, and rehabilitation specialists together in most years.
• PTOTSLPOther2023Development and validation of the MAnchester Needs Tool for Injured Children (MANTIC).Clinical rehabilitationThe MANTIC questionnaire helps injured children and their families identify specific rehabilitation needs like pain, education and equipment. It correlates with quality of life and is free to use, though it flags needs without saying if they are met.
• PTOTCohort2023The association between sleep and physical activity with persisting postconcussion symptoms among adolescent athletes.PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitationAdolescent athletes who exercised more frequently in the first two weeks after a concussion were less likely to develop persisting symptoms. Objective tracking showed that the number of exercise sessions mattered more than total daily steps or sleep duration.
• PTOTSLPOther2024A Descriptive Analysis of Access to Assistive Technology in Children With Acquired Brain Injury: The Right to Assistive Devices.The Journal of head trauma rehabilitationOnly 55% of prescribed assistive devices reached patients, with an average delay of 69.4 days. Insurance barriers caused most non-deliveries. Clinicians should anticipate significant delays and actively track device status rather than assuming prescriptions are fulfilled.