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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 37 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPQualitative2025The process of adaptation: Parents' journey navigating their child's chronic health condition diagnosis.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineParents described adapting to their child's diagnosis through five interwoven elements: grief, anxiety, unknowing, responsibility, and positivity. These experiences cycled rather than followed linear stages, with time and experience helping parents move from persistent negative emotions toward intermittent ones.
• PTOTCohort2025Clinical utility of a patient-reported outcome for assessing spasticity in a pediatric population.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThe Zorowitz scale does not match physical measures like muscle tone or GMFCS levels, meaning it tracks a separate aspect of spasticity impact. Caregiver-reported scores improved significantly after injections, suggesting the tool detects functional changes that standard clinical exams miss.
• PTOTCase Report2025Diagnosis, treatment, and functional outcomes for two adolescent female patients with lupus myelitis: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescent girls with lupus myelitis improved self-care and mobility during inpatient rehabilitation, but they received multiple immunomodulatory treatments and intensive therapy together.
• PTOTOther2025Rocking in a rocking chair activates trunk muscles in children with spinal cord injury and impaired trunk control.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineRocking in a custom chair significantly increased trunk muscle activity in children with spinal cord injury compared to quiet sitting. All eleven children with SCI could rock the chair independently, found it enjoyable, and experienced no injuries, suggesting it is a safe, accessible way to activate trunk muscles.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Atypical development of sequential manual motor planning and visuomotor integration in children with autism at early school-age: A longitudinal kinematic study.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceChildren with autism showed less benefit from seeing the goal in advance. Their motor planning relied more on feedback than prediction. This atypical visuomotor integration became more pronounced as they aged from 7 to 10 years.
• OTSLPCase Report2024A Case Study of Suspected Childhood Apraxia of Sign.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsA 4-year-old deaf signer showed inconsistent handshape, location, and movement errors, sign distortions, groping, and self-manipulation of hands. This single case may indicate apraxia of sign, but does not prove diagnosis or treatment response.
• PTOTCohort2025Improvement on the slopes: The impact of an adaptive snow sports program on children and young adults with disabilities.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren and young adults with disabilities in a 10-year adaptive ski program showed significant skill progression and improved social, emotional, physical, and independence scores, though cognitive trends were not significant.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Impact of Social Disadvantage on Medical and Functional Severity in Children With Cerebral Palsy.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with cerebral palsy in poorer neighbourhoods or with marginalized race or Hispanic ethnicity were more likely to have greater motor difficulties. Minority race was linked to more severe language impairment. When income and ethnicity were considered together, race still linked to gross motor impairment.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Parental Experiences of Quality of Life When Caring for Their Children With Intellectual Disability: A Meta-Aggregation Systematic Review.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of children with moderate to profound intellectual disabilities described caregiving as relentless, causing isolation, financial strain, and health decline. Mothers bore the heaviest burden, often sacrificing careers and self-care. Support networks and respite were critical for quality of life.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Early Years Practitioners' and Public Health Consultants' Perspectives on the Use of Interactive Electronic Devices in Young Children: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentPractitioners and consultants describe tablets replacing outdoor play, leading to poorer self-regulation and motor skills. They note children swipe at wooden blocks expecting a screen response. Both groups want adult-led use to support learning, not free play.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Interventions in subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation: an umbrella review.Journal of rehabilitation medicineNo systematic reviews met criteria for subacute paediatric inpatient neurorehabilitation interventions. The search found no high-quality evidence for this specific setting and phase. Clinicians should expect to rely on expert opinion and adult or outpatient data rather than robust trial evidence for these patients.
• OTCohort2025What dimensions of school climate promote adaptive functioning in adolescents with ADHD? A prospective longitudinal study.Research in developmental disabilitiesFair but strict school rules were the strongest predictor of better emotional and social outcomes for adolescents with ADHD symptoms. Respectful teacher-student relationships also helped. However, school climate had no association with GPA.
• PTOTOther2024Preventing deformities in paediatric cerebral palsy in poorly-resourced areas: A scoping review.The South African journal of physiotherapyWeak, conflicting evidence exists for preventing hip displacement, contractures and scoliosis in severe cerebral palsy. Supported standing, seating and sustained stretching showed some benefit in studies, but no tested home programmes for low-resource settings.
• OTCohort2025Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning in Adolescents With Klinefelter Syndrome.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPBoys with Klinefelter syndrome reported more anxiety and depression than peers, and parents noted greater social difficulties. These issues appeared in childhood, not just adolescence, suggesting early monitoring and support are needed rather than waiting for puberty to begin.
• PTOTCase Report2025Case Report: Robot-assisted gait training with the wearable cyborg hybrid assistive limb 2S size in three children with cerebral palsy.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesThree children with cerebral palsy showed improved hip and knee extension angles and altered muscle activity after robot-assisted gait training. The wearable HAL device appeared to facilitate these biomechanical changes, but this small case series cannot prove the treatment works or compare it to standard therapy.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Contextual factors experienced by mothers of children with special needs.The South African journal of physiotherapyMothers of children with disabilities in South Africa described financial strain from unemployment, fear of marital abandonment, and stigma from family and community. They faced barriers accessing healthcare and education, often feeling isolated and unsupported by fathers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Gross Motor Development in Children With Autism: Longitudinal Trajectories From the Growing Up in New Zealand Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchGross motor delays emerged between 9 and 24 months in children with autism, persisting to 54 months. Children with parent-reported autism concerns had similar motor delays to those with formal diagnoses, suggesting motor issues are an early marker regardless of diagnosis status.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Comparative Evaluation of Health Status of Syrian Refugee and Tur CCH_70042 kish Children, Alongside the Factors Influencing Sociocultural Adaptation of Syrian Children in Türkiye.Child: care, health and developmentSyrian refugee children in Türkiye reported higher social anxiety and resilience but lower self-esteem, grades, and worse oral health than Turkish peers. Across both groups, low socioeconomic status linked to poorer outcomes, while resilience showed no socioeconomic gap.
• OTQualitative2025Improving Parent and Therapist Experiences of Codelivering Intensive Upper Limb Interventions for Children With Hemiplegia: A Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework.Child: care, health and developmentParents and therapists found codelivering intensive upper limb therapy challenging due to travel, time, and unclear roles. Virtual sessions helped parents lead, but in-person clinics often kept them observing. Emotional support and clearer communication between hospital and community teams were key needs.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Adaptive functioning in children and young adults with monogenic neurodevelopmental disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdaptive behaviour profiles in children with eight genetic neurodevelopmental disorders varied widely within each diagnosis. Communication was typically the weakest skill. Co-occurring autism, not ADHD, was linked to more severe impairment. This supports assessing individual needs rather than relying on the genetic label alone.
• PTOTPilot2025Virtual Reality Respiratory Biofeedback in an Outpatient Pediatric Pain Rehabilitation Program: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesNine adolescents in a 4-week pain program found VR breathing biofeedback feasible and acceptable, with seven of nine completing at least 80% of sessions. The program's functional gains cannot be credited to VR, and no session showed a confirmed blood pressure or heart-rate change.
• OTSLPOther2025Sleep health of adults and children with Moebius syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdults and children with Moebius syndrome reported significantly higher rates of sleep disturbance, insomnia, nightmares, and daytime sleepiness than general population norms. Qualitative interviews revealed chronic, heterogeneous sleep issues impacting relationships, though participants were often unsure if these symptoms were directly linked to their syndrome.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Services in Minoritized Autistic Adolescents and Adults Varying in Language Skills.Seminars in speech and languageMinoritized autistic teens and adults averaged 3.67 services, 3.32 unmet needs, and 5.52 barriers. More services were tied to language impairment and program enrollment; unmet needs rose with higher autism traits and lower community belonging.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Scores and Prevalence of Functional Difficulty Among Preschool Children in Kenya.Child: care, health and developmentNearly one in five preschoolers in Homa Bay and one in twelve in Kakuma had functional difficulties. In Kakuma, these children scored lower on development tests, but in Homa Bay they did not. This shows disability is common in mainstream Kenyan preschools and needs teacher support.
• PTOTSLPOther2025School Satisfaction Predicts Quality of Life for Children With Severe Developmental Disabilities and Their Families.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents' satisfaction with their child's school predicted quality of life for both the child and the family. The specific classroom placement or the number of services provided did not predict wellbeing. It is how well the school meets the child's needs that matters.
• PTOTQualitative2025Resilience and adaptations-insights from Norwegian adolescents with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescents with spinal cord injuries prioritized independence and social connection over physical recovery alone. They valued peers who treated them normally and schools that adapted activities rather than excusing them. They sought autonomy in daily choices, often preferring self-directed exercise to supervised therapy.
• OTSLPCohort2025Psychosocial factors associated with the trajectories of interparental conflict for Australian fathers of autistic children: A longitudinal study across 10 years of child development.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost fathers of autistic children reported low conflict, but 18% had persistently elevated conflict over 10 years. This group had less co-parenting support and more distressed partners. Screening for these factors during diagnosis may help identify families needing support.
• OTCase-Control2025Trait mindfulness in adolescents with and without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Research in developmental disabilitiesAdolescents with ADHD reported lower trait mindfulness than peers, particularly in 'acting with awareness.' This specific facet was the strongest predictor of ADHD symptoms, executive function deficits, and sleep problems, suggesting it may be a key target for future mindfulness-based interventions.
• PTOTNarrative Review2025Wearable sensors in paediatric neurology.Developmental medicine and child neurologyWearable sensors reliably track gait, activity, and physiological signs in children with neurological conditions, and one stride metric now guides Duchenne trials. Most other uses remain in feasibility testing. They supplement clinic assessments but do not yet replace them in routine care.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Healthcare professionals' knowledge and practices in managing ototoxicity in children with cancer.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsMost clinicians knew ototoxicity causes hearing loss, but nearly three-quarters did not know how long monitoring should continue after chemotherapy ends. Knowledge gaps persisted despite acknowledging the need for an audiologist's role, suggesting a disconnect between recognizing the problem and executing the protocol.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025'I Did Not Know We Could Exercise This Small Premature Baby': Challenges Experienced by Parents While Implementing Early Intervention for Their Preterm Infants-A Qualitative Perspective.Child: care, health and developmentParents of preterm infants described struggling to perform home exercises due to fear of handling fragile babies, lack of awareness of early intervention, infant stress signs, time constraints and traditional gender roles where fathers avoided limb exercises.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Exploring the Extent and Nature of Disordered Eating Among Canadian Adolescents and Young Adults With Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.Child: care, health and developmentMost adolescents and young adults with spina bifida and hydrocephalus in this survey felt pressure to lose weight. This pressure came from clinicians and parents, but also from managing bowel function and mobility. Restricting food was common even when the goal was functional, not cosmetic.
• OTOther2025Examining the Relation Between Sleep Problems and Behavioural Challenges in Youth With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRParent-reported sleep problems over a typical week were linked with more outward and inward behaviour problems in youth with Down syndrome. Nightly sleep measured by a wrist device did not predict next-day behaviour. Treat sleep as a week-level association, not a same-day trigger.
• OTSLPQualitative2025'We're Not in a Place Where We Can Thrive Yet': A Qualitative Exploration of Systems of Health Promotion in Primary Schools in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentPrimary school teachers and principals described reduced capacity for health promotion after COVID. They prioritized academics, picked battles, and said schools cannot replace occupational therapists, speech and language therapists or other health professionals.
• OTRCT2025Increased Life Expectancy of People With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities: What Does It Change for Parents?Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of older people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, and parents aged 55 or older, did not report more anxiety, lower quality of life, or poorer coping. Environmental quality of life was higher.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025'Like it's making my heart run': A strengths-based understanding of the play of autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children defined play by how it felt, not just what they did. They valued fun, social connection, and deep focus on interests. They also highlighted the need for autonomy, stating that play is only play if they can control what happens.
• PTOTSLPCase Series2025Pathogenic variants in chromatin-related genes: Linking immune dysregulation to neuroregression and acute neuropsychiatric disorders.Developmental medicine and child neurologyEight children with rare chromatin gene variants experienced sudden loss of skills after infections. Clinicians noted that antibiotics and immune treatments helped some children recover previous abilities, though this is not proof that these treatments work for other patients.
• OTSLPCohort2025Fine Motor Ability and Executive Function in Autistic and Non-autistic Toddlers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic toddlers showed more difficulty with inhibition and shifting than non-autistic peers, but working memory was similar. Better fine motor skills predicted better shifting in all children, regardless of diagnosis. This suggests fine motor delays may limit the flexible exploration needed for shifting development.
• OTSurvey2025Food selectivity and eating difficulties in adults with autism and/or ADHD.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAdults with autism, ADHD, or both reported more eating difficulties than adults without these diagnoses. Autism groups had the highest scores. Insistence on sameness, autistic features, food selectivity, and hyperactivity-impulsivity were linked to more eating problems.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025A Tele-Coaching Pilot Study: An Innovative Approach to Enhance Motor Skills in Adolescents With Down Syndrome.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdolescents with Down syndrome improved on one specific balance test and lowered their systolic blood pressure after 15 weeks of remote, game-based exercise. However, their overall motor coordination, walking distance, and cognitive scores did not change significantly. This is a small pilot without a control group, so these gains might just be practice or natural variation.
• OTSLPOther2025Waiting Times and Influencing Factors in Children and Adults Undergoing Assessment for Autism, ADHD, and Other Neurodevelopmental Differences.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren waited a median 525 days and adults 252 days for diagnosis. Complex histories lengthened children's waits but shortened adults' waits. Meeting quality standards was not clearly linked to longer waits.
• OTSLPNarrative Review2024Some Challenging Questions About Outcomes in Children With Cochlear Implants.Perspectives of the ASHA special interest groupsEarly implantation alone does not guarantee good outcomes. Consistent full-time device use, comorbidities, and family context drive results. Clinicians should monitor daily wear time and use a biopsychosocial framework to identify barriers to listening and spoken language development.
• PTOTQualitative2025Caregiver Experiences of a Peer Mentor Family Physical Activity Programme in England: A Qualitative Interview Study.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers valued weekly volunteer contact for emotional support and accountability more than for activity plans alone. Teens often disengaged, so family-wide participation was inconsistent. Volunteers provided practical help and confidence building, filling gaps in parenting support during pandemic restrictions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Mastication and electrical activation in the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles of children and adolescents with osteogenesis imperfecta.CoDASChildren with moderate-to-severe osteogenesis imperfecta showed higher muscle activation at rest and during chewing than those with mild forms. The absence of canine-guided occlusion and the presence of occlusal interference were linked to increased electrical activity in the jaw muscles at rest.
• OTQualitative2025Children's Risky Play and Resilience: Perspectives of Emergency Care Practitioners.Child: care, health and developmentParents who work in emergency care described minor falls and scrapes in children's play as chances to practise coping. They said they intervened when play seemed likely to cause serious injury, not just a minor scrape.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Aetiopathogenesis of infantile epileptic spasms syndrome and mechanisms of action of adrenocorticotrophin hormone/corticosteroids in children: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAcross 124 studies, genetic testing identified a cause in 22% of all infantile spasms cases. No consistent biological mechanism explains why ACTH or steroids work, and current evidence is too limited to guide treatment choices.
• PTOTSLPOther2025A pediatric rehabilitation therapy audit study: A brief report.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and West Virginia, 47.4% of simulated families had pediatric therapy appointment access problems. Hispanic and Black families got fewer appointments than White and Muslim families; insurance type did not predict access.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Relationship between visuospatial working memory and fine and gross motor skills in children with developmental disabilities: a preliminary study.Journal of physical therapy scienceIn 30 children with autism, visuospatial working memory correlated with fine motor skills but not gross motor skills. The study was underpowered, so these links are preliminary and do not prove that memory training improves motor function.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Concurrent validity in language and motor domains on the Vineland-3 and Mullen Scales of Early Learning in young children with Down syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesFor young children with Down syndrome, parent-reported Vineland-3 scores closely matched direct Mullen assessment scores in language and motor domains. This suggests remote parent interviews can effectively monitor developmental progress when in-person testing is difficult or impossible.
• OTNarrative Review2025The Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance approach in childhood-onset disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA review of 38 studies finds the Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach helps children achieve personal goals, but evidence is weak. Most studies were small, had unblinded raters, and rarely measured if skills transferred to new tasks. Large trials are needed.