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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 38 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTCohort2025Child Well-Being and Family Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentChildren visiting the ER for mental health showed no difference in well-being between early and late pandemic phases. However, their families reported significantly lower quality of life later in the pandemic, specifically regarding parenting, family interaction and material well-being.
• OTSLPSurvey2025'Mind the Gap'-A Survey on Care Gaps and Priorities for the Transition to Adult Healthcare According to Caregivers of Young People With Rare Conditions Associated With Intellectual Disability.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers of young people with rare intellectual disabilities reported the biggest gaps in healthcare transition were preparation for adult services, planning for the future, and adjusting communication to cognitive needs. They rated being seen without parents as the least important aspect of care.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prospective Characterisation of Age-Related Changes in Self-Injurious Behaviour in a Sample of Children With Global Developmental Delay Aged 2-12 Years.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRSelf-injurious behaviour is common and persistent in children with global developmental delay. While rates remain high overall, children with no or mild intellectual disability showed increased interference with daily life as they aged, suggesting a need for ongoing support into adolescence.
• OTQualitative2025Weathering the Storm: Climate-Related Weather Event Experiences of Families of Children With Medical Complexity.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies of children with medical complexity relied on informal peer networks and out-of-pocket spending to manage extreme heat, wildfires and flooding. Formal government supports were absent, forcing parents to stockpile supplies and alter daily routines to protect their children's health.
• PTOTOther2025The associations of body composition, fitness, and physical activity with balance in children: The Arkansas Active Kids study.Gait & postureHigher fat mass and waist circumference are linked to worse standing balance in children. However, greater leg strength, aerobic fitness, and participation in organized activities weaken this link. These factors may buffer the balance deficits associated with excess body mass.
• OTSLPOther2025Autistic Traits and Emotion Dysregulation in 5-11-Year-Old Intellectually Able Children With Autism Spectrum Condition: Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation Strategies.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism who struggle socially or to switch attention rely less on parental help to manage emotions, which is linked to higher emotional dysregulation. Comorbid conditions, not age or sex, were also strongly tied to greater dysregulation.
• OTSLPCohort2025Age-Related Trajectories of Autistic Traits in Children With Angelman Syndrome.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic traits and sensory issues in Angelman syndrome remain stable from childhood through adolescence, but do not necessarily indicate ASD. Deletion genotypes show more traits than other types. Clinicians should interpret ADOS scores cautiously, as severe intellectual disability often drives these behaviors.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Involvement of Fathers and Siblings in Home Rehabilitation Programmes of Children With Neuro-Developmental Delay: Insights From Rehabilitation Professionals in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.Child: care, health and developmentRehabilitation professionals in Zimbabwe identified fathers as providing essential emotional and financial support, while siblings offer companionship and play-based assistance. Cultural norms and work schedules were key barriers. These findings describe professional observations, not tested interventions.
• OTOther2025Motor and socio-cognitive mechanisms explaining peers' synchronization of joint action across development in autistic and non-autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children showed weaker motor and social-cognitive skills than non-autistic peers across ages 6 to 16. Motor and social-cognitive skills together were linked to peer movement coordination.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Comparison Between a State-of-the-Art Mechanical 3D Scoliosis Correction Protocol and the Schroth Exercise on Spinal Flexibility of Patients With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationOne session of mechanical 3D correction increased body height but did not beat Schroth exercises for spinal flexibility. Both groups improved forward bending and rotation after treatment. Lateral bending improved only with the machine. The height gain likely reflects spinal unloading while lying down, not permanent correction.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Association Between Physical, Social, and Attitudinal Environments and Quality of Life in Adolescents With Cerebral Palsy: Insights From the SPARCLE Cross-Sectional Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationSupportive attitudes from teachers, therapists, and classmates were linked to better school quality of life. However, physical accessibility and home support showed no significant link to quality of life once pain, impairment, and parenting stress were considered.
• OTSLPCohort2025Feeding difficulties in typical children, sociodemographic factors, and family perception.CoDASChildren aged 2 to 3 years, those born preterm, and those sensitive to noise, smell, or touch had significantly higher odds of feeding difficulties. Screen use during meals was common but not linked to these difficulties. Parents often allowed screens despite believing them harmful, finding they helped children eat.
• PTOTCohort2025Isokinetic Strength Profiles Among Youth after Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction.International journal of sports physical therapyAt about seven months after knee ligament reconstruction, less than 65% of young patients reached the standard 90% strength symmetry in their quadriceps. Males consistently showed higher strength than females. Higher quadriceps strength was linked to better patient-reported function and quality of life.
• PTOTSLPPilot2025Visuomotor Integration Assessment Using Immersive Virtual Reality for Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study.Child: care, health and developmentIn 12 children with cerebral palsy, immersive VR did not correlate with standard paper-and-pencil visuomotor scores. Children were less accurate in VR than on a touchscreen. Adding visual distractions consistently worsened eye tracking, while hand accuracy sometimes improved.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Caregiver-identified strengths in children attending their first neurodevelopmental assessment: Findings from the Sydney child development research registry and development of a child strengths checklist.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregivers of children attending neurodevelopmental assessments identified an average of 2.8 strengths, ranging from cognitive and social skills to hobbies and character. Autistic children's caregivers more often cited cognitive strengths, while non-autistic caregivers more often cited social strengths.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Cognitive and Adaptive Functioning of CTNNB1 Syndrome Patients: A Comparison With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with CTNNB1 syndrome performed worse than those with autism on non-verbal reasoning and daily living skills, but showed no significant group difference on overall adaptive functioning or verbal comprehension. Their profile is distinct, with relative verbal strengths and non-verbal deficits.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Comparative Analysis of Phenotypic and Genotypic Differences Between Individuals Affected by Regressive and Non-Regressive Autism: A Cross-Sectional Study.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchChildren with autism who lost skills showed lower IQ and daily living abilities than those who did not. Mental health scores were identical. Clinicians should anticipate greater cognitive and adaptive support needs for patients with a history of skill loss.
• OTSLPCohort2025Quality of life in caregivers of toddlers with autism features.Research in developmental disabilitiesFor caregivers of toddlers with autism features, parenting stress is the strongest predictor of poor quality of life, even before a diagnosis is confirmed. Higher income and better perceived family-centered care also predict higher quality of life, but family-centered care did not buffer the impact of stress.
• OTQualitative2025Mothers' Perspectives: Daily Life When Your Child Has Sensory Differences.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthMothers of children with sensory differences described changing jobs, moving house and restricting family life to manage meltdowns and sensory overload. They felt blamed by schools and health services, but found relief through peer support, family help and small environmental adaptations like soundproofing.
• OTSLPCohort2025Play interactions of autistic preschoolers with their mothers and fathers without toys yield more positive interactions than play with toys.Autism : the international journal of research and practicePlay without toys yielded higher emotional availability than play with toys for both mothers and fathers of autistic preschool boys. Fathers were as emotionally available as mothers, and children were more responsive to fathers during toy-free play. These are observational comparisons, not evidence of improved outcomes.
• OTOther2024Convergent validity of two adult self-report sensory scales: Comparing the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile and the Sensory Processing Measure 2-Adult Form.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 42 Australian adults, scores on the newer Sensory Processing Measure 2-Adult Form correlated with the established Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile. This supports using either scale for adult sensory assessment, depending on whether you need system-specific details or sensation-seeking scores.
• PTOTSystematic Review2024Pediatric Performance-Based Outcome Measures for Upper Extremity Function: A Scoping Review and Linking to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieThirty-two performance-based tests for children's upper limb function were mapped to the ICF. Most assess body function and activity, with significant gaps in participation and personal factors. Clinicians should note these measures do not capture real-world engagement or environmental barriers.
• PTOTSLPOther2025The UK C-BiLLT: Validity and reliability of an online assessment of spoken language comprehension for children with severe motor disorders.International journal of language & communication disordersThe UK C-BiLLT accurately measures spoken language comprehension in children aged 18 months to 7.5 years. It is reliable for typical development and acceptable for children with severe motor disorders who use eye gaze or switches, though it may take up to an hour to complete.
• OTQualitative2024The experiences of families of children with cerebral palsy and complex disability after three years accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme.Australian occupational therapy journalParents of children with cerebral palsy or similar complex disability said the NDIS was essential, but navigation, equipment delays, and staff knowledge gaps remained stressful after years in the scheme. They valued occupational therapists who understood it.
• OTOther2025The Sustainability of Self-Help Groups for Caregivers of Children With Disabilities in Kilifi, Kenya: The Changing Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentCaregivers of children with disabilities in Kilifi kept self-help groups connected through pandemic lockdowns by outdoor meetings, phone contact, savings and livelihood plans. Their reported quality of life was higher than parents with typically functioning children in four domains.
• PTOTCohort2025Children With Fragile X Syndrome Display a Switch Towards Fast Fibres in Their Recruitment Strategy During Gait.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Fragile X Syndrome recruited fast-twitch muscle fibres more heavily than slow-twitch ones during walking, even when walking slower. This shift toward fatigue-prone fibres may explain their high fatigability and poor motor control, independent of gait speed.
• PTOTSystematic Review2025Digital play and rehabilitation for children and adolescents in hospitals, outpatient departments and rehabilitation centres: A scoping review.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineDigital play is widely used in pediatric rehabilitation, mostly for neurological conditions, but evidence for its effectiveness is weak. Most studies were small, feasibility trials with unvalidated outcomes. The field lacks rigorous data proving these interventions improve function.
• OTQualitative2024Occupational therapy experiences of interprofessional collaboration in the support of autistic children.Australian occupational therapy journalAustralian OTs found collaboration with other professionals is hindered by NDIS funding limits and school access barriers. Success relied on established relationships, shared views on autism, and clear leadership roles, often falling to parents when coordinators were absent.
• OTSLPQualitative2024An evaluation of intervention appropriateness from the perspective of parents: A peer-mediated, play-based intervention for children with ADHD.Australian occupational therapy journal25 parents said a play-based intervention for children with ADHD was enjoyable and helpful, especially when the therapist was warm and the child liked video feedback. They wanted more support to keep gains at school and with other peers.
• OTQualitative2024'We are all bringing, like a unique sort of perspective': The core elements of a strengths-based digital arts mentoring program for autistic adolescents from the perspective of their mentors.Australian occupational therapy journalMentors said the program worked because they dropped the teacher role and became collaborators. They tailored support to each adolescent’s interests, gave them time to process, and used the snack break to build peer connections.
• OTSurvey2024Visual-Motor Integration (VMI) Is Also Relevant for Computer, Smartphone, and Tablet Use by Adults: Introducing the Brief Box Clicking Test.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationSlower box-clicking time correlates with poorer visual perception and daily functioning difficulties. The test shows moderate stability over two years. It may help clinicians observe visual-motor interference with technology use, though it has not been compared with standard visual-motor integration assessments.
• PTOTCase Report2025Safety of cardiorespiratory and muscle fitness assessment in two children with leukemia during early chemotherapy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineTwo children undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia safely completed maximal exercise and strength tests during early treatment. No adverse effects occurred, and the testing did not disrupt their treatment schedule. This suggests rigorous physiological assessment is feasible early in therapy, though sample size is too small to confirm benefits.
• OTOther2025The Impact of Cerebral Visual Impairment on Social Skills and Sensory Processing.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthToddlers with cerebral palsy and cerebral visual impairment had the lowest parent-reported social competence scores. Cerebral visual impairment was not linked to sensory processing differences beyond cerebral palsy itself.
• OTSLPCohort2025Beyond the Label: Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices at a Paediatric Neurodisability Service in Australia.Child: care, health and developmentIn 147 children with neurodisability, most antipsychotic prescriptions were for challenging behaviours, not psychosis. Risperidone was common, often off-label, and most prescribing encounters also included another psychotropic drug. This paper does not show whether medicines worked.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Outcomes in a National Clinical Sample of Youth With Sex Chromosome Trisomies Compared With Matched Controls.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP52.2% of youth with sex chromosome trisomies had a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, including speech and language and motor delays, and 13.7% had a mental health diagnosis, both more common than in matched controls.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Missed Early Intervention Opportunities for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchOnly 15% of preschoolers with autism received early intervention services before age 2. The strongest predictor of timely access was an autism diagnosis before age 2, alongside higher socioeconomic status and low birth weight. Most children missed the critical window due to diagnostic delays.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025The moderating role of co-occurring attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in social skills group training for autistic children and adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceKONTAKT social skills training helped most autistic adolescents and children without ADHD, but not children with co-occurring ADHD. In that subgroup, standard care alone produced higher response rates than the training.
• OTCohort2024Prediction of Functional Academic Outcomes by Fine Motor Skills in Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationYoung people with sickle cell disease scored significantly lower than expected on fine motor tests. These motor deficits predicted poorer academic performance in math and reading, even after accounting for general intelligence. Screening for fine motor issues is a practical way to identify students at risk for school difficulties.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: the Mediating Effects of Mental Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdolescents with ADHD who engaged in more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity reported lower suicidal ideation. This link was fully mediated by depression, anxiety, and resilience. Increasing physical activity may reduce suicidal thoughts by improving these mental health factors.
• OTSystematic Review2025Parent Perspectives of Co-Occupations in Neonatal Intensive Care: A Thematic Review of Barriers and Supports.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthNICU parents described physical separation, medical equipment, restricted roles, poor staff communication, and emotional strain as barriers to caring for and bonding with their infants. Skin-to-skin care, involvement in caregiving, supportive staff, education, and peer contact were supports.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Benefits of horseback riding for neurotypical children and adolescents: a scoping review.CoDASHorse riding showed mixed results for neurotypical children. Two randomized trials found improved social competence, but non-randomized studies varied widely in cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Evidence quality was low, with most studies having moderate risk of bias.
• OTSystematic Review2024A scoping review of coaching in occupational therapy: Mapping methods, populations and outcomes.Australian occupational therapy journalCoaching improves occupational performance and goal attainment, especially for parents of children with developmental conditions. However, most studies lack fidelity reporting and theoretical clarity, so clinicians cannot separate the coaching component from other concurrent interventions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Associations of Down Syndrome with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder Among Children and Adolescents.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with Down syndrome were five times more likely to have autism and nearly two times more likely to have ADHD than children without it. Girls with Down syndrome showed a much stronger link to autism than boys did. These findings support routine screening for both conditions in this group.
• OTQualitative2025Rural Caregiver Perceptions on the Content and Receipt of a Diabetes Management Telehealth Occupation-Based Coaching Intervention.OTJR : occupation, participation and healthRural caregivers of children with Type 1 diabetes described feeling isolated and sleep-deprived before coaching. They valued the telehealth sessions for holding them accountable and helping them feel heard. This support helped them manage their child's health proactively and find a new normal.
• PTOTCohort2025The Intersection of Variability in Gross Motor Performance and Adaptive Behavior in Young Autistic Children: Combining Video Data Analysis and Standardized Assessments.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchRemote video analysis showed autistic children had high variability in walking and balance. More consistent walking speed linked to better adaptive behavior, but more consistent walking behaviors linked to worse adaptive behavior. Standardized test scores did not correlate with these video measures.
• OTSLPPilot2025Occupational performance patterns in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome.Australian occupational therapy journalChildren with PANS show a significant drop in social skills and overall daily functioning during flare-ups, but return to typical performance levels when in remission. Assessments taken during a flare may falsely suggest autism, so testing during remission is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
• OTQualitative2025'We're quite good at thinking outside the box: Early autistic sensory experiences expressed by autistic adults and caregivers of autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults and caregivers described early sensory differences as unique to each person and changing by context. Overload could make daily tasks painful, while controlled sensory routines were used to feel safe and participate.
• OTQualitative2025Developing an initial explanatory theory for Partnering for Change using realist evaluation.Australian occupational therapy journalResearchers developed a theory explaining how school-based occupational therapy works, not just that it does. Success depends on specific conditions: therapists must be open to collaboration, schools need supportive leadership, and therapists require paid training and mentorship to shift from individual caseloads to whole-school support.
• OTCohort2025Participation in health promoting occupations among mothers of children aged 3-8 years with and without difficulties in sensory processing.Australian occupational therapy journalMothers of children with sensory modulation difficulties reported feeling less competent and participating less frequently in health-promoting activities than mothers of typically developing children. These lower scores were associated with reduced quality of life across all domains.
• OTCohort2025Relationships between sensory reactivity and occupational performance in children with paediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS).Australian occupational therapy journalDuring PANS exacerbations, higher sensory reactivity scores correlated with lower communication and daily living skills. However, sensory reactivity showed no significant link to socialisation scores. This suggests sensory issues explain functional decline in some areas, but other factors may drive social difficulties.