TOPIC

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 39 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTSLPOther2024A Delphi Exploration of Toileting Activity Performance in Individuals With Cerebral Palsy Within the ICF-CY Framework: Unveiling Influential Factors.Occupational therapy internationalExperts agreed that caregiver awareness of a child's readiness and neuromusculoskeletal function are the top factors affecting toileting in cerebral palsy. They also highlighted the critical role of toilet environment, communication feedback, and cultural attitudes toward menstruation and hygiene.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Chronic Physical Pain in Children With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United States: Findings from the 2016 - 2021 National Survey of Children's Health.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren with autism have higher rates of chronic pain and headaches than their peers, even after adjusting for other health conditions. This association holds across ages and regions, but pain severity or type did not link to autism severity or current treatments.
• OTCase-Control2025Mechanisms of Altered Imitation in Autism Spectrum Disorders.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic children aged 7 to 12 were less accurate at imitating gestures. Motor execution showed the strongest link to this difference, and action representation, social motivation, and executive function were also linked.
• OTOther2024Impact of COVID-19 on the Participation of Iranian Adolescents in Daily Life: Development and Validation of the IAPAT-C Tool.Occupational therapy internationalIranian adolescents reported changed participation after COVID-19. Leisure with friends, school activities, family activities and personal activities decreased, while relaxing and in-home activities increased. Work did not change. The reported changes were small in several domains.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring Family Experiences With Section 504 Plans for Their Autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMost caregivers of autistic children described Section 504 school plans as negative, citing delayed evaluations, dismissive staff, and missed accommodations. Positive experiences came from responsive school staff, family advocacy, and connections to other families or therapists.
• OTSystematic Review2025Interoception and its application to paediatric occupational therapy: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalInteroception is increasingly used in paediatric occupational therapy, but the evidence base is thin. Most included studies were small, uncontrolled, or opinion pieces. Structured programs exist, but rigorous research proving they improve participation or regulation is largely missing.
• OTOther2025The responsiveness and clinical utility of the Australian therapy outcome measure for indigenous clients.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 34 urban First Australian adults, ATOMIC goal ratings rose from 1.82 to 8.00 on a 0 to 10 transformed scale post-intervention, and clients and clinicians described the tool as flexible, culturally responsive, and useful for goal setting.
• OTSLPCohort2026Co-occurring Conditions and Quality of Life in Autistic Children Attending General Education or Special Education Schools.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children in special education had more co-occurring conditions than those in general education. School type alone did not predict quality of life. However, special education students with externalizing conditions had lower quality of life than expected, suggesting their specific needs may not be met there.
• OTSLPRCT2026Mixed Methods Findings from a Stepped Wedge Hybrid Implementation Trial of ATTAIN NAV: A Mental Health Family Navigation Intervention for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersStandard family navigation for autistic youth without added messaging or dashboards gave caregivers higher satisfaction, faster first mental health appointments, and greater child behaviour improvements than technology-enhanced navigation. Technology-enhanced navigation produced more contacts and referrals.
• PTOTCohort2025Bilateral hand use during infancy in very low birth weight infants.Journal of physical therapy scienceVery low birth weight infants under 1,000 g reached toy transfer later than infants with birth weight 1,000 to 1,499 g, with middle ages of 6.4 and 5.8 months. No clear difference was seen for playing with both hands together or grasping two toys.
• OTSystematic Review2025Family Experiences of Integrated Care for Children With Medical Complexity: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentParents and carers of medically complex children valued having one care coordinator as a single contact, smoother navigation and better communication. But they also reported fragmented services, unclear coordinator roles and safety concerns about records not being shared.
• PTOTOther2025Focusing Attention to Improve Throwing Skills in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring the Influence of Working Memory.Occupational therapy internationalFor boys aged 6 to 8 with autism, instructions to focus on their own body movements led to better long-term throwing accuracy than instructions to focus on the target. Working memory scores did not predict this learning.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026"What My Son Needs Is Me. What I Need Is... Guidance": Caregiver Perspectives About Early Autism Supports Amid Changing Attitudes and Policies.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregivers valued supports that reduced their mental load and respected their child's identity over specific skill goals. They felt let down by rigid systems and unhelpful advice, preferring therapists who offered practical help and emotional validation.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Accessibility of Childcare Services for Children With Disabilities Aged 0 to 5 Years: A Scoping Review of Promising Solutions.Child: care, health and developmentChildcare accessibility research focuses almost entirely on social support and autism, leaving physical environment changes and other disabilities largely unexamined. Most solutions combine multiple interventions, so specific component effects remain unclear. Clinicians should advocate for broader research into environmental adaptations and non-autism populations.
• OTOther2025Investigation of the Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Basic Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire in Preschool Children.Occupational therapy internationalThe Turkish daily-living questionnaire for preschoolers was answered consistently by parents over 2 weeks, and scores related to a functional independence measure. Use it for Turkish preschoolers with typical development, not yet for disabled children.
• OTCohort2025Sensory processing patterns and their relationships to coping and occupational engagement in mental health service users.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 97 mental health service users, lower occupational engagement was linked to higher sensory sensitivity, low registration, and sensation avoiding. Higher engagement was linked to sensation seeking. Avoidant coping was associated with sensation seeking, and emotion-focused coping with low registration.
• OTSLPQualitative2025Co-designing a novel service delivery pathway to increase access to autism identification and care within a non-profit community organization serving culturally and linguistically diverse families.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCommunity providers and caregivers shaped a new autism care pathway through five priorities: respecting diversity, caregiver choice, accessibility, reducing stigma, and feasibility. These insights guided the creation of a culturally adapted workbook and training tutorial for non-specialist providers.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Sensitivity and Specificity of Developmental Surveillance and Autism Screening in an Australian Multicultural Cohort: The Watch Me Grow Study.Journal of autism and developmental disordersNo single screening tool or combination accurately identified developmental concerns in this multicultural cohort. The most sensitive approach missed 9 children, while tiered systems missed up to 21. Specificity remained low, risking over-referral. Repeated surveillance with clinician input is necessary for reliable detection.
• OTOther2025Exploring Goal Attainment Scaling Among Occupational Therapy Students: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis.Occupational therapy internationalThree of five OT students failed a 75% competency benchmark for writing Goal Attainment Scales after only 3 hours of training. They often copied parent statements verbatim instead of creating measurable goals, showing that brief instruction does not produce competent GAS administration.
• PTOTSLPOther2025A Further Characterisation of the Neuropsychological Profile, Social Perception, and Academic Skills in Sotos Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with Sotos syndrome show a distinct cognitive profile: relative strength in facial memory but significant weakness in rapid speech, visuospatial construction, and mathematics. Social perception skills were not specifically impaired compared to other domains, despite high rates of autism comorbidity.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Characterisation of Challenging Behaviours and Associated Genetic and Neurological Features in Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRCaregivers of 61 children and adults with cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome reported high rates of challenging behaviour. Behaviours peaked in adolescence. Escape and physical discomfort were the most common functions. Pain, sleep problems, and sensory differences were linked to higher behaviour frequency.
• OTCohort2025Changes in Psychological Distress in Children With Physical Illness and Their Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Child: care, health and developmentParents reported more distress in themselves and their children with chronic physical illness during the pandemic. Parent distress rose then eased but stayed above pre-pandemic levels; child distress kept rising.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Child Care and Development in the Migration Context of Brazil: A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Study at an International Border.Child: care, health and developmentImmigrant parents in Brazil maintain strong physical care and bonding but struggle to provide play and stimulation due to stress, language barriers, and isolation. Children with these risk factors often show developmental delays, requiring clinicians to actively screen for social determinants rather than assuming neglect.
• PTOTOther2025Causes of Adolescent Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Study.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationIn adolescents with low back pain, most cases had no specific cause (42.81%). Disc disease was the second most common (27.64%), more frequent in women. Spondylolysis was third (14.54%), more frequent in men. This challenges assumptions about the primary driver of adolescent back pain.
• PTOTSLPRCT2025Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment for Severe Problem Behaviors in Autistic Boys: A Randomized Clinical Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersPurified CBD did not significantly reduce problem behaviors compared to placebo in boys with severe autism. Both groups improved, with a strong placebo effect observed. Safety was acceptable, but the study found no global benefit over placebo for the primary outcomes.
• PTOTPilot2025Exploring Posturography in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.Physical & occupational therapy in pediatricsChildren with sickle cell disease scored lower on clinical balance tests but showed no deficits in computerized posturography. This suggests their balance problems are not caused by impaired sensory integration or weight-shifting strategies.
• OTSystematic Review2025Outcome Measures in Evaluation of Weighted Blankets: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalWeighted blanket research is too varied to combine into a single effectiveness score. Adults usually get measured for immediate anxiety relief using simple scales, while children are assessed via sleep trackers and diaries. Standardised tools for long-term effects and daily routines are missing.
• OTOther2025Upper limb training for young children with unilateral cerebral palsy using video coaching: An explorative retrospective clinical study.Australian occupational therapy journalIn 81 young children with unilateral cerebral palsy, an 8-week home upper limb training block with video coaching was followed by higher affected hand use scores during bimanual tasks. Scores stayed about the same after an 8-week break. Individual response varied widely.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Associations Between 24-h Movement Behaviours and Health in 3- and 4-Year-Old Children From a Low-Income Country: The SUNRISE Ethiopia Study.Child: care, health and developmentChildren who slept longer had lower body mass index scores. Those with more physical activity had stronger handgrip, while more sitting time linked to weaker grip. No links were found for balance, jumping, or thinking skills.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Mothers' Ideas About Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Differences Over Time and by Household Experience with ASD.Journal of autism and developmental disordersMothers of children with autism were more likely to blame biological causes like genetics or vaccines, while those without autism blamed lifestyle or diet. Over 13 years, belief in vaccines causing autism decreased, while belief in genetics increased.
• OTOther2025Evaluating a Family Capacity-Building Service: Are We Doing More Good Than Harm?Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieSeven families used a flexible, coaching-based OT service. Parents felt less judged and more confident. Children improved in at least one daily routine. The service was designed to build capacity without adding to family stress.
• OTCohort2025Use of sensory processing information in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children at an Australian community hospital.Australian occupational therapy journalModified sensory scales helped identify autism traits like repetitive behaviours and social communication issues in children, but failed to distinguish ADHD from no diagnosis. The scales are exploratory and do not replace standard diagnostic assessments.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Investigating Developmental Status of Children Aged 0-5 Years and Its Association With Child Gender, Family Background and Geographic Locations in Australian Community-Based Early Learning Centres.Child: care, health and developmentChildren aged 2–3 and boys were more likely to have developmental concerns in language and self-help domains. Children from culturally and linguistically diverse families showed higher risks in language and social-emotional areas. Mid-level socio-economic communities had unexpected academic concerns, while remoteness and Indigenous status showed no significant associations.
• OTSLPCohort2025Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Youth with Autism and/or Intellectual Disabilities: Clinical Characteristics and Considerations.Journal of autism and developmental disordersYouth with autism or intellectual disability admitted to general psychiatric units were more likely to receive emergency injections for agitation, stay longer, and leave with more medications than peers without these diagnoses, suggesting care gaps in non-specialized settings.
• OTRCT2025Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation influences cognitive-motor dual-task performance in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation3 days of active brain stimulation improved children's dual-task scores for counting and block transferring compared with sham. It also lowered hand-task interference within the active group, but not more than sham.
• OTQualitative2025Using Grief for Good: The Transformative Effect of Participatory Action Research for Parents With Intellectual Disability Who Have Experienced Child Removal.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents with intellectual disability who lost custody described the group process as a rare non-judgmental space to share grief. This shared experience helped them turn personal loss into collective advocacy, though the study reports their subjective experience rather than measured clinical outcomes.
• OTQualitative2025'That connection with community… it is just a positive thing': Mentoring autistic adolescents participating in community coding programmes.Australian occupational therapy journalMentors and facilitators described coding clubs as a social process where they gained confidence, skills and community. They reported personal satisfaction and better mental health, but also stress from unclear roles. They asked for more training and clearer expectations to support autistic adolescents effectively.
• OTCase Report2025Sensory integration combined with interoceptive interventions for functional urinary incontinence in children: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA child with daytime urinary urgency and leakage had those symptoms resolve after 8 weeks of sensory integration and interoceptive training while continuing nightly desmopressin. Bedwetting decreased but persisted. This cannot separate the components or show the treatment works.
• OTPilot2025Dynamic testing with graduated prompts training: Adolescents with executive function deficits.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTAdolescents with executive function deficits showed large improvements in drawing accuracy and memory after graded prompts training. The gains were immediate and within the same session. No control group was used, so this shows learning potential during testing, not that the intervention works long-term.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Services Delivered by Specialized Professionals in Childcare Settings in Québec, Canada: Strengths and Limitations of Current Service Delivery Models.Child: care, health and developmentChildcare administrators in Québec identified ten service delivery models for professionals like SLPs and OTs, categorized by funding source and focus. Childcare-led models offered flexibility and trust, while healthcare-led models provided free access but suffered from long waitlists and rigid mandates. No single model met all needs.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025Access to services for autistic people across Europe.Molecular autismAutistic people in Europe reported failed attempts to access therapy, mental health and autism diagnostic services, and most formally diagnosed participants had waited at least a month for diagnosis. Children and female participants faced more barriers for some services.
• OTSLPCase Report2025Complex ADHD in a Child With Tic Disorder.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPA child with ADHD and new-onset tics illustrates the clinical dilemma of balancing medication efficacy against side effects. Management involves distinguishing tics from stimming, considering alpha-2 agonists or CBIT, and prioritizing functional impact over symptom suppression.
• OTQualitative2025Active Play as a Window Into the Worlds of Twins and Triplets With Autism.Occupational therapy internationalParents of twins and triplets with autism described active play as a window into each child's world. They used it to notice strengths, motivations, and nonverbal cues, and to understand how each child communicated.
• OTCase Report2025Co-occurring Anxiety in a Child With Autism and ADHD.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPIn one child with autism, ADHD, and anxiety, neuropsych testing clarified overlapping symptoms. Recommendations included school accommodations, modified CBT, and medication. Parent disagreement delayed treatment, requiring collaborative planning and separate meetings to ensure consistency.
• OTQualitative2025'I couldn't change his nappy': New mothers' experiences of De Quervain's tendinosis and its impact on occupational performance.Australian occupational therapy journalPain and reduced strength from De Quervain's tendinosis made lifting, feeding, changing nappies, chores, and self-care hard for 15 new mothers. They asked for earlier education on safe handling and splint plans that fit caregiving.
• OTQualitative2025Analyzing Occupational Performance of Children With Handwriting Difficulties: Parent and Teacher Experiences and Perspectives.Occupational therapy internationalParents and teachers described children's handwriting as tied to mood, motivation, confidence, memory, attention, grip and hand use. They also pointed to learning styles, parent-teacher collaboration, and sibling or peer influence as supports or barriers.
• PTOTOther2025Understanding bracing outcomes in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: a mixed-methods approach.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAdolescents wearing braces for scoliosis reported that satisfaction with the brace was linked to better quality-of-life scores. Common complaints included sleep, breathing, chest pain, heaviness, balance problems and brace colour.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Thriving for Adolescents With Intellectual Disability: A Photo-Elicitation Qualitative Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDAdolescents with intellectual disability defined thriving as five elements: enjoying life, developing, having a positive sense of self, connecting, and mattering. Parents added a sixth element, a safe and supportive environment. These themes were derived from photo-elicitation interviews.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Early symptoms of autism spectrum disorders and association with Brazilian children's development and behavior.CoDASIn 221 Brazilian toddlers, 33% screened positive for autism risk. These children showed lower communication and social scores and higher behavioral problems. Screening should trigger holistic developmental assessment, not just an autism referral.
• PTOTSurvey2025An Investigation Into Gross Motor Skill Intervention Provisions for Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder in the Republic of Ireland: Cross Sectional Study.Child: care, health and developmentMost children waited over six months for motor skill help. When treatment arrived, it focused on daily living tasks rather than gross motor skills. Few parents were actively involved, despite high willingness to help at home.