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 44 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• PTOTPilot2025Feasibility and usability of a wearable sensor system for gait assessment in children with neuromuscular diseases.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA wearable sensor system attached to shoelaces was feasible and highly usable for gait assessment in 12 ambulatory children with neuromuscular diseases. Device-based measurements agreed with standard manual tests, and all participants completed the protocol.
• OTQualitative2025'Adolescence kicked in . . . and you need help again': A qualitative study of the experiences of parents of autistic teenagers with mental health difficulties or behaviours that challenge.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents described adolescence as a point where their established coping strategies stopped working, leaving them feeling de-skilled and unsupported by services. They reported increased fear, exhaustion, and financial strain, with many noting a complete absence of professional help during this transition.
• PTOTCase-Control2025Adverse Childhood Experiences and Behavioral and Emotional Problems in Adolescents With and Without Autism.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPAdolescents with autism or other developmental disabilities reported more adverse childhood experiences than typical peers. Household substance use linked to conduct problems in autism, while financial assistance linked to hyperactivity in other disabilities. Mental health issues in the home affected behavior across all groups.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Expressive language and social communication abilities in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with later-onset SMA type 1 said far more words than those with early onset. Four of 37 screened positive for autism traits, but many parents could not answer questions because motor impairments blocked the behaviours the test asks about.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Active upper-limb therapies for hand function, individual goal achievement, and self-care in children with cerebral palsy: A network meta-analysis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyModified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) and bimanual training (BiM) consistently improve hand function, goal achievement, and self-care in children with cerebral palsy. Action observation also improves bimanual hand function. No single therapy is clearly superior to the others for hand function, allowing choice based on child and family preference.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Communication about sexuality for adolescents with cerebral palsy and complex communication needs: A scoping review with framework synthesis.Developmental medicine and child neurologyAdolescents with cerebral palsy who speak discuss sexuality with parents and peers, but those with complex communication needs are rarely asked directly. Support staff and parents report conversations focus on abuse prevention and personal care, missing broader topics like dating or consent.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2025Mapping the Instruments Used to Measure Well-Being on Children With Disabilities: A Scoping Review.Child: care, health and developmentTen self-report instruments for well-being in children with disabilities were identified. Most focus on emotional and psychological aspects, leaving social well-being under-represented. Only a few scales are explicitly adapted for this population, often lacking comprehensive coverage of the dual continua model.
• OTSLPCohort2025Differences in the Social Experiences of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adolescents by Gender.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAutistic boys reported feeling less socially supported than their non-autistic peers, while autistic girls reported feeling more socially alienated than everyone else. Both autistic groups had fewer close friends and spent less time with them, but their subjective experiences of friendship differed by gender.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Outcomes of selective dorsal rhizotomy in ambulatory children and young people with cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost research on selective dorsal rhizotomy measures muscle tone and movement, ignoring patient goals and daily participation. Only four studies tracked individualized goals and two explored family perspectives, leaving a major gap in understanding what matters to patients.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Latent trajectories in autistic individuals: A systematic review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic development is not uniform. Most individuals show stable core traits, but repetitive behaviors often worsen while adaptive skills improve. Baseline cognition predicts these paths. Regularly assess multiple domains over time rather than assuming a single fixed trajectory.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Language, Speech, and Oral Motor Performance in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Systematic Review.International journal of language & communication disordersChildren with developmental coordination disorder often have subtle speech and oral motor deficits that standard articulation tests miss. Look for slower articulation and breakdowns during complex speech tasks, not just isolated sound errors.
• OTOther2025Psychological Intervention in Parents of Children With Neurodevelopmental Disorders Using a Brief Protocol Based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDParents of children with intellectual disabilities who completed a three-session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy workshop reported less psychological inflexibility and better general health. They also self-reported fewer punitive and more supportive interactions with their children, with changes maintained at three-month follow-up.
• PTOTCohort2026Three-year outcomes of repeated botulinum neurotoxin A injections to the lower extremities in young children with spastic cerebral palsy in GMFCS levels I to III.Developmental medicine and child neurologyRepeated botulinum toxin injections did not improve gross motor function in young children with spastic cerebral palsy over three years. Range of motion outcomes slightly favoured the group that did not receive injections.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Epidemiology of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration in UK children.Developmental medicine and child neurologyUK surveillance found that inborn errors of metabolism cause most progressive neurodegeneration in children, with genetic testing now driving diagnosis. Pakistani and Bangladeshi families had much higher rates of parental cousin marriage, linking this to inherited recessive diseases.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Parents' experiences of having a child who had a stroke: A systematic review and meta-ethnography.Developmental medicine and child neurologyParents describe childhood stroke as a sudden, shocking event worsened by low awareness among professionals. They report feeling abandoned after discharge, forcing them to self-educate. Support needs change over time, with fathers and siblings often overlooked.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes in Australian First Nations infants: The transdiagnostic utility of early screening tools.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA combined trajectory of early movement scores (MOS-R) and neurological exams (HINE) predicted neurodevelopmental delays and autism at 12 months with 74% accuracy. This transdiagnostic utility allows therapists to identify high-risk First Nations infants earlier, even before a formal diagnosis is confirmed.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Examining Transdiagnostic Patterns of Motor Differences: Preliminary Findings From the Consortium for Motor Behavior in Neurodivergence (COMBINE).Journal of autism and developmental disordersAcross 262 children with autism, ADHD, DCD or CAS, 77% scored in the clinical range for motor impairment. DCD predicted lower total scores, while ADHD predicted higher total and balance scores. Autistic children had lower aiming and catching scores, and girls had lower aiming scores.
• OTRCT2026Three-dimensional assessment of finger individuation reveals finger- and joint-specific selective motor control deficits in children with cerebral palsy.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with cerebral palsy had lower ability to isolate finger forces, especially index and ring fingers. In the preferred hand, better finger control went with better pegboard, block, and manipulation scores. This is an assessment finding, not a treatment effect.
• OTCohort2026Preverbal visual assessment for screening cerebral visual impairment: Diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA caregiver questionnaire for infants under two years caught almost every child who was later diagnosed with cerebral visual impairment. However, it also flagged many who did not have it. Treat any concern on the form as a reason for a full eye and brain assessment.
• PTOTQualitative2025Play Together? Unveiling Facilitators and Barriers to Inclusive Outdoor Play for Dutch Children With and Without Disabilities: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentChildren with disabilities, especially those in special schools, face the most barriers to outdoor play. Key obstacles include lack of nearby peers, inaccessible playgrounds, and pity from other children. Familiarity and growing up together were the strongest facilitators for inclusive play.
• OTSLPMeta-Analysis2025Autistic traits are associated with lower perceived executive function but not poorer executive function task performance in the general population: complementary meta-analytic evidence.Molecular autismPeople with more autistic traits report worse executive function on questionnaires, but their actual performance on cognitive tasks is not impaired. This gap suggests the difficulty lies in how they perceive their own abilities, not in the abilities themselves.
• OTSLPCase-Control2025Associations Between Altered Auditory EEG Markers and Clinical Impairments in Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn 41 people with fragile X syndrome and 46 controls, brain responses to repeated and changing sounds differed, and some differences tracked cognitive, autistic, daily living and ADHD symptoms. No treatment was tested.
• PTOTRCT2026Lessons learned while exploring the impact of movement-tracking feedback on the experiences of children with neuromotor disorders taking part in interactive home exercise programs: a multi-case mixed methods study.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMovement tracking feedback helped two of three children complete more prescribed exercises, but the system often failed to count movements accurately. Parents valued the feedback, while children found technical errors frustrating. The game was preferred over conventional home exercises, but the technology requires refinement before clinical use.
• PTOTOther2025'I feel trapped in my safe clothes': The impact of tactile hyper-sensitivity on autistic adults.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults described clothing textures like labels and seams as causing physical pain, anxiety, and barriers to work. While tactile sensitivity alone linked weakly to poor body image, it significantly lowered self-esteem in those already dissatisfied with their appearance. Comfort often forced a trade-off with self-expression.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Keeping Up With School During Hospitalization for Children With Chronic Illnesses, Siblings and Parents.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies staying at a Ronald McDonald House reported that teachers supported school continuity through flexible, reduced workloads and easy digital contact. Parents valued this but noted that homeschooling or prolonged absence cut off access to therapy services and peer socialization.
• PTOTPilot2026AI-based video analysis for the assessment of upper limb function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: feasibility of remote monitoring.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationAn AI model accurately classified upper limb impairment severity in children with unilateral cerebral palsy from routine handheld clinic videos. The tool achieved high discrimination across all four assessment indices, suggesting it could support remote monitoring and reduce clinician scoring burden.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Transition From Children's to Adults' Healthcare for Youth With (Genetic) Intellectual Disabilities: An ERN-ITHACA Guideline.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRTransition planning for young people with intellectual disabilities should start at 13 or 14 years and use a named worker to coordinate care. These are expert recommendations, not evidence that they work.
• OTCohort2025Relationship Between Intellectual Disability and Behavioral Comorbidity in Children With Fragile X Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn children with fragile X syndrome, higher intellectual disability level was linked with more frequent autism, irritability/agitation/aggression/self-injury, obsessive/perseverative behavior, and higher sensory problem scores. Anxiety and ADHD-like symptoms were not linked to intellectual disability level.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Criterion Validity, Scalability and Stability of Scoring on the Bayley-III in Children With Angelman Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRThe Bayley-III works well for tracking groups of children with Angelman syndrome but is unstable for individual patients. Scores often fluctuate due to attention and motor issues, meaning a single test result may not reflect true ability or change.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2026Motor skills and working memory capacity in preadolescents born very preterm.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren born very preterm had lower working memory capacity than term-born peers. This link was fully explained by their poorer motor skills, specifically balance and manual dexterity. Brain activity measures did not mediate this relationship, suggesting motor deficits are a key pathway to cognitive difficulties.
• PTOTSystematic Review2026Outcomes and standardized tools in telehealth physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy: A scoping review using the ICF framework.Developmental medicine and child neurologyTelehealth physical therapy for children with cerebral palsy is mostly assessed in person, not remotely. While some questionnaires and specific movement tests show promise for remote use, most standardized tools still require clinical settings, limiting the ability to track real-world functional changes.
• PTOTOther2026Psychometric properties of functional mobility outcome measures in children with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFour mobility measures work well for children with arthrogryposis, but they do not agree on who is impaired. Use them together for a full picture. Parents reported worse mobility than children did, so ask both. Small changes of 1-2 levels on walking scales are meaningful.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026Use of artificial intelligence for outcome assessment in pediatric rehabilitation: a scoping review.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationMost AI tools for pediatric outcome assessment are still experimental, focused on gait in children with cerebral palsy. High accuracy reported in these studies reflects technical testing, not clinical readiness for routine use.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Interventions supporting the empowerment of parent carers of children with neurodisability and other long-term health conditions: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyMost interventions for parent carers target the carer's own behaviour, not the health system. Few involve carers in design or report implementation details. Clinicians should look for existing programmes rather than creating new ones, but beware of poor descriptions.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Longitudinal Developmental Outcomes of Children With Prelingual Single-Sided Deafness With and Without a Cochlear Implant and Recommendations for Follow-Up.Ear and hearingEarly cochlear implantation in children with single-sided deafness improved speech perception in noise and sound localization compared to non-implanted peers. However, it did not significantly improve cognitive scores or balance skills over the non-implanted group, though both implanted and non-implanted groups showed poorer balance than hearing children.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Are we getting better at identifying and diagnosing neurodivergent girls and women? Insights into sex ratios and age of diagnosis from clinical population data in Scotland.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutism and ADHD sex ratios in Scotland have balanced since 2014, with more females diagnosed in adults. However, girls are still referred and diagnosed years later than boys. The delay begins before referral, suggesting parents and schools are missing early signs in females.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Implementation of a knowledge translation strategy to promote early evidence-based rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyA 15-week toolkit and training program did not significantly change how often therapists used evidence-based practices or their confidence. However, therapists found the toolkit acceptable and easy to use, and perceived better mentorship support at their sites.
• OTSLPOther2025FMR1 Premutation Carrier Mothers' Daily Negative Affect and Cortisol: Probing the Impacts of Stress Exposure, Coping Style, and CGG Repeats.American journal on intellectual and developmental disabilitiesMothers with high problem-focused coping kept stable negative affect and cortisol on days their child's behavior was worse than usual. This buffering did not occur for mothers with midrange CGG repeats, who showed no benefit from coping.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Exome sequencing in severe non-syndromic specific learning and language disorders in a French cohort.Molecular autismExome sequencing found a genetic diagnosis in 11 of 82 children with severe learning disorders. It also flagged 38 uncertain variants. No patient profile predicted who would get a diagnosis, and the study was too small to confirm if sequencing beats standard chromosome testing.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Long-Term Outcomes of Pediatric Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness: A Western Australian Perspective.Ear and hearingLong-term cochlear implant use in children with single-sided deafness showed variable results. While some improved, the group saw no significant gain in localization or speech-in-noise scores. Earlier implantation was linked to better outcomes, but device use declined over time.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Families' and therapists' experience of a telehealth programme for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFamilies and therapists first feared remote care, then valued weekly video review of home goals and low-cost adaptations. They described stronger partnership and family confidence, while internet, devices, and caregiver strain remained challenges.
• OTSLPPilot2026The Schools Unified in Neurodiversity Collaborative: Co-designing a program to enhance educator knowledge and efficacy supporting children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn one U.S. district, 192 educators reported higher neurodiversity knowledge and confidence after a 6-hour co-designed training. They also found the tools feasible. No child outcomes were measured.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Factors associated with social participation among children with fragile X syndrome.Disability and health journalMost children with fragile X syndrome joined at least one social activity, but participation dropped for those with severe intellectual disability or emotional dysregulation. Caregivers cited behavioral issues, time constraints, and lack of community resources as the biggest barriers.
• PTOTCase Report2026A self-made suspension trainer as a tool for core muscle activation and motivation in a girl with cognitive and motor impairments: a case report.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesA therapist-built rope and stick trainer helped one 13-year-old girl with severe impairments increase core exercise repetitions from 1–2 to 10–15. The caregiver reported better posture and willingness to participate, but no standardized measures were used.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025Association Between Exposure to Smartphones and Tablets and Motor Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review.Child: care, health and developmentEvidence linking smartphone and tablet use to motor development in young children is mixed and inconclusive. Four studies found negative associations, while three found positive ones. Most results were weak or non-significant, and the cross-sectional design prevents causal conclusions.
• PTOTCohort2026Participation, environment, and quality of life in children with cerebral palsy and physical disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity support, not just physical ability, strongly predicted quality of life in children with cerebral palsy. Parents reported significant barriers and a high desire for change. Clinicians should prioritize community integration and resource navigation alongside physical therapy.
• PTOTCohort2026Motor Function Profiling and Its Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life in Childhood Stroke Survivors.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationChildhood stroke survivors were below test norms in manual coordination and strength/agility, which were linked with lower parent-reported quality of life and function. Motor daily skills were largely preserved; cognitive daily skills were not.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Social Determinants of Health and Life Satisfaction of Children With Disabilities.Child: care, health and developmentFor school-attending children with disabilities, life satisfaction is strongly linked to the child's own subjective health and self-esteem, alongside parental depression and family strength. Social determinants like healthcare costs and school accommodations also play a role, though accommodations are associated with lower satisfaction, possibly due to stigma.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Experiência de famílias e terapeutas com um programa de telessaúde para crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral durante a pandemia de COVID-19.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFamilies and therapists initially doubted remote care for children with severe cerebral palsy but later valued video-based collaboration. Therapists moved from direct hands-on treatment to coaching parents through shared routines. This shift required building trust and adapting to home realities, not just technical fixes.
• PTOTMeta-Analysis2026Effects of video game-based interventions on executive functions and motor skills in children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesVideo games improved executive function and gross motor skills in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. Fine motor skills showed no improvement. Active games favoured gross motor and flexibility; computer games favoured working memory.