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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 49 OF 50 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTOther2026Examining the Validity and Reliability of Evaluation in Ayres Sensory Integration Data Collected With Autistic Children: A Rasch Analysis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchThe EASI sensory integration test battery is largely usable for autistic children. Fourteen of its 19 tests produced consistent scores. Five (AL, PF, PJP, TPL, TPO) did not, so use those with other assessment data rather than in isolation.
• OTCohort2026From cognitive abstraction to adaptive behavior: neural bases of concept learning in autistic adolescents.Molecular autismMost autistic adolescents (about three-quarters) categorized new items by comparing them to an abstract typical example rather than to memorized individual items. Their generalization accuracy on this task was positively associated with parent-reported daily functioning.
• OTOther2026Capturing Phenotypic Heterogeneity in Differentiated Sensory Processing Profiles: Non-Syndromic Autism and Fragile X Syndrome.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children scored highest on all three sensory features. Children with FXS alone did not differ significantly from neurotypical peers. Sensory features linked to behavior problems in autism and FXS-only, but not in FXS with co-occurring autism.
• OTSystematic Review2026Family-Centered Occupational Therapy Consultation for Children Under 18 Years Old: A Scoping Review.Occupational therapy internationalEight of twelve studies found improved child participation or parent confidence after OT consultation. Three found no clear benefit. The evidence is thin, mostly small studies, and says little about cerebral palsy, ADHD, speech disorders, or teenagers.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Improving Health Care Services for Autistic Young Adults: Development and Use of a Self-Reported Health Care Transition Readiness Assessment.International journal of language & communication disordersAutistic young adults ranked understanding their own health conditions and feeling safe as most important for independence. Communication challenges and reliance on caregivers were their biggest barriers. Digital reminders were central to daily functioning.
• OTOther2026Atypical Predictive Processing Is Associated With Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchIn autism, brain activation to unexpected sounds and touches was higher than in typically developing controls, but group differences were minimal when a visual cue preceded the stimulus. Within the autism group, higher sensory over-responsivity was linked to less reduction in response to expected stimuli.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Developmental Profile and Variability in Preschool-Age Children With Down Syndrome.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRIn preschool children with Down syndrome, social-emotional and gross motor skills score higher than cognitive, language, and fine motor skills. Language and social-emotional skills also show the widest individual variation.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Functional outcomes of children after SARS-CoV-2 infection: An EHR-based cohort study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineChildren with clinician-confirmed long COVID after SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to show school decline, need new school support, and develop new behavioral or mental health symptoms than children without long COVID. Referral to psychological services did not differ between the two groups.
• OTCohort2026Exploring the alignment between occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration® with children and occupation-centred practice: An observational study.Australian occupational therapy journalNone of the eight ASI-trained therapists demonstrated all 22 occupation-centred practice components. The most commonly missed were collaboration with families, client-chosen goals, and occupational outcome measures. ASI fidelity was met by all, but fidelity does not guarantee an occupational focus.
• OTCohort2026Behavioral and functional aspects among public and private middle school students.CoDASBehavioral difficulties in 11-to-14-year-old students were significantly linked to functional problems in stress management and social interaction. More girls showed hyperactivity symptoms; more boys showed prosocial behavior difficulties. No significant link was found with school type or economic class.
• OTPilot2026Enhancing Development Through Teleoccupational Therapy in Children With Cortical Visual Impairment: A Quasiexperimental Study.Occupational therapy internationalEight children with cortical visual impairment improved in cognitive, fine motor, and gross motor scores after 8 weeks of online occupational therapy. Play skills improved in some areas but not others. No control group means the gains cannot be separated from maturation or parent attention.
• PTOTOther2026Associations Between Caregiver Smartphone Use in a Child's Presence and Motor Skills and Executive Function in Preschoolers: SUNRISE International Study.Child: care, health and developmentHow often a caregiver uses a smartphone during play, meals or walks was not associated with a preschooler's motor skills or working memory in 2,232 children across 27 countries, after adjusting for age and other factors.
• PTOTPilot2026Use of sensory dynamic orthosis in paediatric neuromuscular scoliosis: A pilot single-group pre-post study.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineThe SDO did not change spinal curvature over six months in 25 non-ambulatory children with neuromuscular scoliosis. It did improve posture while worn, and caregivers reported high satisfaction. No pain or function changes were detected.
• OTOther2026Examining the relationship between self-reported physical literacy and performance-based motor skills in school-aged children.The British journal of occupational therapySelf-reported physical literacy scores did not predict performance on a standardised motor skills test. The one link found: children who scored well on balance and coordination tasks tended to rank physical activity as more important than reading or math.
• PTOTNarrative Review2026Motor Disorders in Autism: From Comorbidity to Core Criterion.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchMotor signs like gait asymmetry, toe-walking, and postural instability are common in ASD and may precede social deficits. The authors propose these become diagnostic criteria rather than comorbidities, with a two-tier assessment framework for early screening.
• OTSurvey2026The Impact of Time Use in Different Occupation Areas on Time Deficiency Among Mothers Depending on the Presence of Children With Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalMothers of children with disabilities feel significantly more time-pressed than mothers of typically developing children. Their extra caregiving time comes at the cost of personal care and paid work, and protecting time for basic self-care is associated with feeling less time-pressed.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026Understanding health services and puberty for autistic adolescents and those with disability: A scoping review to inform occupational therapy practice.Australian occupational therapy journal18.9% of OTs working with pubertal-aged children address menstruation. Across 17 studies, the most consistently advocated support is anticipatory education before menarche, delivered in a person- and family-centred way.
• OTCohort2026The Unique Roles of Executive Function in Co-Occurring Psychopathologies in Autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchAmong 701 children with autism, weaker attention, working memory, and self-control predicted more severe ADHD. Better executive function also softened the link between being overwhelmed by sensory input and anxiety. A pattern no other cognitive domain showed.
• OTQualitative2026Moments That Matter: Exploring Autistic Adolescents' and Their Families' Joy Through Family Journals.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies of autistic teens and young adults described joy as ordinary (reading, cooking, playing games) not rare or extraordinary. It was relational, co-created with others, and layered across sensory, creative, and social dimensions. The daily journaling prompt itself helped families notice moments they'd otherwise overlook.
• PTOTSurvey2026Disability, race, and risk of perinatal intimate partner violence: Findings from a nationally representative U.S. sample.Disability and health journalWomen with disabilities had significantly higher odds of physical IPV both before and during pregnancy across every racial and ethnic group studied. The gap was largest for American Indian/Alaska Native and Black women with disabilities, and persisted after adjusting for age, education, and insurance.
• OTOther2026The Convergent Validity Between Two Adult Self-Report Sensory Processing Scales.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieTwo adult sensory processing questionnaires (ASH and SPM-2-Adult) show moderate agreement in young adults, so an OT can use either to profile a client's sensory profile. The ASH's Functional-Problem items correlate less consistently, so those subscales are not interchangeable.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring Resilience in Mothers of Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities in Thailand: A Qualitative Study.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDThai mothers described resilience as active daily work (accepting their child, teaching practical skills, leaning on Buddhist faith and peer parents) not a fixed trait. They also reported persistent stigma, exhaustion, and difficulty reaching services.
• OTOther2026Executive Functioning as a Pathway Between Social Skills and Psychopathology: The Moderating Role of Autism Diagnosis.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism ResearchPlanning, working memory, and self-regulation skills sit between poor social skills and emotional or behavioral problems in children. The self-regulation link to behavioral problems is the same for autistic and typically developing kids. The planning-and-working-memory link to emotional problems was found only in autistic children.
• OTQualitative2026Paediatric occupational therapists' views on applying interoception in practice contexts.Australian occupational therapy journalPaediatric OTs in Australia report actively weaving interoception into practice but feeling underprepared, lacking OT-specific tools, and leaning on social media and peer learning. They call it a 'missing piece' for children's regulation, while admitting the evidence base is thin.
• OTOther2026Psychometric Evaluation of the Cross-Culturally Adapted Dutch-Language Version of the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth (PEM-CY).Occupational therapy internationalThe Dutch PEM-CY is now validated and shows children with disabilities participate at similar frequency to peers but with significantly lower involvement, facing more environmental barriers. OTs can use it to identify where the environment is the problem.
• OTQualitative2026Performance of Daily Living Activities of Autistic Children With Sensory Processing Difficulties: Caregivers' Perceptions.Occupational therapy internationalStrong aversion to textures and poor motor planning made every daily task (bathing, feeding, dressing, hygiene, toileting) require constant adult help, according to caregivers of autistic children aged 3–8.
• OTSurvey2026An Investigation of Factors Affecting Bowel Movement Hygiene in Autistic Children.Occupational therapy internationalSensory over-reactivity to stool (sight, smell, touch) and motor difficulties in reaching and balance are the main barriers to independent bottom-wiping in autistic children. Parents rate the stress at 5.88 out of 10, and only 13 of 74 had received professional help.
• OTOther2026Turkish Adaptation of the School Participation Questionnaire (T-SPQ) and Investigation of Validity, Reliability and Clinical Compatibility in Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.Child: care, health and developmentThe teacher-rated School Participation Questionnaire, now available in Turkish, reliably separates children with ADHD from their peers on school participation. The Doing subscale, what the child actually does at school, was the strongest single indicator, with a cutoff of 38.5.
• OTQualitative2026Victorian primary school teachers' perspectives on collaboration with occupational therapists.Australian occupational therapy journalTeachers in Victorian primary schools described collaboration with occupational therapists as hampered by role confusion, misaligned communication, and time pressure. They wanted brief, direct contact (email preferred), clearer explanation of what OTs do beyond fine motor skills, and more built-in time to implement strategies.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Parental insights about supports for children with disabilities who are restricted eaters.Australian occupational therapy journalParents of restricted-eating children with disabilities described structured programmes as rigid and distressing for their child, while valuing therapists who sat with them, acknowledged what they were already doing, and built strategies into the family's actual daily routine.
• OTQualitative2026Perceptions of Family Support in the Stroke Prevention Program Make My Day.Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieFamily support in stroke prevention worked best when family members joined in healthy activities together and gave positive feedback, but broke down when they took over tasks like cooking or sent mixed messages. The person's own motivation mattered more than external encouragement.
• OTOther2026Rasch Validation of the FRTVMI in Arab Adolescents: Cultural and Gender Considerations in Visual-Motor Assessment.Occupational therapy internationalThe FRTVMI is reliable and measures one ability in Arab adolescents, but its item order contradicts the manual and up to 10 items favor one gender over the other in Kuwait. Published norms may not apply to this population.
• OTSystematic Review2026Exploring facilitators and barriers to effective practice among new graduate occupational therapists working with children and families: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalNew graduate OTs working with children consistently report feeling underprepared and overwhelmed, with external mentoring, manageable caseloads, and access to experienced colleagues as the strongest enablers. The evidence base is thin (13 studies, mostly small qualitative work) so these are reported patterns, not proven solutions.
• OTQualitative2026Exploring Occupational Therapists' Sleep Intervention Approaches and Perspectives for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Malaysian Qualitative Study.Occupational therapy internationalMalaysian pediatric OTs describe a sensory-first sequence for ASD sleep, deep pressure and proprioceptive work before visual schedules and screen limits, with parent education as the delivery vehicle. No child outcomes were measured.
• OTSLPSystematic Review2026The Views of Autistic Adults on Early Autism Interventions: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Literature Review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAcross 19 studies, autistic adults consistently said early support should respect the child's autonomy, be play-based and enjoyable, accept autism rather than target traits, and change the environment rather than the child. They also reported significant harm from compliance-focused behavioural interventions.
• PTOTNarrative Review2026Upper limb prostheses: a narrative review of hand, wrist, and elbow devices.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesNo type of upper limb prosthesis outperforms another on standard functional tests, and the main reasons people stop wearing them are comfort, control, and function, not the lack of advanced features. Choose based on the individual's daily tasks, not the device's spec sheet.
• OTOther2026The Participation and Environment Measure-Children and Youth (PEM-CY): Cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Reliability of the Persian Version for 5- to 17-Year-Old Children With Cerebral Palsy.Occupational therapy internationalThe Persian PEM-CY is a valid, reliable tool for measuring participation and environmental barriers in children with CP. Children with CP participated in fewer activities and faced more barriers than typically developing peers, especially in school and community settings.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2026A Scoping Review of Therapy Provision Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme: Provider-Identified Barriers and Facilitators.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDNDIS administrative complexity is the most common barrier to therapy for children with cognitive disabilities, followed by family circumstances. Tailoring the intervention to the individual child is the most common facilitator. Across 55 studies, providers reported 171 barriers against 122 facilitators.
• OTOther2026Reliability, Validity, and Responsiveness of the Visual Perceptual and Fine Motor Function Tests in School-Aged Children With Mild Intellectual Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalTwo of three commonly used hand and visual-perceptual tests (JTHFT, TVPS-4) reliably track change in children with mild intellectual disability, but the Box and Block Test is too imprecise to detect individual-level improvement in this group.
• OTSurvey2026Multidimensional Sleep Health of Toddlers With Down Syndrome: A Descriptive Study Guided by the Pediatric Sleep Health Framework.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationMost parents of 24 toddlers with Down syndrome reported sleep in line with guidelines, but bedtime behaviors (screens, routines, and sleep-onset methods) were the most common difficulty. This describes what these families reported; it is not evidence any sleep intervention works.
• PTOTSLPOther2026Examining Transitions From Early Intervention to Preschool Services: A Retrospective Review of Therapeutic Service Access in a Clinical Sample of Children With Developmental Disabilities.Infants and young children90% of 194 preschoolers with developmental disabilities had no clinic-based therapy at evaluation. Prior Early Intervention was the strongest predictor of school access, but children with intellectual disability or global developmental delay were less likely to receive school-based therapies than peers with other diagnoses.
• PTOTSLPPilot2026Learning and Sharing Together to Work Better Together: Service Providers' and Parents' Perceptions of the ENVISAGE-Integrated Programme.Child: care, health and developmentParents and service providers reported positive experiences learning together in a 5-week online programme, describing it as levelling the playing field and helping them see each other as people. This is a pilot of perceptions, not evidence the programme changes practice.
• OTSLPOther2026Implementation of a Digital Tool to Identify Child Development and Parental Mental Health Needs Among Multicultural Communities Attending a School-Based Wellbeing Hub.Child: care, health and developmentAmong 61 multicultural families with preschoolers, lower parent education was linked to a 3.6-times higher chance of the child being flagged for developmental concern, but parental mental health was not. Staff said trust, flexibility, and CALD-speaking colleagues were what got families to engage.
• PTOTPilot2026Educator-Led Screening to Identify 4-Year-Old Children At-Risk of Motor Delay: A Mixed Methods Convergent Study.Child: care, health and developmentTrained childcare educators can screen four-year-olds for motor delay; their scores matched physiotherapists' exactly on co-scored assessments. But 34 of 51 children flagged as at-risk likely reflects parents seeking confirmation, not true prevalence.
• OTSystematic Review2026A systematic review of nonpharmacological interventions to improve trauma symptoms and mother-infant bonding for women who experience birth trauma.Australian occupational therapy journalOf four non-drug treatments tested for women with birth trauma, only face-to-face counselling reduced trauma symptom severity and improved mother-baby bonding. EMDR showed benefit in one of two trials. Self-help materials and compassion-focused therapy showed no effect.
• OTOther2026Integrating Stakeholder Voices to Improve Occupational Therapy Research for Minoritized Autistic Hispanic and Latino Communities.The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy AssociationTwenty-five Hispanic and Latino stakeholders rated their involvement in culturally adapting an OT intervention highly, and their input directly shaped recruitment, data safety, and dissemination. This is a process evaluation, not a test of the intervention's effectiveness.
• OTSystematic Review2026An occupational perspective of the lived experience of individuals with Alopecia Areata: A scoping review.The British journal of occupational therapyA scoping review of 11 qualitative studies maps how alopecia areata disrupts daily life (school, work, self-care, relationships) across the lifespan. It identifies unmet occupational needs and calls for OT involvement, but tests no treatment and offers no evidence that any intervention works.
• PTOTOther2026Fundamental Motor Skills in Children With Specific Learning Disorder.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with specific learning disorder (reading, writing, or math difficulties) have significantly weaker gross motor skills than their peers, 9 of 12 basic movement skills were less mature, but the deficit looks the same across dyslexia, dyscalculia, and mixed diagnoses.
• PTOTRCT2026Rewiring the Senses: The Impact of Sensory Integration Therapy on Balance and Cognition in Cerebral Palsy.Occupational therapy internationalAdding sensory integration therapy to balance exercises did not significantly outperform balance exercises alone on the balance scale, but did produce significantly larger gains in cognitive scores across all measured domains in children with CP aged 6–10.
• OTPilot2026Enhancing Executive Function in Adolescents With ADHD: Preliminary Findings From a Multicomponent Intervention.Occupational therapy internationalA multicomponent OT program (cognitive training, academic skills coaching, parent education) produced measurable gains in working memory and mental flexibility in 54 adolescents with ADHD, but with no control group, these results are preliminary and cannot confirm the intervention caused the change.