TOPIC

School-based research

Everything we have read on school-based. 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.

582 PAPERS · PAGE 10 OF 12 · NEWEST FIRST

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Transitions of 24-H Movement Behaviour Profiles From Schooldays to Weekends and Their Associations With Health-Related Quality of Life and Well-Being in Czech Adolescents.Child: care, health and developmentAdolescents who kept an active, low-sitting, good-sleep routine from school days to weekends reported higher quality of life. Those who shifted to poorer habits had significantly lower scores. Weekend drop-offs in activity were common, but not linked to worse outcomes.
• OTQualitative2025Exploring first-year occupational therapy students' perspectives of an On-Country experience: A study from an Australian undergraduate program.Australian occupational therapy journalFirst-year occupational therapy students described an On-Country experience as a way to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and health. Some still spoke of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as past or separate, and students were unsure how to apply it.
• OTSurvey2025Interprofessional collaboration: Measuring occupational therapists and teachers' perceptions of collaborative practice in inclusive Australian primary schools.The British journal of occupational therapyTeachers and occupational therapists rated their collaboration as better than average, with no significant difference in their total scores. However, teachers rated themselves higher on flexibility and shared goals. Systems factors like time were the strongest barrier to collaboration.
• PTOTQualitative2025Understanding School Presenteeism and Absence in Adolescents Affected by Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Qualitative Study.Child: care, health and developmentAdolescents with chronic musculoskeletal pain and their parents described being at school and taking part as shaped by being believed by staff, having trusted friends, and managing transitions. Walking aids sometimes drew stigma. Adjustments were described as making it easier to stay in school.
• OTCase-Control2025Oculomotor deficits in children with sensory processing difficulties.The British journal of occupational therapyChildren with sensory processing difficulties made more errors on anti-saccade tasks and showed less accurate vertical eye tracking. They had faster reaction times for correct anti-saccades. No differences were found in basic saccade timing or amplitude.
• PTOTOther2025ABILHAND-kids young CP: a measure of manual ability in young children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7.Journal of rehabilitation medicineA new 17-item caregiver questionnaire measures manual ability in children with cerebral palsy aged 2 to 7. It covers daily tasks like dressing and eating with high precision, filling the gap for younger children before standard school-age tools apply.
• OTSystematic Review2025Trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschool settings: A scoping review.Australian occupational therapy journalOnly 18 studies exist on trauma-informed or sensory-based practices in preschools. Most involved educators rather than therapists, and few measured child outcomes. This maps a gap in evidence for occupational therapy interventions rather than confirming what works.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Quality of life in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis: A cross-sectional comparison.The South African journal of physiotherapyAdolescent girls with scoliosis reported quality of life scores similar to healthy peers. The primary comparison found no significant difference in physical, psychological, or social well-being between the two groups.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Mental Health as a Key Mediator for Outcomes in Postsecondary Education, Employment, and Everyday Living in Autistic Adults.Autism in adulthoodIn 140 autistic adults, higher anxiety and depression scores predicted better employment and education outcomes. This contradicts general population trends where better mental health predicts success. The authors suggest that maintaining this level of functioning requires intense masking, which exhausts the individual and worsens mental health.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Caregiver and student perspectives on school services for students with traumatic brain injury during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineFamilies described remote learning as often failing to deliver necessary accommodations, with teachers overlooking plans and students unable to engage with screens. However, some found flexibility and self-pacing reduced anxiety and helped them manage symptoms and appointments better.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Social development of girls with a physical disability during adolescence: Parent perspectives.Rehabilitation psychologyMothers of girls with physical disabilities reported that puberty amplified the gap between their daughters and peers. Girls struggled to find friends who understood their daily medical routines. This led to increased self-consciousness and hesitancy to socialize, even for those who appeared to have good friendships.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2025Perspectives From Multidisciplinary Professionals in France on Shared Patient Portals for Integrated Pediatric Rehabilitation: Qualitative Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesProfessionals see shared portals bridging health, school, and leisure gaps but fear confidentiality breaches. They want sector-specific access, progressive child involvement, and interoperability to avoid double data entry. Adoption depends on beliefs about coordination value, not just digital skills.
• OTSLPRCT2025Building Better Bridges: Outcomes of a Community-Partnered New School Transition Intervention for Students on the Autism Spectrum.Journal of autism and developmental disordersCaregiver coaching improved school transition ratings for students on the autism spectrum in under-resourced schools. Teachers reported significantly higher transition success with coaching. Caregiver ratings showed a non-significant trend. Self-efficacy increased with coaching, but worry decreased similarly in both groups.
• OTSLPCohort2025Completion of Upper Secondary Mainstream School in Autistic Students in Sweden.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic students in Sweden were far less likely to finish upper secondary school than their peers. The gap was largest for autistic girls and those with ADHD. This suggests current educational support systems are failing to meet the needs of this population.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Developmental Impacts of Early Sensory Patterns on School-Age Adaptive, Maladaptive, and Participation Outcomes in Autistic and Non-autistic Children.Journal of autism and developmental disordersChildren whose sensory sensitivity increased during preschool had lower adaptive skills and more anxiety at school age. This pattern also predicted less participation in classroom and community activities. These links were stronger in autistic children than in non-autistic peers.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience.Autism in adulthoodAutistic people who joined far-right groups described trauma and rejection, not autism itself, as the driver. They found belonging, structure, and validation in hate groups that mainstream society and services failed to provide. Clinical care must address these unmet needs to reduce vulnerability to recruitment.
• OTSLPSurvey2026Frequency and Mental Health Condition of Students with Developmental Disabilities Among First-Year Japanese University Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFirst-year Japanese students screening positive for ASD or ADHD traits had significantly higher distress than peers, with 61% reporting high social anxiety versus 30% of controls. These mental health risks were already present within a month of enrollment.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Facing Change and Uncertainty: Lessons Learned from Autistic Children and their Families During the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFamilies reported both worsening and improving outcomes during lockdown. Children with sensory or social needs often struggled with lost structure, but others saw reduced anxiety and better communication from increased one-to-one time at home. Support services and school continuity were critical gaps.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Employing a Phased, Interdisciplinary Approach Across Healthcare and School Settings: mHealth Adaptations for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder At-Risk of Experiencing Obesity.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor youth with autism, participants said an obesity-prevention chatbot app should offer simple choices, safety prompts, visuals, and rewards, while fitting family life. They valued apps for teletherapy and home programs, but worried about cost, time, and parent burden.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2026Healthcare Providers' Perspectives on Autistic Adolescents Transitioning to Independent Driving.Journal of autism and developmental disordersProviders rely on ad-hoc strategies like role-playing and referrals to guide autistic adolescents toward driving. They report lacking a gold standard resource or autism-specific driver education, leaving them to improvise assessments of readiness and safety in real time.
• OTSLPQualitative2026A "Round, Bruising Sort of Pain": Autistic Girls' Social Camouflaging in Inclusive High School Settings.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic girls in inclusive schools reported camouflaging all day, finding it exhausting. They valued time alone and adult autism awareness most, while rating social skills classes as least helpful. Neurodivergent friends were described as essential for navigating school.
• OTSLPOther2026"Do My Friends Only Like the School Me or the True Me?": School Belonging, Camouflaging, and Anxiety in Autistic Students.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic students who feel they do not belong at school are more likely to hide their autistic traits. This camouflaging is linked to higher anxiety. Creating environments where students feel accepted and safe may reduce the need to mask and lower anxiety levels.
• OTSLPQualitative2026The Transition to Kindergarten for Hispanic and Latine Autistic Children: A Focus Group Study with Caregivers.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFour mothers said early, ongoing partnership with school helped their child adjust and made advocacy easier. They said technical language and teachers' limited autism knowledge made kindergarten transitions harder. They also relied on trusted parents, therapists, and family.
• OTSLPQualitative2026Learning from the Experiences of Autistic Professionals Working in Health and Education.Autism in adulthoodAutistic health and education professionals in Scotland described disclosure as risky, interviews as confusing, and unpredictable environments as stressful. Support came from trusted colleagues, advance information, sensory adjustments, and teams that valued neurodivergence.
• OTSLPOther2026Teacher-Student Interactions of Autistic Adolescents: Relationships between Teacher Autonomy Support, Structure, Involvement and Student Engagement.Journal of autism and developmental disordersTeachers rarely offered autistic students choices, spending most time neutral. Structure helped engagement, but only when clear. Involvement showed no consistent link to engagement. Autonomy support was the rarest positive interaction.
• OTSLPOther2026Social Functioning in Autistic Children with Below-Average vs. Average IQ: Limited Behavioral and Neural Evidence of Group Differences.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children with below-average IQ scored worse on direct face-memory, theory-of-mind, and role-play tasks, but caregivers reported similar everyday social functioning. Brain responses showed limited differences.
• OTSLPQualitative2025The design of the "autistics in (educational) space: building our own futures" doctoral project.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFour autistic university students described teachers who did not seem prepared to support them, and one contrasted strict classroom rules with more freedom to move and stim at home. They also used masking and rehearsing words before speaking to fit in.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2025'I shouldn't have to educate their school about what autism is': Community attitudes and parent reports of autistic primary and secondary school experiences in Australia.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost Australians support school adjustments for autistic students, but parents report these are rarely provided. While 90% back staff training and peer education, fewer than 1 in 8 schools deliver them. This gap forces parents to constantly advocate, often resulting in school changes and distress.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Predictors of community participation from preschool to school age in children with cerebral palsy.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren with cerebral palsy participated far less in their community than at home, and this gap persisted from preschool to school age. Preschoolers rated as having strengths in prosocial behaviour had higher community participation at school age.
• PTOTSLPOther2025Robust neural network controller for a lower limb exoskeleton with minimal sensor configuration: a deep reinforcement learning approach with policy distillation.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationIn simulation, a lower limb exoskeleton controller guided walking for a modelled quadriplegic patient using only joint encoders, with no crutches or calibration. It stayed upright against pushes up to 40 N. No real patients were tested.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Inequalities of the Waiting Time for Education Health and Care Plan Provision for Pupils With Intellectual Developmental Disabilities: A Brief Report.Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDRChildren with genetic intellectual disabilities from the most deprived areas waited significantly longer for Education, Health and Care Plans than those from the least deprived areas. Waiting times also varied by region and disability type, with specific learning difficulties facing the longest delays regardless of background.
• OTSLPSurvey2025Caregiver concerns for autistic children differ between publicly funded educational and mental health settings: Findings from a community implementation-effectiveness trial.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceCaregivers named aggression, social communication problems and attention problems among their top concerns. Mental health caregivers reported more aggression; school caregivers reported more social problems and repetitive behaviors.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025E-Cigarette Use Among Older Adults with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury: Relationship With History of Cigarette Smoking.Archives of rehabilitation research and clinical translationAbout 16% of adults with chronic spinal cord injury have tried e-cigarettes, and 4.9% currently use them. History of cigarette smoking and younger age were strongly associated with this use. Injury severity was not related to vaping.
• OTSLPQualitative2025'We think differently, we learn differently, but at the end of the day we're not that different': Strengths-based approaches in high school from the perspectives of autistic adolescents.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSixteen autistic teens described school as most engaging when teachers understood their specific interests, such as coding or writing. They valued clear rules and future-focused career guidance. Generic social programs felt forced, while shared interests helped them build genuine peer connections.
• PTOTSLPCohort2026Incidence of developmental disorders and special educational needs and disabilities in children in the UK.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren born even one or two weeks before full term face higher odds of developmental disorders and special educational needs. This risk persists after accounting for deprivation and ethnicity, suggesting early term birth is not harmless.
• OTQualitative2025'I don't think they understand the reality of autism': The lived experiences of autistic adults in Japan.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSeven autistic adults in Japan described lifelong feelings of being misunderstood and severe bullying. They faced workplace discrimination and were often told to hide their diagnosis to appear normal. This led to burnout and social withdrawal. They sought acceptance and support but found little post-diagnostic help.
• OTSurvey2025"Being Integrated Does Not Mean Being Included": What Factors Contribute to School Exclusion for Autistic Children?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research42.3% of autistic children in Ontario had experienced school exclusion. Parents reporting lower satisfaction with their child's Individual Education Plan were significantly more likely to report exclusion. Qualitative data highlighted bullying and inadequate staff training as primary drivers.
• OTQualitative2025Parents of Children and Young People With Long-Term Physical Health Conditions-Experiences of Navigating School.Child: care, health and developmentParents of children with long-term physical health conditions reported schools often failed to manage health, support missed learning, listen to children or include them safely. Parents compensated, advocated, advised and fought for equality. Their advocacy strained home-school relationships and their own well-being.
• OTSLPOther2025Bayesian prevalence of autism and unmet special education needs in Chile in a sample of three million school-age children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceSchool records in Chile identified 0.46% of children with autism, but linking these to health records revealed a true prevalence of 1.31%. This suggests a large unmet need, with an estimated 25,903 autistic children not accessing school-based support services.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2025What are we targeting when we support inclusive education for autistic students? A systematic review of 233 empirical studies and call for community partnerships.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceResearch on inclusive education for autistic students overwhelmingly targets child skills, not environment. Social skills interventions were most common, while physical and sensory adaptations were rare. This gap limits true inclusion, as schools often fail to adjust the setting to support participation.
• PTOTOther2025Healthy Lifestyle Matters: A Network Analysis of Urban Chinese Pre-School Children's Adiposity, Sleep Health, Mental Health, Child Functioning and Health Behaviours.Child: care, health and developmentAge was the strongest linked factor in urban Chinese preschoolers, linking motor coordination, executive function, and activity. It was not linked to mental health. Girls had less activity and more emotional problems, but overall patterns of relationships did not differ by sex.