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 8 OF 12 · NEWEST FIRST

• OTCohort2023Executive function and behaviour problems in school-age children born at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia.Developmental medicine and child neurologyChildren exposed to neonatal hypoglycaemia had similar results on computerised executive function tasks but parents reported more difficulty initiating, planning, organising and self-monitoring, plus peer problems, especially after severe or recurrent low glucose. Teacher reports did not show the same pattern.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Urban and rural differences in needs, service use and satisfaction among caregivers of autistic children in Morocco.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceRural caregivers reported far less non-medication intervention and school enrolment for their children than urban caregivers, despite similar verbal ability and satisfaction. Priorities were similar, but challenges differed.
• OTOther2024Evaluating the Experiences of Occupational Therapists and Children Using the SensoGrip Pressure-Sensitive Pen in a Handwriting Intervention: Multimethods Study.JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologiesOccupational therapists and children accepted the SensoGrip pressure-sensitive pen, with 80% of children giving it the highest satisfaction rating. Therapists found it useful for visualizing handwriting pressure and guiding therapy, though it is a prototype with some technical faults.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024Resilience and adolescence-transition in youth with developmental disabilities and their families: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesResilience in teens with neurodevelopmental disabilities relies on emotional regulation, social competence, and family support. Current interventions target these but miss key factors like self-advocacy and caregiver well-being. Online and group formats may improve accessibility.
• OTSurvey2023Positive and negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on families of young children in rural Colombia and implications for child outcome research.Child: care, health and developmentFamilies of 70 preschool children in rural Colombia reported many pandemic losses, yet most rated overall family impact as positive. Caregivers described improved family closeness, while income loss and distress remained common.
• OTSLPCohort2024Using Life Course Theory to Explore the Association Between Autistic Traits, Child, Family, and School Factors and the Successful Transition to Secondary School.Journal of autism and developmental disordersHigher autistic traits were associated with better quality of life, mental health, and school belonging in 51 students transitioning to secondary school. Female students and school refusal were linked to poorer outcomes.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2023Community-based physical activity interventions for adolescents and adults with complex cerebral palsy: A scoping review.Developmental medicine and child neurologyCommunity exercise is safe for people with severe cerebral palsy. Across 17 studies, serious injuries were rare and dropouts low. Most pain or fatigue was minor and resolved quickly, suggesting therapists can confidently prescribe activity in community settings.
• PTOTSLPRCT2024Using Pivotal Response Treatment to Improve Language Functions of Autistic Children in Special Schools: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAdding Pivotal Response Treatment motivational strategies to standard language therapy helped autistic children with intellectual disabilities improve requesting, labeling, repeating, and listening. These gains held up three weeks later and appeared in new settings, unlike standard therapy alone.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024School participation among young people with craniofacial microsomia and other childhood-onset disabilities.Developmental medicine and child neurologyFor children with craniofacial microsomia or other disabilities, school environmental support and fewer physical problems linked to better participation. Caregiver strategies amplified the link between support and attendance, but not involvement. Behavioral problems showed no direct effect.
• OTCohort2024Visual-motor integration in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: application of the computer-aided measure of visual-motor integration.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationChildren with unilateral cerebral palsy showed poorer visual-motor integration when copying shapes. A computer-aided measure detected subtle errors in square copying that standard pass/fail tests missed. This suggests square copying is a key early indicator of visual-motor difficulties in this group.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Exploring the sexual experiences and challenges of individuals with cerebral palsy.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineMost adults with cerebral palsy in this survey had sexual experience, but positioning difficulty and pain were common barriers. Participants reported that healthcare providers rarely discuss sexuality, despite a strong desire for body-positive guidance and practical solutions.
• OTCohort2024Concussion symptom presentation and clinical recovery among pediatric athletes: comparing concussions sustained during school and summer months.Brain injuryChildren and teens with sport-related concussion seen in summer reported fewer total and cognitive symptoms than those seen during school year. Time to symptom resolution did not differ, but summer injuries were cleared for return to sport sooner.
• OTSLPQualitative2024A Qualitative Examination of the Impact of COVID-19 on Transition Services for Autistic Youth.Journal of autism and developmental disordersVirtual meetings increased caregiver and provider attendance but reduced student participation. Community-based vocational training stopped, hindering independent living skills. Outside agency connections improved virtually, yet transition programming was deprioritized during the pandemic.
• PTOTCohort2024Visual-Motor Integration Deficits in 3q29 Deletion Syndrome.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIndividuals with 3q29 deletion syndrome showed severe visual-motor integration deficits, averaging 69.3 on a scale where 100 is typical. Motor coordination was the most impaired area. These difficulties were independent of intellectual disability, ADHD, anxiety, or executive function.
• OTCohort2024Patterns of equipment use for autistic children in multi-sensory environments: Time spent with sensory equipment varies by sensory profile and intellectual ability.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceIn a 5-minute free play session, autistic children with higher non-verbal IQ and sensory sensitivity spent more time on touch-responsive boards, while those with lower IQ and high sensory seeking preferred the passive bubble tube. Equipment choice varied by profile.
• PTOTSLPQualitative2024Alignment of Canada's COVID-19 policy response with barriers and facilitators for coping reported by caregivers of youth with developmental delays, disorders, and disabilities.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesCaregivers of youth with disabilities described pandemic coping barriers including lost routines, aggression, service gaps, and school disruption. Facilitators included stable routines, virtual therapy access, outdoor space, financial supports, and family/community help. Policies often failed to address these specific needs.
• PTOTSLPPilot2024Using mobile health technology to assess childhood autism in low-resource community settings in India: An innovation to address the detection gap.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceA tablet app assessing social, sensory and motor tasks identified 78% of children correctly across autism, intellectual disability and typical development groups. It was feasible for non-specialists in homes, but did not separate autism from intellectual disability.
• OTOther2024Fatigue in children using motor imagery and P300 brain-computer interfaces.Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitationBCI tasks were not more fatiguing than a film, although fatigue rose after 30-minute tasks. The brain-wave fatigue marker did not match the reported fatigue.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024School Attendance Problems Among Children with Neurodevelopmental Conditions One year Following the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic.Journal of autism and developmental disordersFor children with autism or intellectual disability, school absence was driven by unmet needs and anxiety, not COVID-19. Positive parent-teacher relationships and predictable routines helped attendance. Parents reported lack of differentiated support as a major barrier.
• OTSLPQualitative2024"It just depends": Parent, teacher, and expert conceptualization of social communication in young autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceParents, teachers, and experts said social communication in autistic children aged 2-6 depends on context. Unusual forms like hand leading or scripting can be meaningful, while emotion regulation, AAC, breaks, and familiar partners shape how communication was understood.
• PTOTSLPCohort2024Fewer children with autism spectrum disorder with motor challenges receive physical and recreational therapies compared to standard therapies: A SPARK data set analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceMost children with autism in this large US sample were at risk for motor impairment, but few received physical or recreational therapy compared to speech and occupational therapy. Even children with the most severe motor difficulties had far lower access to gross motor services than fine motor or sedentary therapies.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2023Deviation scores: An innovative approach to interpreting cognitive test results for individuals with intellectual disabilities.Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities : JARIDDeviation scores reveal hidden cognitive strengths in students with intellectual disabilities whose standard IQ tests show flat, low profiles. This allows teams to tailor instruction to visual or verbal preferences, moving beyond deficit-based planning to leverage individual abilities for better educational outcomes.
• OTOther2024Mental health counseling is rated as most helpful by autistic adults: Service perspectives in adulthood.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic adults most often rated mental health services as most helpful. Those currently seeing a counselor also visited more social and recreational places, but not every community place they measured.
• OTSLPOther2023Cognition, academic achievement, and adaptive behavior in school-aged girls with fragile X syndrome.Research in developmental disabilitiesParent-reported adaptive behavior did not differ between school-aged girls with fragile X syndrome and verbal IQ-matched peers. They had weaker attention, working memory, nonverbal reasoning, spatial skills, and math.
• PTOTCohort2024Relationship between the floating toe and the center-of-pressure position in an upright posture among students.Journal of physical therapy scienceChildren with floating toes stood with their weight shifted back toward their heels. A higher center-of-pressure position was linked to better toe contact. This suggests a backward stance may contribute to the condition, though the study only shows an association.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Success or Failure? Are We Meeting the Needs of Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder?Canadian journal of occupational therapy. Revue canadienne d'ergotherapieParents of children with DCD in British Columbia report the current system is failing them. Only two in five children receive therapy, and school-based support is rare. Families face high out-of-pocket costs and long waits, while emotional and social struggles are widespread and largely unaddressed.
• OTSLPSurvey2024Inclusion of autistic students in schools: Knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitude of teachers in Germany.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceGerman teachers have moderate autism knowledge but low self-efficacy, especially in understanding behavior causes. Attitudes are positive. Experience with autistic students slightly improves knowledge and confidence, but gaps remain in practical intervention skills.
• PTOTSLPSystematic Review2024School absenteeism in autistic children and adolescents: A scoping review.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children miss school more often than peers, especially those with co-occurring mental health conditions. Current interventions are small, uncontrolled, and lack evidence of efficacy. Schools should focus on individualized accommodations and early detection rather than relying on proven treatment programs.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Made to feel different: Families perspectives on external responses to autism and the impacts on family well-being and relationships.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceFamilies described being made to feel different by schools and communities. Sensory overload and bullying at school led to home meltdowns and isolation. Parents and adolescents wanted support groups and professionals who understood autism’s impact on the whole family unit.
• PTOTSLPCohort2023Associations between Executive Functions and Sensorimotor Performance in Children at Risk for Learning Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalPoor standing balance and weak sentence repetition were the strongest predictors of being at risk for learning difficulties in preschoolers. These two factors predicted risk better than IQ or age, suggesting clinicians should screen for balance and verbal working memory alongside cognitive tests.
• OTCohort2024Atypical pattern separation memory and its association with restricted interests and repetitive behaviors in autistic children.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic children showed weaker memory for distinguishing similar objects than neurotypical peers. This difficulty varied across individuals, with some children over-generalizing and others under-generalizing. More severe repetitive behaviors were linked to over-generalizing, suggesting memory profiles may need to be assessed to tailor learning strategies.
• PTOTSLPCase-Control2024Health and Education Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental Disabilities.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with autism experienced significantly more disruptions to therapy and school than peers with other disabilities. They faced greater barriers with telehealth and masking. Clinicians should anticipate that these families may have missed critical interventions and need tailored support to restart care.
• OTSurvey2023The relationship between typically developing school-age children's screen time, participation and physical activity: An exploratory study.The British journal of occupational therapyScreen time was not linked to physical activity in school-age children. Educational screen time was linked to less assistance with daily tasks and higher parent satisfaction.
• OTOther2023The standardised Malay version of purdue pegboard test: Content validity and test-retest reliability testing.Hong Kong journal of occupational therapy : HKJOTThe Malay wording of the Purdue Pegboard Test was accepted by experts, but one trial gave poor repeat scores. Three trials made scores steadier, though retest scores rose, likely practice.
• OTSurvey2024Influence of kindergarten principals' contingent rewards on teachers' creative teaching performance: Testing a moderated-mediated model.Work (Reading, Mass.)Kindergarten teachers reported higher creative teaching when principals used contingent rewards, but this worked indirectly through organizational support and culture. Supportive cultures boosted creativity, while bureaucratic ones reduced it. Teachers with strong ideological contracts benefited more.
• OTQualitative2023Usability of Public Play Spaces for Children with Disabilities.Occupational therapy internationalChildren with disabilities in Indonesia described public play spaces as vital for fun and connection, but physical barriers and bullying made them feel unsafe. They sought challenging equipment and nature, while caregivers prioritized safety fences and softer surfaces to allow independent play.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Autistic preschoolers display reduced attention orientation for competition but intact facilitation from a parallel competitor: Eye-tracking and behavioral data.Autism : the international journal of research and practiceAutistic preschoolers looked less at competitive games than peers, yet performed motor and sorting tasks just as fast when competing alongside an adult. Parallel play offers immediate social facilitation benefits even when visual attention to competition is reduced.
• OTSurvey2024Worldwide Survey on Digital Assistive Technology (DAT) Provision.Occupational therapy internationalOccupational therapists mostly provide digital assistive technology as part of broader intervention, with cost and knowledge as key barriers. This is self-reported practice, not evidence of effectiveness.
• PTOTSLPOther2024Risk factors and hearing outcomes in infants and young children in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The South African journal of communication disorders = Die Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir KommunikasieafwykingsRecurrent ear infections and HIV were the most common risks in this South African cohort, appearing in 43% and 16% of files. The standard US screening list missed these local drivers, meaning risk checks must be adapted to the region to catch preventable hearing loss.
• OTSurvey2024A Profile of Occupational Therapists Working in School-Based Practice in Australian Primary Schools.Occupational therapy internationalMost school therapists in this sample worked one-on-one with young students, funded by the NDIS. Few used whole-class or school-wide approaches, and many did not contribute to student education plans. The service model varied greatly by state and employer.
• OTSurvey2024"Your Child Should Not Return": Preschool Expulsion Among Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as an Early Indicator of Later Risks.Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBPChildren with ADHD who had been expelled from preschool had more severe symptoms, other mental or behavioral disorders, and later school and family difficulties than children with ADHD who had not been expelled.
• PTOTSLPSurvey2024Parents' and carers' attitudes to the use of digital technology and its role in the care of children with complex needs.The British journal of occupational therapyParents of children with complex needs use smartphones and tablets daily to find information, communicate with services, and support therapy. They want digital tools to supplement face-to-face care, not replace it, citing concerns about losing personal contact and data security.
• OTQualitative2024Assessing physical literacy with school-aged children in occupational therapy practice: An exploratory qualitative study.The British journal of occupational therapyPaediatric occupational therapists were unfamiliar with physical literacy, yet already assessed related concepts under different terms. They said they valued the PL-C Quest for hearing children's own perspectives, but said clinical reasoning is needed and it may not suit every child.
• OTSLPQualitative2024Diversity in Autistic Play: Autistic Adults' Experiences.Autism in adulthoodAutistic adults described solitary play as restorative and social play as draining but valuable. They preferred parallel play and smaller groups. Imaginary play was often grounded in reality. Flow provided relaxation but disrupted self-care. These preferences vary by individual needs and energy levels.
• OTCase Report2024Using recognition testing to support semantic learning in developmental amnesia.Neuropsychological rehabilitationIn one boy with developmental amnesia, learning new facts via multiple-choice recognition tests led to double the recall after one week compared to open-ended recall tests. This suggests using repeated recognition quizzes to support semantic learning in children with memory impairment.
• PTOTSLPCase Report2025The functional secondary effect after an integrated rehabilitative intervention to learn reading and writing in a girl with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineA girl with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome improved in reading, writing, and digital communication after years of multidisciplinary therapy. Her test scores remained below norms, but she gained autonomy in daily life. This shows what one patient achieved, not that the method works for others.
• PTOTCohort2024Analysis of a newly developed multidisciplinary program in the Middle East informed by the recently revised spina bifida guidelines.Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicineIn a Qatar spina bifida clinic, shunts, continence problems, and mobility-device needs were common among 117 patients. Recorded gaps included orthotics, wheelchairs, school access, and catheter supplies. This is descriptive, not outcome evidence.
• OTSLPCohort2024Brief Report: The Factors Associated with Social Cognition in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.Journal of autism and developmental disordersAutistic children without intellectual disability scored lower than neurotypical peers on theory of mind, working memory, and inferential thinking. Theory of mind was the strongest differentiator, correctly identifying 82% of the autistic group, but performance relied heavily on general cognitive abilities.
• PTOTSLPNarrative Review2024The international classification of functioning, disability and health in clinical practice, research findings and their impact on training and education.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciencesAcross early intervention and child psychiatry projects, clinicians described ICF-based parent conversations and joint case discussions as helping them share a common language and involve parents. The paper reports perceptions, not tested health outcomes.
• PTOTSLPCohort2025Prevalence and Characteristics of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the New York-New Jersey Metropolitan Area.Journal of autism and developmental disordersIn a diverse metropolitan area, 17.7 per 1,000 adolescents had autism. Prevalence was twice as high in high-income areas compared to low-income areas, and one in four cases remained undiagnosed by age 16.