Research
Evidence behind the practice
Dr. Vidhya Depgunde’s clinical work at Cuddle is grounded in ongoing research, academic contribution, and continued professional education — published studies, conference work, and years spent training fellow clinicians across India’s rehabilitation community.
Her research interests centre on advancing occupational therapy through evidence-based practice, with particular emphasis on speech development, neurorehabilitation, paediatric intervention, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Across every study, the throughline is the same: pairing clinical practice with scientific inquiry to build interventions that genuinely improve participation and quality of life — for children and adults alike.
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Published studies & research projects
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Families interviewed in the SEP© efficacy study
Publications & Case Studies (2011 — 2024)
International Journal Publication
To Assess the Efficacy of Speech Elicitation Programme (SEP©) in Children with Speech Sound Disorders: A Qualitative Study
International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR)
This qualitative study explored the effectiveness of the Speech Elicitation Programme (SEP©) — an occupational-therapy-based intervention developed to support children with speech delays and speech sound disorders, integrating principles from occupational therapy, Sanskrit phonetics, and the science of music and musical instruments. Through semi-structured interviews with 20 families and Reflexive Thematic Analysis, the research examined changes in communication, participation, and functional outcomes following the intervention.
International Conference Presentation
Robotic Intervention and Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation in Stroke: A Case Study
World Congress for NeuroRehabilitation (WCNR), 2018
An electronic poster presentation demonstrating the role of robotic-assisted rehabilitation within occupational therapy using the Armeo® Spring System. This pre-post intervention case study evaluated robotic upper-limb training in a 16-year-old stroke survivor, highlighting functional recovery gains and the integration of advanced rehabilitation technology into everyday occupational therapy practice.
Master's Dissertation
Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique as an Adjunct to Occupational Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS)
A randomized controlled trial investigating whether Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), combined with conventional occupational therapy, improves outcomes for people living with chronic low back pain — spanning protocol design, participant recruitment, intervention delivery, and statistical analysis within musculoskeletal occupational therapy.
Internship Research Project
Effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening Combined with Conventional Occupational Therapy for Urinary Incontinence in Indian Women
Occupational Therapy School & Centre, Seth G.S. Medical College & K.E.M. Hospital, Mumbai
Completed as part of Bachelor of Occupational Therapy internship requirements, this project investigated combining pelvic floor muscle strengthening with conventional occupational therapy for women experiencing urinary incontinence — early grounding in evidence-based assessment and intervention planning in women’s health rehabilitation.
Workshops & Lectures
National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped
Coordinator & Resource Person
An active contributor to Continued Rehabilitation Education programmes, leading sessions on Sensory Integration and on Cognitive and Perceptual Rehabilitation, and speaking on the role of Occupational Therapy in Learning Disability and in Vocational Rehabilitation — helping shape how rehabilitation professionals across the country approach these areas of practice.
The Victoria Memorial School for the Blind
Conducted a workshop on Sensory Integration for the institution’s staff and practitioners, extending her clinical expertise beyond her own practice to support the wider care team.
Through these engagements, Dr. Vidhya continues to contribute to the wider professional community — training and mentoring fellow clinicians even as she leads her own clinical practice at Cuddle.
Research Interests
Speech development & communication in children
Occupational therapy & speech rehabilitation
Paediatric neurodevelopment
Sensory integration & motor learning
Neurorehabilitation
Robotics in rehabilitation
Evidence-based occupational therapy
Musculoskeletal rehabilitation
Early intervention
Novel OT assessment & intervention models
Have a question About her work?
Reach out directly — she’s happy to talk through what the research means for your child, in plain terms.