Tsu-Hsin Howe is Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Occupational Therapy. Her research focuses on motor performance and participation across the lifespan, with particular expertise in pediatric occupational therapy. Her work examines how biological, psychological, environmental, family, and cultural factors influence motor performance and participation, and how occupational therapy interventions can improve outcomes for children and adults.
Dr. Howe's early research focused on feeding and motor behaviors in preterm infants and children at risk for developmental delay. Her research program has since expanded to address a broader range of motor performance and participation issues across diverse clinical and educational settings, including handwriting, bimanual activities, visual-perceptual motor skills, and postural control. Her work also examines the influence of family and cultural factors, parental stress, health beliefs, and self-efficacy on occupational performance and participation.
Dr. Howe teaches classes on pediatric and research topics at both the master's and doctoral levels. Her clinical expertise offers students a unique perspective in an area of occupational therapy that is critical to the field. Her courses include Theoretical Bases for the Scope of Practice, Theoretical Foundations for Intervention, Developing a guideline for Intervention and Doctoral Colloquium, and Departmental Seminar. She also gives guest lectures on topics related to her specialty.
Dr. Howe has practiced in both community and hospital-based settings for over 20 years, the past 15 of which as a pediatric clinical specialist in Mount Sinai Medical Center of New York City. She has treated infants and children with prematurity, developmental disabilities, congenital heart diseases, neurological deficits, gastrointestinal disorders, and learning disabilities. Her specialty expertise includes neonatal occupational therapy and feeding management. Dr. Howe is trained in neuro-developmental treatment in pediatrics and is certified to administer the Neonatal Oral Motor Assessment Scale.
Selected Publications
Referred Journal Articles
- Velamoor, T. & Howe, T.-H. (2026). Advancing Health Equity via a Culturally Responsive Curriculum. OT Practice, 31(7), 20-23.
- Henton, P., & Howe, T.-H. (2025). Improving relationship-based feeding of infants and young children with disabilities: developing a guideline for practice. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 13(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2315
- Pong, J.-L, Howe, T.-H., Chen, H-L, Weng, Z.-Q. & Wang, T.-N. (2025). Enhancing handwriting performance in autistic children: a randomized crossover study on the effectiveness of a spatial structured handwriting intervention. Autism Research, 18, 2031-2040. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70102
- Howe, T.-H., Pong, J.-L, Weng, Z.-Q, Lee, K.-Y., Chen, H.-L. & Want, T.-N. (2025). A geometric-based handwriting intervention (GBHI) for Chinese handwriting: development, feasibility, and pilot findings. Hong Kong Journal of Occupational Therapy, 15691861251357339. https://doi.org/ 10.1177/15691861251357339
- Hsieh, Y.-W., Howe, T.-H., Lee, M.-T., Tai, R.-Y. & Chen, C.-C. (2025). Design and usability evaluation of an immersive virtual reality mirrored hand system for upper limb stroke rehabilitation. Scientific Reports, 15:578. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90698-6
- Akrofi, J. N. S., Howe, T.-H. & Njelesani, J., (2025). Embracing multiple philosophical orientations in occupational therapy to enhance cultural sensitivity. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79,7902347030.https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050960
- Kim, H., Murthi, K. & Howe, T.-H. (2024). Occupational therapy guidelines for managing stress and burnout in working women facing work-family conflicts. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health, https://doi.org/10.1080/0164212X.2024.2437779.
- Chiang, C.-Y., & Howe, T.-H. (2024). Current Landscape of Interventions that Promote Self-determination in Adolescents with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Secondary Transition: A Scoping Review. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2243
- Lee, C.-Y. & Howe, T.-H. (2024). Effectiveness of Activity-Based Task-Oriented Training on Upper Extremity Recovery for Individuals with Stroke: A Systematic Review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78 (2), 7802180070. http:// doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050391
- Shi, Y., Howe, T.-H., Halpin, P. F., Hu, L. & Wu, B. (2023). Dyadic analysis of illness perceptions among individuals with stroke and their caregivers: Effects on activity engagement in community living. Disability and Rehabilitation, http:// doi.org/ 10.1080/09638288.2023.2246378
- Gentile, P., Mills, M., & Howe, T.-H. (2023). Intraprofessional Conversations Begin in the Classroom: An Exploratory Study on an OT-OTA Joint Class. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(4), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2103
- Lee, M.-T., Howe, T.-H., Chen, C.-C., Wu, C.-Y., & Hsieh, Y.-W. (2023). Grip strength differences in middle-aged and older adults and individuals with stroke. European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, 59 (3): 294-302. https://doi.org/10.23736/S1973-9087.23.07729-8
- Shi, Y., Howe, T.-H., & Wu, B. (2023). Impact of illness perceptions on post-stroke activity engagement and the moderating role of gender. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77 (5), 7705205020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050155
- Shi, Y., Howe, T.-H., Halpin, P. F. & Wu, B. (2023). Post-stroke activity engagement in community dwellers: association with illness perceptions and perceived environment. Clinical Rehabilitation, 37(1), 132-142. https:// doi.org/10.1177/02692155221111926
- Stern, B., Howe, T.-H., & Njelesani, J. (2023). “Self-Efficacy for managing injury after distal radius fracture: A mixed methods exploration. OTJR: Occupation, Participation and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492221086232journals.sagepub.com/home/otj
- Stern, B., Howe, T.-H., & Njelesani, J. (2023). I didn’t know what I could do”: Behaviors, knowledge and beliefs, and social facilitation after distal radius fracture. Journal of Hand Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2021.09.003
- Chiang, C.-Y., & Howe, T.-H. (2021). Bridge to the Future: A Career Exploration Frame of Reference for Students with Disabilities. Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 9(4), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1724
- Stern, B., Njelesani, J. & Howe, T.-H. (2021). Transitioning from hurting to healing: Self-management after distal radius fracture. Disability and Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1962990
- Wang, T.-N., Howe, T.-H., Liang, K.-J., Chang, T.-W., Shieh, J.-Y., & Chen, H.-L (2021). Bimanual motor performance in everyday life activities in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. European Journal of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, 57. https://doi.org/10.23736/S1973-9087.21.06504-7
- Stern, B., & Howe, T.-H. (2020) Hand Therapists’ Knowledge and Practice-Related Beliefs About Pain Science: A Survey Study. Journal of Hand Therapy, S0894-1130(20)30146-0. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2020.07.007.
- Wang, T.-N., Liang, K.-J., Howe, T.-H., Chen, H.-L., Huang, C.-W., Wu, C.-T. (2020). Spatial Attention Disregard in Children with Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74, 7402205090. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.038851
- Howe, T.-H., Hinojosa, J., & Sheu, C.-F. (2019). A qualitative study of Latino-American mothers’ perspectives on feeding their young children. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 73, 7303205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.031336.
- Howe, T.-H., Sheu, C.-F., & Wang, T.-N. (2019). Feeding pattern and parental perception of feeding issues of preterm infants in the first 2 years of life. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73, 7302205030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.029397
- Shi, Y., Howe, T.-H., Hinojosa, J., & Wang, J. (2018). Enhancing professionalism and quality of service by establishing an occupational therapy association in the People’s Republic of China. Annals of International Occupational Therapy, 1(1), 41-48. https://doi.org/10.3928/24761222-20180212-06
- Howe, T.-H., Sheu, C.-F., & Hinojosa, J. (2018). Teaching Theory in occupational therapy using a cooperative learning: A mixed method study. Journal of Allied Health, 47 (1), 66-71.
- Howe, T.-H., Chen, H.-L., Lee, C. C., Chen, Y.-D., & Wang, T.-N. (2017). The Computerized Perceptual Motor Skills Assessment (CPMSA): A new visual perceptual motor skills evaluation tool for children in early elementary grades. Research in Developmental Disability, 69, 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2017.07.010