Long periods of watching TV, tablets or using smartphones can have a negative impact on small children’s development and be the cause of growing rates of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new study suggests.
Drexel Study
Researchers at Drexel University in Philadelphia discovered a link between screen time and developmental problems in babies and toddlers.
Negative Behaviors from too Much TV
The data extracted by the researchers showed that if children watched increasing amounts of television by their second birthday, they were more likely to develop negative behaviors like “sensation seeking” and “sensation avoiding.”
Slower Reaction Time
If allowed to continue watching television for large amounts of time up to their third birthday, the infants became slower to respond to such things as a parent calling their name, the research found.
Using Available Data
The researchers relied on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – specifically its National Children’s Study that examined kids’ development and overall health. They also used information from an assessment called the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile, which looks at sensory patterns in young children.
Questions for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers of infants who were 12 months old were asked “Does your child watch TV and/or DVDs? (yes/no),” while those looking after children from 18 to 24 answered this question: “Over the past 30 days, on average, how many hours per day did your child watch TV and/or DVDs?”
Tackling Autism and ADHD
The study’s lead author, Dr. Karen Heffler, an associate professor of psychiatry at Drexel’s College of Medicine, suggested there may be a way of combating autism and ADHD by limiting screen time for small children.
‘Important Implications’
She said in a statement accompanying the study’s results: “This association could have important implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, as atypical sensory processing is much more prevalent in these populations.”
‘Highly Correlated’
The doctor added: “Repetitive behavior, such as that seen in autism spectrum disorder, is highly correlated with atypical sensory processing. Future work may determine whether early life screen time could fuel the sensory brain hyperconnectivity seen in autism spectrum disorders, such as heightened brain responses to sensory stimulation.”
Autism Rates in USA
Autism is a disorder that results in repetitive behaviors and also affects speech and a person’s social skills. The rate of children developing autism has steadily risen in the last two decades, from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 children today, according to figures from the CDC.
ADHD in America
ADHD is among the most common disorders affecting children’s mental health, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) says. Those affected are unable to focus on something for long, and are also impulsive in their actions and hyperactive. ADHD rates are also up, by 5.5 percent from 1997 to 2018, APA figures show, and boys are more affected than girls, with around 13 percent of young males typically diagnosed compared to 6 percent of females.
Other Study Findings
The Drexel researchers found that at 12 months, any exposure to screens compared to none was linked to a 105 percent greater chance of exhibiting sensory behavioral problems. At 18 months, there was a 23 percent increase with developing issues for every hour a child watched a video. And at 24 months, each additional hour resulted in behavioral problems getting worse.
More Developmental Problems
The researchers said that large amounts of screen time for young children was also connected with problems in developing language skills, problem-solving issues and difficulty sleeping.
Advice to Watch Less
Dr Heffler said it might be time for parents and caregivers to gradually reduce the amount of time they let their infants watch videos.
‘Screen Time Reduction’
She said: “Considering this link between high screen time and a growing list of developmental and behavioral problems, it may be beneficial for toddlers exhibiting these symptoms to undergo a period of screen time reduction, along with sensory processing practices delivered by occupational therapists.”
Screen Time Warning
David Bennett, a professor of psychiatry in Drexel’s College of Medicine, warned parents and caregivers against allowing small children to watch anything on screens until they were older, to reduce the risk that they might develop autism or ADHD.
‘Avoiding Screens’
The professor said: “Parent training and education are key to minimizing, or hopefully even avoiding, screen time in children younger than two years.”
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