Screens are reaching children’s hands faster than they should. The term ‘iPad generation’ is used for infants who spend most of their time occupied by screens. Parents and caregivers may think it will keep them occupied, but silently, it can cause several worrying problems. Some of the worries include whether screen exposure can lead to neurodevelopmental issues such as autism or speech delays.
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Dr Rafat Trivedi, paediatric neurologist at Marengo Asia Hospitals in Gurugram, shared with HT Lifedtyle the potential consequences of exposing children to screens early, while addressing some common beliefs regarding neurodevelopmental disorders.
Does screentime cause autism?
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition that appears in early childhood. With screens being so pervasive and their potential drawbacks, the early introduction of screen time makes it especially important for parents to monitor and manage their child’s exposure. And one of the concerns remains is whether it causes autism.
The neurologist clarified, “Screen time does not cause autism as it is caused mostly by genetic predisposition, which is modified by environmental factors and present early in brain development.”
But what happens instead? Dr Trivedi noted, “Screen time is not the cause, but excessive and early screen exposure, especially in the first two to three years of life, can contribute to speech delay and social communication difficulties.”
Since one of the key features of autism is difficulty with social communication, misunderstandings about autism can happen. The neurologist reminded that children learn best through interactions such as eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, and back-and-forth play. But these crucial learning opportunities don’t occur when they are enraged with phones.
But how can you tell if your child is affected? The neurologist explained that children who show delays due to screen exposure show rapid improvement once screen time is reduced and interactive engagement increases. In contrast, a child with autism continued to face challenges in social communication, eye contact, and repetitive behaviours regardless of changes in screentime and really requires medical intervention.
Safe screen guidelines
Dr Trivedi listed the guidelines for safe screen:
- Avoid screen exposure below 2 years of age as much as possible, and only video call with family
- For above 2 years,limit screen time to less than an hour and ensure it is high-quality, larger screens are preferred, and it should always be a supervised screen time.
- Prioritise talking, reading, and playing board games with your child daily. Engage them in age-appropriate household chores, and they feel responsible and enjoy doing it.
- Encourage activities that involve interaction, like storytelling, role play, pretend play, and outdoor free play and interaction with peers.
In the end, the doctor highlighted that parents’ instincts are important. If a child is not making eye contact, not responding to their name, not engaging socially, or not communicating through gestures or speech, parents should seek medical help. Avoid self-diagnosis and have the child checked by a paediatrician or child neurologist.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
