Usage of mobile phones is quite common nowadays, from the elderly to adults to babies, everyone enjoys their screen time, but is such time on screen good for health? According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, exposure to screens causes challenges and trouble in children.

It is to be noted that early exposure to screens and digital media can influence how children perceive and respond to their surroundings, according to the one-of-a-kind study. The study was titled “Early-Life Digital Media Experiences and Development of Atypical Sensory Processing,” and the authors of the study were Karen Frankel Heffler, Binod Acharya, Keshab Subedi, and David S. Bennett.

Such exposure to screens has increased concerns among healthcare professionals and researchers as it impacts the potential development of a child and its sensory processing – which is crucial as it is related to the integration of sensory information, including sight, sound, and touch, to the brain.

To conclude, data from the National Children’s Study was examined by the lead author, who also serves as an associate professor of Psychiatry in Drexel’s College of Medicine – Karen Heffler and her colleagues. The main objective of the study was the evaluation of the environmental factors and their effects on the health of children in the United States.

Who participated in the study?

The study was conducted on the children who were born and observed between 2011 and 2014. The caregivers of the children completed the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile – a tool to assess sensory processing in young children. The sample size was around 1,471 children – with an equal gender distribution.

The research was broadly divided into three developmental stages – 12, 18, and 24 months of age. For the caregivers of children aged 12 months old, simple yes or no questions were asked, and for the children aged between 18 to 24 months, the questions were detailed. The conclusion of the study depended on various factors, such as the age of the child, birth prematurity, household income, and educational qualification of the caregiver. The researchers outlined that the major objective of the study was to explore the relationship between screen exposure and sensory processing outcomes.

Shocking results of the study!

The researchers mentioned that the results of the study were shocking. The study revealed that the children of 12 months who were exposed to television and digital media were at more risk of being in the high category for low registration as compared to the children who stayed away from the screen. The children among the age of 18 months were linked to more frequent low registration and sensation avoiding, and the children by 24 months were more vulnerable to sensational seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensation-avoiding behaviors, according to PsyPost.

The concerns have been raised among healthcare workers because sensory processing plays an essential role in the learning and functioning of a child. However, disturbing sensory processing can lead to developmental disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The lead author, Heffler, through a news release, stated, “This association could have important implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism, as atypical sensory processing is much more prevalent in these populations,” as per PsyPost.

“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,” he further added.

Advisory against screen time by the American Academy of Pediatrics!

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies under 18 months should be kept away from screen time, except for live video classes – which can be beneficial in developing interactive skills.

In addition to this, children aged between 2 and 5 years are recommended to have screen time of not more than one hour per day.

It is to be noted that despite these guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics, a 2019 research letter by JAMA Pediatrics underlined that as of the year 2014, the children of the United States were spending approximately three hours and three minutes of screen time per day – which was reportedly a significant increase from the screen time of one hour and 19 minutes in the year 1997.

In regard to screen timing and sensory processing, another senior author, David Bennett, who serves as a professor of Psychiatry in Drexel’s College of Medicine, stated, “Parent training and education are key to minimizing, or hopefully even avoiding, screen time in children younger than two years,” as per PsyPost.