Disinterest, distorted relationship with the surrounding world, disengagement. These are some of the potential damages attributable to the ‘TV mother’ when children who are too young are ‘entrusted’ to her. The hypothesis on which a group of researchers has gathered evidence is that newborns and toddlers under 2 years of age exposed to watching videos and programs may be more likely to show atypical sensory behaviors, such as the tendency to seek more intense stimuli in a environment or being overwhelmed by sensations such as loud sounds or bright lights, or indeed being disengaged and disinterested in activities. This is the conclusion reached by a study conducted by experts from Drexel’s College of Medicine, the results of which are published in the journal ‘Jama Pediatrics‘.
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Research
According to the researchers, children raised in front of screens and exposed to increased TV viewing by their second birthday were more likely to develop these atypical sensory processing behaviors, such as ‘sensation seeking’ and ‘sensation avoidance’. As well as ‘low registration’, being less sensitive or slower to respond to stimuli, such as being called by name, by 33 months. The team of experts extracted 2011-2014 data from the National Children’s Study on TV or DVD viewing by infants and young children at 12, 18 and 24 months.
The study looked at 1,471 children (50% boys) nationwide. Sensory processing outcomes were assessed at 33 months using the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (Itsp), a questionnaire completed by parents/guardians, designed to provide information on how infants process what they see, hear and smell. Toddlers earn scores that place them in ‘typical’, ‘high’ or ‘low’ groups based on how often they display various sensory-related behaviors.
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Sensory processing skills
Sensory processing capabilities reflect the body’s ability to respond efficiently and appropriately to information and stimuli received from its sensory systems, such as what the child hears, sees, touches and tastes, the authors explain. And the results of the analysis conducted, the scientists illustrate, suggest that at 12 months any screen exposure compared to no TV viewing was associated with a 105% greater probability of showing ‘high’ sensory behaviors (instead of ‘typical’ sensory behaviors ‘), then linked to a low registration at 33 months.
At 18 months, each additional hour of screen time was associated with a 23% increase in the odds of exhibiting ‘high’ sensory behaviors linked later to sensation avoidance and low recording. At 24 months, each additional hour of TV time was associated with a 20% increase in the odds of ‘high’ sensation seeking, sensory sensitivity and sensation avoidance at 33 months.
The other studies
The new data, experts note, add to a growing list of worrying findings related to children’s health and development linked to screen time as infants and toddlers: language delay, autism spectrum disorder, behavioral problems, sleep difficulties, attention problems and delays in problem solving. “This association could have important implications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism, as atypical sensory processing is much more prevalent in these populations,” highlights the lead author. Karen Hefflerassociate professor of Psychiatry at Drexel’s College of Medicine.
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“Considering this link between screen time and a growing list of behavioral and developmental problems, it may be helpful for children exhibiting these symptoms to undergo a period of reduced screen time, along with effective processing practices. sensory provided by occupational therapists,” adds Heffler.
No screen before 24 months
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages families from allowing children under 18-24 months of screen time. Live video chats are considered ok due to the potential benefits from the interaction that takes place. While in general time limits on digital media use are recommended for children aged 2 to 5 years, typically no more than 1 hour per day.
Despite the ‘red warning lights’ highlighted by the research, many children are looking at screens more and more often. In 2014 in the USA, under 2s spent an average of 3 hours and 3 minutes a day on TV, compared to 1 hour and 19 minutes a day in 1997. “The training and education of parents – he concludes David Bennettprofessor of Psychiatry at Drexel’s College of Medicine and senior author of the research – are critical to minimizing, or hopefully even avoiding, screen time in children younger than 2 years old.”
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