Dados do Trabalho

Título

THE EFFECTS OF SCREEN TIME IN ASD SYMPTOMS OR ASD-LIKE SYMPTOMS IN CHILDREN

Introdução

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has historically been linked to congenital variables such as genetics and brain morphophysiological abnormalities. However, postnatal environmental influences, particularly screen time, have been linked to the development of symptoms suggestive of autism.

Objetivo

To investigate the influence of screen time in ASD symptoms or ASD-like symptoms in children.

Método

In March 2023, a systematic review was carried in PubMed and VHL using the descriptors “screen time”, “child”, and “autism spectrum disorder”. Articles published more than 5 years ago or that did not fit the chosen thematic were excluded. To avoid selection biases among writers, the Rayyan software's "Blind On" option was used.

Resultados e Conclusões

The results were separated into two categories. The first category is composed of the research that describe excessive screen time as a contributing factor to symptoms severity in children with ASD. According to the reviewed literature, stereotyped motions, intolerance to social engagement, aberrant sensory responses and linguistic delays are some of the symptoms that can be intensified. It has also been demonstrated that the COVID-19-imposed social isolation and reliance on technology have worsened the vulnerability of children with ASD, as they have a larger proclivity to use screens. However, encouraging results were obtained: reducing exposure to social media and promoting communication between caregivers and children with ASD can improve the quality of life for these patients, resulting in symptom reduction, improvements in social communication skills, improvements in sleep quality and in a lower vulnerability to bullying. Furthermore, some experts argue that controlled and targeted use of screen time may benefit the neurodevelopment of children with ASD. The second category of studies presents screen time as a potential trigger of ASD-like symptoms in non-autistic youngsters. A Japanese study found that 1-year-old toddlers who were exposed to excessive screen usage had a greater risk of ASD diagnosis at age 3. The conclusion is that, according to recent scientific literature, excessive screen time may have an impact on ASD-related symptoms. The research, however, are limited to numerical data that corroborate their theories, lacking in-depth exploration of the biological mechanisms occurring in the nervous system. The combination of these factors emphasize the importance of additional research on this topic.

Palavras Chave

Screen time; Child; Autism spectrum disorder.

Declaração de conflito de interesses de TODOS os autores

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Fonte de Fomento (se houver)

Referências (se houver)

KUSHIMA, Megumi et al. Association between screen time exposure in children at 1 year of age and autism spectrum disorder at 3 years of age: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. JAMA pediatrics, v. 176, n. 4, p. 384-391, 2022.

HEFFLER, Karen Frankel et al. Association of early-life social and digital media experiences with development of autism spectrum disorder–like symptoms. JAMA pediatrics, v. 174, n. 7, p. 690-696, 2020.

SADEGHI, Saeid et al. Associations between Symptom Severity of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Screen Time among Toddlers Aged 16 to 36 Months. Behavioral Sciences, v. 13, n. 3, p. 208, 2023.

STILLER, Anja et al. Caregiver reports of screen time use of children with autism spectrum disorder: A qualitative study. Behavioral Sciences, v. 9, n. 5, p. 56, 2019.

CARDY, Robyn E. et al. Characterizing changes in screen time during the COVID-19 pandemic school closures in Canada and its perceived impact on children with autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, p. 1371, 2021.

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ALRAHILI, Nader et al. The Association Between Screen Time Exposure and Autism Spectrum Disorder-Like Symptoms in Children. Cureus, v. 13, n. 10, 2021.

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Área

Transtornos neuropsiquiátricos e distúrbios de aprendizagem