A new US study suggests that sitting in front of a tablet or TV instead of playing with parents increases the risk of developing autism symptoms later in childhood.
The study was conducted when the pandemic led many children around the world to stay at home all day and reduce interaction with other children.
Internationally, the American Academy of Pediatrics and other scientific institutions do not recommend using screens for children under 18 months unless they are used for video communication. In addition, children under five years of age should not use the screen alone and should not exceed one hour, but adults should explain what they see.
Researchers at the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health at Drakeville University in Philadelphia, led by Dr. Karen Hefler, published the study in the American Journal of Pediatrics (JAMA Pediatrics) and studied 2,152 children.
The study found that those who spent time on screen before the age of one were on average 4% more likely to have autism spectrum disorder at the age of two. If parents spend time with their children every day, the likelihood is reduced by 9%.
About 1 per cent of the world`s population suffers from autism spectrum disorder, with boys suffering about four times as much as girls. Previous studies have concluded that 50 to 80 percent of the risk of autism is caused by genetic factors, while little is known about non-heritage factors.
