Too much time on smartphones, tablets, and other devices may impede child speech development, according to a study.
Smartphones are our constant companions. These modern devices are fantastic for work and play and offer ease and accessibility, but parents should beware! Too much time on smartphones, tablets, and other devices may impede child speech development, according to a study.
Between 2011 and 2015, The Hospital for Sick Children in Canada investigated 894 six-month-to-two-year-olds in a Toronto practice-based research network.
Parents reported that 20% of children used portable devices for 28 minutes each day by 18 months. Research indicated that children with greater handheld screen time were more likely to have expressive speech delays, according to a language delay screening tool.
A 49% increase in expressive speech delay was identified for every 30 minutes of handheld screen use. Handheld device screen time did not appear to impede social interactions, body language, or gestures.
New medical guidelines recommend restricting screen time for newborns and toddlers, yet we believe cellphones and tablets are widely used with young children.
"This is the first study to report an association between handheld screen time and increased risk of expressive language delay," stated. The findings corroborate the American Academy of Pediatrics' recent recommendation to prevent screen media in children under 18 months.
More research is needed to understand the type and content of screen activities infants are engaging in to explore mechanisms behind the apparent link between handheld screen time and speech delay, such as time spent with parents on handheld devices, and to understand the impact on early childhood communication outcomes.