Use of Electronic Devices and Screen Exposure in a Population of Preschoolers with ASD

Background: There is general concern in the pediatric medical community, about early screen exposure in children and its possible consequences in health. To date, literature considering the use of electronic devices and screen exposure in children with ASD is very limited. However, many studies suggest that early screen exposure has a negative impact in different areas of development, including language and social interaction. Given that the first years of live constitute a period of great cerebral plasticity, we consider for this study the hypothesis that early intensive screen exposure could have a negative impact in development and in susceptible individuals could condition the severity of ASD symptoms. The intervention in this variable could help modify developmental pathways.

Objectives: to describe the use of electronic devices and screen exposure in a population of preeschoolers with ASD diagnosis.

Methods: Descriptive, observational, trasversal study. The sample consists of 30 preeschoolers who have received attention in the outpatient clinic which specializes on ASD at Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Montevideo, Uruguay, in the period june 2017- june 2018. A questionnaire specially designed for this study was administered as well as CBCL 1 ½-5. ADOS 2 was administered to all patients above 30 months of age.

Results:

The whole sample was exposed to more than one electronic device. Exposure started before 6 months of age in 35% of patients, and between 6-12 months in 25%. Daily time of exposure is variable, with 28% of the sample watching more than 5 hours a day. 57% of the parents had recently reduced screen exposure in their children.

Conclusions:

There is an early exposure to screens in a large number of the subjects. Special care should be taken in exposure before six months of age. 81% of the subjects exceeded the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation regarding screen exposure.