A controversial new study is suggesting a link between a baby’s exposure to screens at the age of 12 months and the development of autism like symptoms later in childhood. Experts not affiliated with the study have criticized the research, calling it “fatally flawed”, “misleading”, and potentially “harmful”.
“The literature is rich with studies showing the benefits of parent-infant interaction on later child development, as well as the association of greater screen viewing with developmental delays,” explains lead author on the new study, Karen F. Heffler. “Our study expands on this previous research by associating early social and screen media experiences with later autism-like symptoms.”
The study investigated data from the National Children’s Study (NCS), a multi-center epidemiological project examining the relationship between child development and environmental influences. A cohort of 2,152 children was investigated.
Screen viewing frequency was assessed using two data points from the NCS. At 12 months of age caregivers were asked if their child watches TV or DVDs, and at 18 months of age caregivers were asked to estimate how many hours per day their child watched TV or DVDs. At two years of age symptoms of autism were measured in the children using a scale called M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers).
The new research found those children who watched TV or DVDs at 12 months of age were 4.2 percent more likely to present with ASD-like symptoms at 24 months. Conversely, the study examined rates of daily play and found children who played with parents daily were 8.9 percent less likely to develop ASD-like symptoms at 24 months compared to those children playing with parents less than daily.
It is important to note the study also found absolutely no association between hours per day of screen time at 18 months and ASD-like symptoms at 24 months. Reading to a child daily at 12 months of age was also found to have no association with a reduction in ASD-like symptoms at 24 months.
David Bennett, senior author on the study, says these findings strengthen the importance of parent-child play time relative to screen time. The authors of the study also suggest parents avoid exposing children younger than 18 months to screens, in accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation.
The new study was published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
