A study has proven that spending too much time on gadgets such as smartphones and tablets can greatly slow down toddlers’ development.
The findings follow just in time to warn modern parents who allow their kids to entertain themselves with on-screen videogames and movies.
In the study conducted by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and presented in the Journal of the American Medical Association’s Pediatrics, 47 healthy younglings participated, whereas individuals who spent more time in front of a screen had less white matter present in their brains.
White matter contains nerve fibers and is located in deeper tissues of brain with its role being set at conveying messages across different parts of the brain.
The children with less white matter present in their brain showed developmental delays in the form of lower scores when it came to language skills, thinking, reading, literacy tests, and speech.
“This study raises questions as to whether at least some aspects of screen-based media use in early childhood may provide sub-optimal stimulation during this rapid, formative state of brain development,” Dr John Hutton, the lead of the study, expressed.
“While we can’t yet determine whether screen time causes these structural changes or implies long-term neurodevelopmental risks, these findings warrant further study to understand what they mean and how to set appropriate limits on technology use.
“These findings highlight the need to understand effects of screen time on the brain, particularly during stages of dynamic brain development in early childhood.”
While plenty of specialists found these claims to be alarming, the critics say there’s no “credible evidence” to support the idea that screen time results in developmental delays in toddlers.
“[The study] could serve to stoke anxiety in parents who may worry that they have damaged their child’s brain by allowing access to TV, phones or tablets,” Professor Dorothy Bishop of the University of Oxford said.
“Two articles are cited to support the claim that overuse of screen-based media carries a risk of language delay. As an expert on language delay, I had never heard of this claim. I checked the references.”
What are your thoughts on this matter? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to SHARE this post with your family and friends and follow us on Facebook for more news and stories!
Replaced!