Relationship Between Screen Time and Mother-Child Reciprocal Interaction in Typically Developing Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Excerpt

To the Editor: Resources available in television and smart phones may be useful in learning context. However, excessive exposure to screens may have adverse effects on young children. Direct exposure to screen influences development of behavior [1], language [2], cognition [3] and attention [4] in other-wise typically developing children (TD). The impacts could be profound in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who already have communication and socialization difficulties [5]. In addition, distracted communication partners (providing divided attention or inattention to the child) disrupt reciprocal interaction between the child and the partner. Thus, apart from children’s screen time, the impact of family’s screen time in TD children and children with ASD is important. This study explored the correlation between reciprocal interaction and family screen time using a cross-sectional study design. …