The effects of screen time in ASD symptoms or ASD-like symptoms in children

*Correspondence: [e-mail].

Abstract

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has historically been linked to congenital variables such as genetics and brain morphophysiological abnormalities. However, postnatal environmental influences, particularly screen time, have been linked to the development of symptoms suggestive of autism.

Objective: To investigate the influence of screen time in ASD symptoms or ASD-like symptoms in children.

Methods: In March 2023, a systematic review was carried in PubMed and VHL using the descriptors “screen time”, “child”, and “autism spectrum disorder”. Articles published more than 5 years ago or that did not fit the chosen thematic were excluded. To avoid selection biases among writers, the Rayyan software's "Blind On" option was used.

Results: The results were separated into two categories. The first category is composed of research that describe excessive screen time as a contributing factor to symptoms severity in children with ASD. According to the reviewed literature, stereotyped motions, intolerance to social engagement, aberrant sensory responses and linguistic delays are some of the symptoms that can be intensified. It has also been demonstrated that the COVID-19-imposed social isolation and reliance on technology have worsened the vulnerability of children with ASD, as they have a larger proclivity to use screens. However, encouraging results were obtained: reducing exposure to social media and promoting communication between caregivers and children with ASD can improve the quality of life for these patients, resulting in symptom reduction, improvements in social communication skills, improvements in sleep quality and in a lower vulnerability to bullying. Furthermore, some experts argue that controlled and targeted use of screen time may benefit the neurodevelopment of children with ASD. The second category of studies presents screen time as a potential trigger of ASD-like symptoms in non-autistic youngsters. A Japanese study found that 1-year-old toddlers who were exposed to excessive screen usage had a greater risk of ASD diagnosis at age 3.

Conclusion: According to recent scientific literature, excessive screen time may have an impact on ASD-related symptoms. The research, however, is limited to numerical data that corroborate their theories, lacking in-depth exploration of the biological mechanisms occurring in the nervous system. The combination of these factors emphasize the importance of additional research on this topic.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2025