Screen before 18 months, higher risk for autism at three: AIIMS ask parents to keep away phones from babies

The study, which is in the process of publication, has raised caution against exposing babies to phones, television and other visual media before 18 months of age.

A study by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has found a connection between early screen exposure in infancy and a higher risk for neurodevelopmental conditions like autism at three years of age. The study, which is in the process of publication, has raised caution against exposing babies to phones, television and other visual media. 

It is common for parents, particularly overworked, to engage their newborn with a visual treat, a cartoon series on a television screen or a lullaby playing on a visual electronic pad. In some cases, these distractions soothe a fussing baby and allow parents to get things done at home or at work. Sometimes it can be amusing to see a child interact with a visual media, expressing interest through giggles and movement. Other parents might play on a visual media to make children distracted enough to make them eat the not so delectable veggies. 

However, what seems a harmless activity can be detrimental to a brain still in the making, experts have said.

In a video on X, Dr. Shefali Gulati, professor of pediatric neurology at AIIMS (Delhi) has said about an emerging link between early screen exposure and higher risk of autism in children. She also mentioned about a study by the institute which has correlated the connection and documented data on children with and without autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition caused by differences in how the brain functions in some children and adults, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The neurodivergence results in autistic people having trouble in communicating to others and have different ways of learning, moving or paying attention to things around them. 

What is the study suggesting?

In its study, the researchers at AIIMS involved 250 children aged between one to six years. Among the participants, 150 were children with autism and the other 100 with normal development. 

The findings showed that children with autism were exposed to screens earlier than those without it.

In the video, Dr. Shefali Gulati also spoke about an international meta-analysis which confirms the association between screen time and increasing risk of neurodivergence in children. 

In fact, she also said that early screen exposure can act like an environmental trigger for autism alongside genetic and other physical causes. 

Speaking to DH, Dr. Akash Chheda from Zynova Shalby Hospital (Mumbai) said: “Limiting real-life interactions with a growing baby can result in delaying speech, poor eye contact and they becoming unresponsive to their names. This will also make them socially isolated and frustrated.”

Apart from screen, the duration for which it is exposed to a child also affects the brain chemistry.

For children below 18 years of age, the pediatric neurologist asked the parents to not expose them to screens at all. 

Between ages two and six, she said an hour of screen time is more than enough. 

While explaining the risks, she said early exposure to screen tends to meddle with a child’s reward machinery in the brain. It causes the neurochemicals like dopamine and melatonin to fluctuate, increasing dependency on the visual sight. In turn, it also causes sleep trouble and lack of physical activity in an age where the child is supposed to build its motor skills. 

The neurologist also guided parents to not let children engage in passive screen watching like one sided content, including movies and videos. If at all the children are watching screens, the apps they are consuming must be interactive, she added.

Screen as a growth inhibitor

The first few years are crucial for a child to develop its sensory and motor skills. It includes speech development, communication with others, processing sounds and non verbal cues and other cognitive abilities.

However, screens might come in the way of newly formed neural connections and growing abilities.

Speaking to DH, D.r Nikit Shah, a pediatric neurologist at Jupiter Hospital (Pune) said: “A baby’s brain learns best when it is stimulated by direct interactions between them and the people around them. A television cannot personally engage the child like someone talking to them, or in ways games and books interact with them. This phase is important for them to imbibe sounds, words and feel emotions.”

Dr. Rajiv Chhabra, a senior pediatrician at the Artemis Hospitals said the dangers of screen exposure also lurks around the bedroom.

“The bright pictures and fast moving visuals can impair the attention span of a child and the constant stimulation can affect their sleep at night, forming a silent dependency on getting stimulated from such a tender age,” said Dr Chhabhra. 

At present, one in 65 Indian children between the ages two and nine are thought to have autism. Reportedly, its prevalence is increasing all over the world with countries like Sweden who have formally advised parents against screen time for children below two years of age. Other countries like Australia and France are also becoming active in limiting social media usage among teenagers.