A friend shared a TikTok with me that fell into her feed. Like me, she’s a SpEd teacher. I think the link was shared to her as well.
I found the video both ignorant and offensive, so I won’t share it further. But, I do want to share and explore it’s topic: “screen induced autism.” It’s out there in certain circles, so be warned.
What is "screen induced autism?” If you’re like me, you’ve probably never heard of it. And, if you’re like me, once you’ve been introduced to a curious item, you go and do a deep dive.
Here’s what I found:
The term "screen induced autism" is not an official medical diagnosis, but rather a non-scientific theory that excessive screen time, especially starting at a very young age, could contribute to or exacerbate “autism spectrum disorder symptoms.” In other words, too much screen time will make children autistic. Offended yet?
Some key points about this “theory:”
Whilst there is no scientific evidence that screen time “causes autism” or makes “existing autism symptoms worse,” believers are adamant that too much time on devices will cause developmental delays.
Believers then take their belief that a child is developmentally disabled, and label the child as autistic - induced by screen time.
As best I can tell, the theory comes from a mis-interpretation of a 2020 study published in the JAMA. The prospective study found that watching television and/or videos, and less frequent play interaction between child and caregiver at 12 months of age, was associated with a modestly greater incidence of “autistic-like symptoms” (but not “a greater risk of autism spectrum disorder”) at age 2.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time for young children and ensuring device use is balanced with other activities. This is meant as general guidance for all children though, not specific to autism concerns.
Most experts agree there are many benefits to thoughtful technology and media use, even for autistic children , such as learning tools, communication aids, and more. As with everything, moderation and balance is key.
In summary, "screen-induced autism" is a speculative theory that has not been scientifically validated (aka, bull crap). There are still open questions about how screen time impacts child development, but no evidence it will make your kiddo autistic. Balanced screen use in moderation is likely fine for most children.
Ugh! Stuff like this is frustrating, yet at the same time, I'm so grateful to be a part of the autistic community in this time. I feel like we have many voices out there, we are actively contributing to change. I love it! ❤️
I also realized that many of you call it a deep dive; I always say, "so down the rabbit hole I went...🧐"
Ugh! Stuff like this is frustrating, yet at the same time, I'm so grateful to be a part of the autistic community in this time. I feel like we have many voices out there, we are actively contributing to change. I love it! ❤️
I also realized that many of you call it a deep dive; I always say, "so down the rabbit hole I went...🧐"
😂