A couple from Bhubaneswar visited clinical psychologist Monisha Patnaik last August with their 18-month-old child, who refuses to eat without watching cartoons or videos on a mobile phone. The father is occupied with his job, and the mother is busy with household chores. Whenever the mother works, she gives the mobile phone to the child, who watches cartoons or other videos. This has become an addiction, and the infant's speech and cognitive development have been affected, Patnaik said.
Study Highlights Autism Concerns
Experts have cautioned parents against exposing infants to screens too early after a recent AIIMS-Delhi study suggested that higher screen time among children below one year of age could be linked to increased autism-related concerns. Doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists emphasize that early brain development depends on human interaction and play. They urge caregivers to limit mobile phone and TV use and follow age-appropriate guidelines to ensure healthy cognitive and social growth during early childhood.
Pediatrician's Advice
Dr. Pravakar Mishra, superintendent of Sardar Vallavbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics in Cuttack, noted that autism cases have been increasing over the decades. He advises parents not to allow their children to watch mobile phones until they are at least six years old. After that, parents can control screen time as needed. He added that watching mobile phones, TV, or laptops from a close distance can also damage eyesight.
Dr. Mishra further said that parents and family members should reduce their own screen time and talk or play with their children. If children's screen time increases, they get lost in the digital world and do not speak much. Their communication becomes poor, sleep patterns get disturbed, and they become irritable for no reason. There is a chance that children may develop autism, he warned.
Psychologist's Perspective
Monisha Patnaik said parents or other family members should play or have conversations with the child so that the child can learn to speak and perform other activities. She is trying to improve the condition of the child and relates to the AIIMS-Delhi study findings.
Amrit Pattajoshi, a city-based child psychiatrist, stated that social interaction among young children is drastically reduced due to mobile phone addiction. They take longer to speak and understand things, he added.
