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Effect of reducing screen time in children with speech delay: A pilot study
Maimuna Rashid1, Jawad Jalil2, Syed Aoun Abbas Mehdi3
1Department of Rehab Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Pano Aqil, Pakistan.
Insights
Reducing screen time significantly boosts vocabulary in children with speech delays. This intervention showed a marked improvement in language development over three months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Speech-Language Pathology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Delayed speech affects a significant number of children.
- Excessive screen time is a growing concern in early childhood development.
- The impact of screen time on speech acquisition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of reduced screen time in children with delayed speech.
- To quantify the improvement in vocabulary acquisition following screen time reduction.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental study involving 160 children aged 18 months to 5 years with speech delay.
- Randomization into an intervention group (screen time ≤30 minutes/day) and a control group (regular screen time) for 3 months.
- Assessment of daily vocabulary word count at baseline and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- The intervention group showed a significant increase in vocabulary words (76.05±97.27) compared to the control group (3.38±3.00) (p<0.001).
- Mean baseline screen time was 8.71±1.56 hours daily.
- Factors like gender, age, and socioeconomic status did not significantly affect the outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Reducing screen time is an effective strategy for improving speech delay in children.
- The study highlights the negative impact of excessive screen exposure on early language development.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effect of reduced screen time in children presenting with delayed speech.
Methods:
The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Combined Military Hospital, Pano Aqil, Pakistan, from August 2020 to June 2023, and comprised all children presenting with specific speech delay between ages 18 months and 5 years. They were randomised into two groups using the lottery method. Intervention group A had their screen time reduced to zero or <30 minutes per 24 hours for a period of 3 months, while control group B continued with their regular screen time habits. Number of vocabulary words spoken on a daily basis were assessed and compared at baseline and 3 months after reducing the screen time. Data was analysed using SPSS 23.
Results:
Of the 160 subjects, 80(50%) were in group A; 46(57.5%) boys and 34(42.5%) girls with mean age 31.85±7.75 months. There were 80(50%) subjects in group B; 43(53.7%) boys and 37(46.3%) girls with mean age 30.69±6.71 months. Overall, mean screen time at baseline was 8.71±1.56 hours (range: 6-10 hours) daily. Number of vocabulary words increased to 76.05±97.27 words post-intervention in group A compared to 3.38±3.00 words in group B (p<0.001). Gender, age, maternal working status, socioeconomic status and peer interaction had no significant effect on the outcome (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
Reducing the screen time resulted in a significant improvement in children with speech delay.
