Effect of reducing screen time in children with speech delay: A pilot study

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.