Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Increases With More Screen Time

The digitalization process that came with the coronavirus epidemic negatively affected some children. The transfer of education to digital platforms and the child's exposure to too much screen during the period of staying at home brought along adaptation problems. Stating that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is linked with prolonged screen time, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır said, “Green space and open air are good for everyone's mental health. Children with ADHD need to consume a little more energy. Being outdoors and moving will do them good. Confined space is a place that restricts movement. Children can move more freely in the open field, greenery, nature, garden and park. This affects them positively. There are studies showing that especially sports are good for ADHD. Although a child with regular sports activities has ADHD symptoms, it seems to recover much faster. This is my clinical practice. Children who continue regular sports have a significant improvement in aggressive symptoms, hyperactivity, and impulsivity."

Stating that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, Istanbul Gelisim University Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır, “It is seen in the world between 5 and 10 percent. It was seen at a rate of 13 percent in the study conducted in Turkey. It is a common diagnosis and can be missed. If the age is small and the symptoms are mild, we try to reduce the symptoms of the disease by working with the family and making school-related arrangements, by getting them to spend time in the nature. "If the symptoms are severe, we can make huge changes in the life of the child with drug treatments.”

Stating that children with ADHD are impatient, excluded from games and excluded by their parents, Tanıdır says, “When this happens, the child becomes unhappy after a while. Their self-confidence starts to wane and they feel unloved. We recommend that these children do something outdoors, do regular sports activities as much as possible to reduce their behavioral problems. In contrast, staying indoors for a long time is not suggested."

Emphasizing that pandemic also increases the incidence of ADHD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Canan Tanıdır said, “The pandemic has been very troublesome for these children. Since they are at home too much and do not go to school, they cannot get rid of their energies. The pandemic increases the screen time as well as the incidence of ADHD. Since the child staying at home keeps himself busy with the screen, the internet, and computer games, this provides an extra effect on the symptoms. We know that children who spend a long time in front of the screen also have a lot of attention deficit and learning problems. As the screen time increases, irritability, hyperactivity and attention problems increase.”

Adding that early diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, which has a genetic predisposition, will save lives, Assoc. Dr. Tanıdır completed her words as follows:

“As the diagnosis and treatment are delayed, the child becomes detached from the lesson and becomes dismissed from school. Their academic success is falling. Every child wants to succeed, even though the children do not seem to care. Not caring can be a defense mechanism. They can meet depression at a young age. It is known that untreated ADHD cases increase the tendency to use substances and tobacco in the following years. If treated early, we observe a positive course in the child's life."