Impact of screen use on behavior and sleep in patients with autism spectrum disorder.

This review looked at how screen time affects children with autism. It found that too much screen time, especially for younger children with autism, may worsen their behavior, emotions, and sleep. Since there are no special screen time rules for autistic children yet, the researchers suggest following the same guidelines recommended for all children until more research is done.

This systematic review examined the association between screen time, behavioral symptoms, and sleep disorders in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The review followed PRISMA guidelines to synthesize current evidence on screen exposure impacts. Findings indicated that excessive screen use among ASD children, particularly preschoolers, may be associated with significant behavioral, emotional, and sleep quality impacts. The authors noted a lack of specific screen time recommendations for ASD children and suggested that World Health Organization guidelines for the general pediatric population could be applied until more targeted research provides specific guidance for this population.

Clinicians should consider screen time as a potential factor when addressing behavioral and sleep issues in ASD children. WHO pediatric screen time guidelines may serve as interim recommendations. Further research is needed to develop ASD-specific guidelines that account for the unique characteristics of this population.

The abstract does not specify the number of studies included, sample sizes, or methodological quality of reviewed studies. The review acknowledges that many questions remain regarding screen time effects in ASD populations, suggesting limited definitive evidence.

The increasing screen time among the pediatric population is a detrimental factor for cognitive and psychosocial development, especially for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, there are still many questions regarding its negative effects on behavior and sleep in this population group and, as of the writing of this study, there are no specific recommendations regarding screen use for children with ASD.To synthesize and analyze the current evidence on the association between screen exposure time, behavioral symptoms, and sleep disorders in ASD children.The authors provided a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist adapted review of studies that examined the association between screen time and both autistic symptoms and sleep disturbances in this patient population.Research indicates that excessive screen use among ASD children, particularly in preschool-aged children, may be associated with significant behavioral, emotional, and sleep quality impacts. The screen time recommendations set by the World Health Organization for the general pediatric population could also be applied to these children, at least until new studies can clarify specific guidelines, taking their particularities into account.This review article explores the current evidence on the association between excessive screen time and both autistic symptoms and sleep disturbances in ASD, underscoring the relevance of further clinical investigation.