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Time of India

‘Virtual autism' robbing kids of healthy childhood

Hyderabad: There is no 'safe-limit' when it comes to screen time for children, doctors warn. Doctors in both govt and private hospitals across Hyderabad are witnessing a disconcerting rise in cases of what they are calling 'virtual autism', a condition where children display autism-like symptoms, not due to genetic causes, but triggered by excessive screen time and digital exposure. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While previously one or two cases per month were reported, this number has now gone up to three to four times, particularly in younger children. Onset of symptoms Recently, a three-year-old boy from Kacheguda began exhibiting symptoms such as delayed speech and poor social interaction and was treated for this condition. "The child came from a nuclear family that recently relocated from Bihar. With both parents working full time and minimal social engagement, the child's isolation reportedly contributed to the onset of symptoms," said Dr Lokesh Lingappa, paediatric neurologist at a private hospital. He said that while there is no clear demarcation of how much screen time is dangerous, there have cases where children spend eight or more hours on gadgets without any real-world interaction. "This condition impacts the neural network of the brain. Such instances have gone up after the Covid-19 pandemic, where people went into quarantine. While it is considered that adults are long-time sufferers of Covid-19, in reality, it is the children," said Lingappa. Doctors also said that due to increased digitalisation, children are struggling to form thoughts and instincts. "Most of the time, they are constantly shown complete information without the need to think or imagine, which disrupts the brain's natural developmental pathways," said Dr Hemnath S, neurologist at Osmania General Hospital (OGH). He said this environment is causing children to fall behind in basic skills such as speech, decision-making, and emotional expression. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "These are the areas that traditionally develop through face-to-face interaction and exploration," he said. Weak social bonds Another key factor, doctors said, is the growing prevalence of nuclear families and dual-income households. With both parents often occupied with work, screens have become the alternative for children. "Earlier, joint families provided natural social environments for children. Now, with nuclear setups and minimal interaction, emotional bonds are weakening," said Dr Dinesh Kumar, neurologist, Gandhi Hospital. "Children are turning to phones, TVs, and gadgets, which is leading to emotional disconnect and stunted social development." Doctors said that the consequences of this condition lead children to suffer from short attention spans, reduced emotional bonding, poor communication, delayed speech, impaired social interaction, and others. However, they pointed out that unlike conventional autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is lifelong and genetic in nature, symptoms associated with virtual autism can improve or even reverse with early intervention, reduced screen exposure, and therapy. "Many parents believe the symptoms will vanish once screen time is cut. That's not true," said Dr Lingappa. "Therapy, counselling, and structured social exposure are essential. In early childhood, the presence of grandparents or close relatives can make a big difference in preventing this condition." Case Study 3 & half year boy, who is a single child of working parents, was being cared by a housemaid, and was normal till 1.6 years age Parents found that the housemaid gave the kid a phone and does her household chores as the child is busy watching videos Parents also used to give the child phone while eating food Parents noticed the boy was not interacting with them, with zero eye contact, and not speaking any meaningful words He also displayed hand flapping and laughed excessively Boy stopped playing with other kids of his age group and became very irritable GFX - Do's and Don'ts Limit screen & gadget time, especially for children under five Encourage outdoor play & peer interaction Involve grandparents or relatives in early caregiving Increase communication & spend more time with children Seek medical advice if signs of speech delay or social withdrawal are noticed Limit sugar & salt intake for children to avoid hyperactivity & early distractibility