The Correlation Between Screen Time and the Probability of Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a collection of neurological, psychological, and developmental anomalies that manifest in early life, affecting individuals across all racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups. Its prevalence has grown significantly over the past 20 years. Exposure to digital devices has increased alongside the rise in ASD prevalence. Research suggests that prolonged screen time can negatively impact a child's brain development, language, literacy, and cognitive function. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between screen time and the probability of developing autism spectrum disorder. Methodology This study employed a case-control design to examine 231 children in Zakho City diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The study was conducted from October 1, 2023, to March 1, 2024. The participants included neurotypical individuals and individuals with autism. Data were gathered through standardized questionnaires and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26 (Released 2019; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). The study was approved by the College of Medicine/University of Zakho, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and ethical permission was obtained. Results The study revealed a uniform age distribution between cases and controls, with a majority of male participants and a smaller percentage of female participants. ASD patients had a significantly longer duration of exposure to electronic devices compared to controls, with cases averaging 3.61 hours of screen time daily (t-test: t = 0.0001). Conclusion In summary, screens have a major impact on children's neurodevelopment and may increase their risk of developing ASD. However, no appreciable distinction was observed between children diagnosed with ASD and those without regarding early exposure to screens. Our findings can be used to create guidelines for children's media consumption and to raise awareness of this issue. Further research is needed to evaluate the association.