Detectable Speech and Concentration Disorders Mobile phones can harm children long term

Excessive smartphone use endangers children's health
The intensive use of digital media can have a dramatic impact on children and adolescents. According to a new study, the risk of speech and concentration disorders increases significantly due to the excessive use of smartphones. The "health risks of digitization" must be taken seriously, demands the Federal Drug Commissioner.

Effects on the health of our offspring
The digital media consumption of children and adolescents has increased significantly in recent years. This also has consequences for the health. For example, scientific studies have shown that Samrtphones can put children and adolescents under constant stress and, among other things, reduce their sleep quality. Canadian researchers also reported that early adoption of smartphones causes speech delays among many infants. The impact of these phones on the health of our offspring is also demonstrated by a new study, which has now been presented by the Federal Drug Commissioner.

Already at day care, many children use their parents' smartphones. The intense digital media consumption of children and adolescents can have negative consequences for the health. Parents should give their offspring orientation. (Image: HERRNDORFF / fotolia.com)

More and more young people are internet dependent
Smartphones and tablets are no longer indispensable for many people. For some, however, the use of such devices is excessive. Above all, more and more young people are threatening internet addiction.

"The numbers of internet-dependent young people and young adults are rising rapidly - meanwhile, experts from about 600,000 Internet users and 2.5 million problematic users in Germany," says a press release by the Federal Government Drugs Commissioner, Marlene Mortler.

The politician presented the BLIKK Media Study (coping-learning-behavior-mental-illness-children), in which the health risks of excessive media consumption for children become more and more apparent.

Speech development disorders and motor hyperactivity
Among other things, the survey, which surveyed nearly 5,600 parents and their children in Germany, showed that as many as 70 percent of children in their daycare age use their parents' smartphones for more than half an hour a day.

The consequences of excessive media consumption range from feeding and falling asleep in babies over speech development disorders in infants to concentration problems at primary school age.

In addition, in children up to the age of 6, increased motor hyperactivity is found in those who use media intensively.

For a baby, a smartphone can be a problem, because if the mother uses digital media while breastfeeding or while taking care of the baby, there is measurable evidence of attachment disorders.

Benefit from a now global digital world
The Drug Commissioner of the Federal Government, Marlene Mortler, commented on the study results: "We must take the health risks of digitization seriously! There is an urgent need to give parents guidance on media usage. "

She said, "Toddlers do not need a smartphone. First of all, you have to learn to stand firmly in real life with both feet. The bottom line is that it's high time for more digital care - through parents, through schools and educational institutions, but of course through politics. "

One of the study leaders, Prof. dr. Rainer Riedel from the Rheinische Fachhochschule Köln, said: "Children and young people should learn to use the advantages of a now global digital world, without renouncing the experiences with friends in everyday life."

And Dr. med. Uwe Büsching, pediatrician and board member of the Professional Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), said: "With premature regulation of ergo or speech therapy alone, dangers can not be averted. Especially if the behavior or the development is conspicuous, an inappropriate handling of the parents as well as the children with media should always be considered. "

Interesting in this context is also what scientists from the USA recently reported. The researchers from the Illinois State University found in a study that even the intensive smartphone use of parents can have an impact on the offspring.

According to the experts, it can lead to social abnormalities in the children. (Ad)