Screen time of children with speech delay: a cross‐sectional study in a tertiary center in Kuantan, Malaysia

Abstract

Background Studies suggest excessive screen time (use of smartphones, televisions, computers and/or video games) is linked to speech and language delay. This study explored the sociodemographic characteristics of children with speech delay in Kuantan, Malaysia, and the association of screen time with speech and other developmental delays. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted between July and November 2019 at the child psychiatry and speech therapy clinics, at Kuantan Hospital, Pahang, Malaysia. Parents of children with speech delay aged <72 months provided information on their children's and their own screen times. Speech and other developmental skills were assessed using the Schedule of Growing Skills II with scores reported as developmental quotient (DQ) level. Results The study included 91 children (67 boys, 24 girls) of whom 54.9% had primary speech delay and 45.1% had neurodevelopmental disorders; their mean age was 39.9 ± 11.52 months. The children's mean screen time was 2.26 ± 1.98 h daily, with 36.3% exceeding 2 h. Higher children's screen time was moderately correlated with higher parental screen time (rs = 0.479, P < 0.01). Household income was positively correlated with screen times of the children and the parents (rs = 0.243, P = 0.02 and rs = 0.390, p < 0.01, respectively). Parents who intended to reduce their children's screen time reported higher screen time in their children (t(89) = 2.322, P = 0.023). Children's age was positively correlated with the number of types of screen media (rs = 0.225, P = 0.032). The mean speech DQ was 54.76 ± 24.06%. Lower speech DQ was associated with lower DQs in other skills (P < 0.01). No significant correlation was shown between children's and parents' screen time with DQs of speech and other skills (P > 0.05). Conclusion The correlation between parent and child screen time provides an opportunity for possible intervention, where necessary. Larger studies are required to examine this correlation further.

Speech assessment tool methods for speech impaired children: a systematic literature review on the state-of-the-art in Speech impairment analysis

“…In 2021, Chong et al took a cross-sectional study in a tertiary center in Malaysia to explore the socio-demographics of children with speech delay [19]. The study was conducted at speech therapy clinics for children with speech delays less than 72 months old.…”

Impact of Screen Time on Children’s Development: Cognitive, Language, Physical, and Social and Emotional Domains

“…Table 1 shows children's average media use time in different age groups. Media usage in younger children impacts their health and development [10,23], reduces babies' focus and attention span [24], sleep [25], physical activity [26], language development and communication [27,28], and socio-emotional health, and causes behavioral challenges [29,30]. Thus, a correlation exists between a child's screen time usage and development [31].…”

Unpacking Early Digital Addiction and Developmental Challenges in Young Children: A Scoping Review Towards Rethinking Digital Habits (Preprint)

“…7 Also, the occurrence of watching television, one of the most amicable forms of screen media, exceeding 2 hours per day was perceived to be 83% in the US, 78% in Australia, and 82% in Canada amongst toddlers between 2 to 5 years, leading to a noticeably sedentary lifestyle within roughly 34% to 94% of children. 8,9 In today's complex socio-economic landscape, it is also imperative to emphasize the array of obstructions modern parents face in regulating their offspring's activities. With different types of responsibilities and no scope of constant supervision, screen devices have appeared as a convenient alternative, serving as a helping hand for struggling parents leading to nearly 70% of parents disregarding the AAP's recommendations.…”