Patient H.T. (5 years old, Dong Nai province) was taken by her grandmother to Children's Hospital 2 for examination in a state of slow communication, little interaction with relatives. Due to the circumstances of her mother having to go to work since she was young, all activities and care are taken care of by her grandmother. To have time to do housework, she often lets children use phones or watch TV, causing her to gradually withdraw and limit communication.
“Before, when I started speaking, I used simple words like grandma, mother... but around the age of 3, I almost didn't communicate or interact with relatives. My mother was busy working all the time, so the two grandmothers and grandchildren took care of each other,” shared the grandmother of patient T.
Through examination, doctors diagnosed the child with autism spectrum disorder and requiring long-term intervention. However, because the child has passed the "golden stage" from 0 to 3 years old, intervention will be more difficult. However, doctors still recommend that families need to persevere in treatment to help children have the opportunity to integrate into life in the future.
According to BS.CK2 Nguyen Thanh Sang - Head of the Interdisciplinary Department, Children's Hospital 2 HCMC, children using too many electronic devices such as phones, tablets, and TVs is causing many worrying consequences.
Electronic devices emitting blue light can reduce drowsiness, making children tired and affecting sleep quality. In addition, constantly bending over when using a phone also increases the risk of cervical spine problems in young children.
Not only affecting physical health, excessive exposure to electronic devices also makes children easily drawn into the virtual world, reduce communication with those around them and tend to live a withdrawn life. This prolonged condition can lead to psychological disorders such as depression or attention deficit hyperactivity.
Notably, recently, Children's Hospital 2 has received many cases of children with Tic syndrome, a form of motor disorder that causes children to repeat uncontrolled actions, most commonly continuous blinking. According to BS.CK2 Nguyen Thanh Sang, the main cause of this condition is often related to children using phones for a long time.
Many parents said that they often show their children their phones when eating to "lure" them to eat or keep them sitting still. However, this habit inadvertently causes children to be exposed to electronic devices for hours every day, negatively affecting physical and psychological development.
According to experts, in cases of mild Tic syndrome, limiting or stopping the use of electronic devices can help children improve significantly. However, if the condition lasts and worsens, children may face more complex disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity, neurological disorders, and even autism spectrum disorders.
Doctors recommend that parents need to control their children's time using electronic devices, and encourage children to participate in physical activities and direct communication to support comprehensive development both physically and mentally.
