Srinagar, Jan 21: Kashmir is witnessing a noticeable surge in virtual autism cases among children as reported by Child Guidance and Wellbeing Centre (CGWC) which runs under the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) at SMHS Hospital in Srinagar.
The shift to online learning and increased screen time during the pandemic has contributed to this concerning trend, raising awareness about the potential impact of extended digital exposure on children’s neurodevelopment in the region.
Dr Bilal, a Clinical Psychologist at CGWC, said the centre has so far reported 189 diagnosed cases of autistic children registered cases from 2019-2021.
In the year 2022, 75 children with autism had been registered. Till December 2023, 78 children were registered with autism. “Over the last two years, we have seen around 50 percent to 60 percent of children with virtual autism. It has been seen mostly in nuclear families with both parents working,” he said.
As per doctors, virtual autism is a condition believed to manifest in young children aged below three years due to prolonged exposure to screens, resulting in symptoms resembling autism.
“In the Kashmir context, excessive screen time, encompassing smartphones, tablets, computers, and television, elevates the risk of virtual autism in toddlers. Limited real-world interactions and insufficient physical play contribute to this phenomenon,” said Dr Zaid Wani, Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, IMHANS, who is also heading the CGWC.
To prevent virtual autism, he suggested parents to prioritize social interactions, encourage physical activities and promote hands-on exploration over excessive screen use. Modelling healthy technology habits is crucial in mitigating the risk.
Dr Zaid said that following the surge in online activities during the Covid-19 times, there has been a notable increase in reported cases of virtual autism among children, emphasizing the impact of excessive screen usage within families.
As per the report of the CGWC-IMHANS which was sponsored by UNICEF, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is about 2.34 percent among children under the age group of four to six years in the valley.
“A multidisciplinary approach, including speech therapy, remedial education, occupational therapy, behavioural modification and parental management training, is highly recommended for effectively addressing issues related to virtual autism,” Dr Zaid said.
Virtual autism is a phrase formulated in 2018 by Marius Teodor Zamfir, a Romanian psychologist. He found that children from 0-3 years, who stared at screens for over four hours a day, had “sensory-motor and socio-affective deprivation”.
Encourage outdoor play, physical activities: Docs
Dr Suhail Naik, Assistant Professor New Children Hospital, GMC Srinagar, said kids are susceptible to cell phone addiction and it is the responsibility of the parents to keep them away from its excessive usage. “As per American Academy of Paediatrics guidelines, the recommended screen time below 2 years of age should be zero and after 2 years of age, it should be 1 hour in a day,” he said.
Unfortunately, parents give smartphones to their kids to calm them, feed them and keep them glued to their phones without spending a positive time with their children, he said.
“Parents must understand that it is highly addictive and might have an unfavourable impact on a child’s development. Though it is a daunting task to keep your children away from gadgets, it may result in withdrawal symptoms including low appetite and temper tantrums,” he said.
Dr Naik suggested parents to ensure that the child allocates ample time away from technology within the home environment, encouraging outdoor play and other physical pursuits. “If excessive screen time is a concern, contemplate imposing restrictions on device usage. Actively participating in activities alongside your child serves as an excellent strategy to guarantee that physical games are not only enjoyable but also sufficiently stimulating to maintain their interest,” he said.
