{"id":35189,"date":"2021-11-18T14:52:26","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T13:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exerens.com\/sleep-disturbance-in-children-and-use-of-electronic-devices\/"},"modified":"2021-11-18T14:52:35","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T13:52:35","slug":"sleep-disturbance-in-children-and-use-of-electronic-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exerens.com\/en\/sleep-disturbance-in-children-and-use-of-electronic-devices\/","title":{"rendered":"Sleep disturbance in children and use of electronic devices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Article taken from a publication by Dr. Emanuela Malorgio<\/em>National coordinator of the Sleep Study Group – FIMP (Italian Federation of Pediatricians)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

In recent years a lot has been written on the indiscriminate use of electronic devices (devices)<\/strong> as a cause of sleep<\/strong> disorders and neuro-development disorders<\/strong> , in particular of school learning<\/a><\/strong> in children and adolescents<\/strong> (1).<\/p>\n\n

According to an American review, devices<\/strong> are present in the bedrooms of<\/strong> 75% of children and 90% of adolescents;<\/strong> moreover, about 60% of the adolescents interviewed report viewing or interacting with screens in the hours preceding sleep (2).<\/p>\n\n

A recent systematic review of 67 studies on the time of use of the screen and the media in young people and adolescents (1999-2014), showed in 90% of the population examined, a reduction in total sleep time with a consequent sleep deprivation, linked to to<\/strong> the use of evening and night devices<\/strong> (3).<\/p>\n\n

The regular use of devices by children is also widespread in Italy<\/strong> as in many other European and non-European countries (in Ireland, for example, recent studies have shown that one in two children uses touchscreen devices every day).<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n

But little has been written about younger children<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n

Yet it is common experience how widespread the use of smartphones, tablets<\/strong> , televisions and PCs as “babysitter” is<\/strong> among children even younger than one year.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

A study by the FIMP (Italian Federation of Pediatricians) in 2016 highlighted how 1 in 5 children<\/strong> between 1 and 5 years old uses a device every day and has correlated this use with a sleep deprivation that is based on the reduction of the total time of sleep itself and on the greater latency to sleep (time of falling asleep).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The ways in which the devices cause a sleep disorder<\/strong> in young children<\/strong> do not differ from those relating to adolescence:<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>\n\n
  1. the evening use of the devices extends the latency time to falling asleep<\/strong> by reducing the total time of sleep;<\/li>
  2. the content of what the device normally offers (movies, cartoons, violent and \/ or fast games) excites the CNS<\/strong> , increases the level of cognitive arousal, stimulating excitatory neurotransmitters<\/strong> and counteracting o delaying the secretion of sleep-inducing substances<\/strong> : furthermore, playing with a touchscreen device with a higher level of interactivity could be more stimulating than simply looking at a stationary device with a non-interactive screen;<\/li>
  3. the light emitted by the videos (especially blue light) reduces the production of endogenous melatonin<\/strong> , through the stimulation of the photo-neuro-endocrine system.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n

    The American Academy of Pediatrics<\/strong> , after reviewing existing literature on traditional and new media, has published 2016 guidelines recommending families to avoid any use of digital media by children up to 24 months<\/strong> , limiting the use of the screen to 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5<\/strong> always choosing programs with good quality content.<\/p>\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n
    \"Little<\/figure>\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n

    Surely these can be advice that is not easy to accept by parents, but two very important aspects must be considered:<\/p>\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n