Technology-dependant kids face speech development problems, claim experts

The trouble nowadays is the increasing cases of speech delay and lack of communication. At least a share of the blame should go to digital technology that drastically changed the way children grew up, said Prakash Boominathan, professor and head, Department of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, Sri Ramachandra University of Higher Education and Research.

“With the increase in technology, children are too distracted and regular communication is simply lacking. Neighbourhood play is almost extinct in many communities today. They do not even play with the regular toys anymore, and thus there are much lesser chances of them using their imagination and creativity,” he said.

From repetitive behaviour and difficulty in communication, besides lack of smile or eye contact, the parameters are clear in identifying autism. Because of this, there is a lot of confusion among parents these days when the children are at a very young age, Boominathan added. “By the time the child reaches three or four years of age, the confusion is lesser.” On the other hand, there is an increase in awareness on autism and its symptoms, especially among young parents, who tend to misread these symptoms as confirmation that their child has the condition.

“Most families have both the parents working with them not having much time to spend in interacting with their children. Besides, parents are not quite comfortable sending their children outside their house either, giving them the alternative of mobile phones and Play Stations,”said speech therapist K Gunasekaran.

“Parents do not know how to play with their kids and hence the children tend to become dependent on screens. These tend to result in the rise of autistic tendencies among the children, which are apparently being diagnosed as autism,” he said.

Agreed professor Boominathan, “There are a number of tests that need to be carried out before a specialist can confirm the diagnosis. However, it could prove difficult if the parents approach someone who does not have much experience in this field.