Today’s children are more exposed to screens as compared to the previous generation. Whether it is a Smartphone or a tablet, television or a computer, screens are much a part of their lives today. Technology provides the benefits of education and entertainment in society today, especially when very young children spend so much time on screens, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “virtual autism”. In case you are looking for the best autism doctor in Thane, then you must look forward to Dr Tetgure’s Healthcare Clinic, as it has specialized doctors to provide effective results. 

What is Virtual Autism?

Screen addiction is another term that has been used for a set of behaviors that manifest like autistic-like behaviors in young children after spending most of their formative years in front of screens. The idea came a long time ago when some health workers realized that certain children who were autistic in this case did not have any neurological cause but symptoms that were similar to those of children who spend long hours with screen devices.

Signs of Virtual Autism You Must Know 

We figured out that children with virtual autism may display some of the characteristics of children with traditional autism.

 Key signs include:

•     Delayed Speech and Communication: Children may be still in the development stage of constructing their speech and might even have a few words stock. The parents may find it difficult to comprehend social signals as well as reach the appropriate response to them.
•     Lack of Eye Contact: It may also be difficult for such children to make eye contact especially when they are interacting.
•     Repetitive Behaviours: Repetitive movements, for instance, spinning of objects or flapping of hands, are some of the signs to look out for.
•     Difficulty in Social Interactions: They may prefer loneliness, act aggressively, have poor conversations and they may play alone or with no interest at all.
•     Limited Interest in Real-world Activities: Here, a child tends to spend a lot of time in front of screens at the expense of gross motor activities, reading or other healthy interactions.

If you live in Thane or the neighboring areas, it is advisable to take your child to an autism doctor in Thane for better clarification and advice.

Preliminary Causes of Virtual Autism

Virtual autism is attributed to the continual use of tablets, smartphones, and televisions particularly in children below three years of age. 

These years form the stages of brain development and are the most formative as the brain is growing rapidly and is extremely sensitive to outside influences. 

Excessive screen time can limit a child’s opportunities for crucial developmental activities such: Staring at the screen for long periods garners a negative effect on how much a child can be occupied with other very crucial developmental activities including:

•     Face-to-Face Interactions: This is so because any human being needs to be in contact with his fellow humans in order to be in a position to learn how to communicate as well as develop interpersonal skills.
•     Physical Play: Shifting around and traveling lets a child develop many motor skills and cognitive aspects.
•     Creative Play: Imaginative play enhances problem-solving abilities and emotional well-being.

Therefore, children do not acquire the necessary skills to deal with their surroundings effectively if these developmental activities are replaced with passive screen time. Having said all of this, it is reasonable to claim that symptoms resembling autism may result from this kind of seclusion.

Best Treatment Options You Must Look Forward 

In cases where you think your child is developing signs of virtual autism, then it should be addressed as soon as possible. This is true because, as a rule, timely intervention can help bring about positive changes, and delay means worsening of the situation. Here are some treatment options:

•     Reduce Screen Time: Generalize this process and gradually reduce your child’s screen time. Promote more of the physical and the interactive forms of play instead.
•     Increase Social Interactions: Spend more time with your child having face-to-face communication with family members or friends. The only skills that can make a significant difference are playing, reading, and conversing with kids.
•     Structured Play Therapy: Occupational therapists can assist a child in making an appropriate play to enhance social, motor, and cognitive areas. In Thane, families are encouraged to look for specialized clinics including Dr. Tetgure’s  Healthcare where people with autism can be treated.
• Speech & Language Therapy: If a kid exhibits a speech delay, a speech therapist can help them develop appropriate communication skills. 
• Occupational therapy: This type of therapy helps improve a child’s hand-eye coordination, item grasping, manipulating skills, and ability to carry out functional tasks in their surroundings.

For better health treatment, you must choose the get the best autism treatment in Thane. Probably, it is why clinics like our Dr Tetgure Healthcare Clinic, feature a broad list of services that can be used depending on the child’s necessities.

Conclusion

There is increasing concern about virtual autism in children in our society today but with proper diagnosis and the right input, a child can progress well, enormously. If you have concerns about your child’s screen habits and their effects the next step to take is to seek advice from an expert in autism treatment in Thane. If your child has some difficulties at a certain stage of his or her development, don’t wait for further complications, consult today!