Effects of Gadgets on Children with Special needs

Posted by: Ms. Sai Harika Boppana,
                  Consultant Speech Pathologist,
                  Dhara Speech Therapy Clinic.

                        There's been lot of discussions and research articles on effect of gadgets on children, where one group says it hinders child development and the other group says it enhances child development. Now parents are skeptical about it!! and I get a lot of questions around the same. Let me share my thoughts around the same.

                        The questions that arise during speech and language intervention process of a child with special needs,
1) How to get the attention of a child with Autism to listen what is being said?
2) A child who has no interest in any of the toys around how can one stimulate language learning?
3) How to make a reluctant child speak?

                       One answer for the above questions is the use of gadgets and technology. Gadgets can help therapists and parents to get attention of the child. Based on child's interests one can make use of gadgets in an appropriate way to teach speech and language skills. Children might throw tantrums when a gadget is given and taken from them. In such instances if gadgets are taken away or completely stopped children loose interest and will try to escape or avoid the work. Child will not have any motivation to learn new skills. When the gadget is introduced child gets back his attention and in an urgency to get access he/she will respond to the instructions placed. But a question arises there if a child is really learning skills or is it just rote learning. Parents should always make sure that they interact with their child verbally by commenting on what they are watching or playing and also by asking questions about it. Parents should also monitor if the child is generalization the skills learnt during gadget time to other contexts. Ex: if a child has learnt to say "switch on" for tab he/she should be taught to generalize it for T.V and other electronic devices.

             As gadgets can be used to teach different language skills, we should also know how to manage the use of it as prolonged exposure to gadgets might lead to health issues. One can limit the duration of exposure to gadgets by making a  time schedule for it and also by introducing it intermittently. An important aspect to teach children while using gadgets is the "concept of finished". Teaching to wait for the access also will help in reducing tantrums. For children who have difficulty in understanding the concept of finished, parents can use visual schedule.

            Gadgets are not the only way to get child's attention. It is one of the ways that help to build and maintain attention and to create motivation to learn. It can be introduced in intervals during therapy sessions and NET(Natural Environment Teaching). Many parents told me that it was very difficult to control the child to take gadgets from others' house when they visit their friends and relatives. This happens because the child has been deprived of using gadgets and as soon as they see it in others' place they try to get access to it which puts parents in an awkward situation. Hence it's better to allot some gadget time at home.

The effect of gadgets whether it is positive or negative depends on how appropriately it is being used and duration of exposure. In this world where we are surrounded by technology and gadgets it's very hard to keep children away. Hence it has to be used wisely.