Following children in Japan from a group of 84,000 mother-child dyads, the study found that screen time of 2 to 4 hours a day at age 1, for boys, was associated with a 3.5 times risk of developing autism by age 3.

With data from the National Children’s Study, researchers from Drexel University found that an exposure to screens before 2 years of age was associated with a higher likelihood of developing atypical sensory processing behaviors.

Researchers studied 29,461 child-caregiver pairs at kindergartens in Longhua New District, Shenzhen, China and revealed that watching screens at a younger age, spending more time on screens each day, and having more years of screen exposure were all linked to more autistic-like behaviors in preschoolers.

After two months of parent-child interaction, parents reported improved communication with their children, reduced screen time, and a noticeable decrease in behaviors that were repetitive, which are often associated with autism.

A first-hand case study of a boy showing autism symptoms at 2 years, including challenges with communication, fine motor, problem-solving and personal-social relationships, found that at 3 years old the boy lost most symptoms after screens were removed and replaced with social interaction.

While genetics play a role, studies indicate that environmental factors, including exposure to screens, may also contribute to the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Importantly, the model suggests that early intervention can have positive effects.