Screen Time Tied to Speech Delay

An analysis of data concerning nearly 900 young children revealed that for each 30-minute increase in time a child spends on a smartphone, tablet, or electronic device at 18 months of age, they have a 49% elevated risk for expressive speech delay. According the American Academy of Pediatrics, expressive language is the ability to convey feelings and information. Of concern to the researchers is that 20% of the children in the study spent an average of 28 minutes per day in front of a screen. Pediatric Academic Society, May 2017