TV and ADHD... discuss...

Though family genetics may be partly responsible for
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, researchers believe environmental
factors play a bigger role.


Television affects a child’s ability to pay attention.

Researchers have found that the more television children watch, the more
likely they are to later become fidgety, impulsive and have difficulty
concentrating—all core symptoms of ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder, sometimes abbreviated ADD). A study published in the April 2004
issue of Pediatrics concluded that exposure to television in children aged
1- to 3-years-old increased the risk of developing attention-related
problems at age 7. In follow-up studies, the researchers found that early TV
viewing was also associated with cognitive trouble and problems in school as
children aged.


The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children 2
and under.

Dr. Dimitri Christakis, an author of the above-mentioned study, explains,
“Children’s brains triple in size during the first two years of life. There
is an explosion of infant TV viewing now—we’re in the midst of a national,
uncontrolled experiment on the next generation of children, and the truth is
we just don’t know enough. We’re exposing them to an enormous amount of
media at an age when their brains are developing very rapidly.”

Christakis, a professor of pediatrics and co-author of The Elephant in the
Living Room: Make Television Work for Your Kids, conversely notes that TV is
associated with improved school performance when viewed by children between
the ages of 3 and 5. By this point the kids have already crossed a crucial
threshold in developing cognitive abilities and language skills.



The editing and pacing of a show can overwhelm the viewer.

That zoned-out, transfixed gaze that comes over your kid’s face is the
precise effect intended by many TV producers. When fast edits and scene
changes flash across the screen, the brain works hard to comprehend them.
Because the cuts are so unlike real life or real time, the viewer is focused
but not actually concentrating or comprehending. This phenomenon, known as
the orienting reflex, may contribute to a child’s impatience with our slow
and impossibly dull real world.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

My constant question with these sort of studies is -- Aren't parents of easily bored children more likely to show TV in order to occupy an otherwise difficult child? Would the same trait be what is likely to later lead to a diagnosis of ADHD?

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

Message edited 5/18/2007 3:21:16 PM.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I really, really want to keep DD away from the TV for as long as possible. My brother has ADHD, and I also suspect that my mom has it. I have attention problems too, though I don't know if I'd go so far as to say I have it too.

BUT I think (in my very unscientific opinion) that ADHD comes more from genetics. My mother was never big on endless tv watching for any of us, and my brother was very physically active. I don't think that he was affected one way or the other.

I'm a new mom so I hope I don't get flamed for this, but I've observed that some parents (friends/family I know) want to keep their kids constantly stimulated- they never get a chance to get bored. And for me as a kid, I think that being bored was not a bad thing, because I had to learn to entertain myself and use my imagination. So maybe these things lead to habits that make it hard for kids to pay attention, but I don't think it's always necessarily ADHD.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I feel very comfortable saying this as a special education teacher....everything in moderation. I do not see a problem with a child watching some television, but I do have a problem with parents using it as a babysitter. Hours and hours of it a day...no way. I think if they watch too much television as many do forget about the adhd and lets talk about child obesity. I say get them out moving around.

My 4 month old has watched Baby Einstein...but he also plays with me, anyone else around, his toys, i read him books, we look out the window, go for walks...etc. Like i said everything in moderation.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

As someone who parked herself in front of the TV set at an early age & continued to the worry of my parents, I don't have ADHD.

I think there is a predisposition that worsens when ignored or placated with TV.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

From a mother with a child with ADHD, I do NOT believe it comes from watching TV. She was born with this and did not happen because of something she did.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I don't have my baby watch TV. I read the ADHD articles, I forwarded them to Leo, mainly so he has proof to respect my wishes. That is not the main reason I avoid the TV though.

As a SAHM, I will be honest, its so tempting to put the TV on and cook or clean...I wish I had a tidy apt again. But, I feel he learns so much if I put him in the highchair or bumbo, bring it to the kitchen with me and talk him through what I am doing.

Without TV, we walk the neighborhood a lot, get a lot of fresh air, and see the world.

I am a TV addict. Its no coincidence that he naps at 11 AM, I watch the view. I just want to instill good habits.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

My opinion...I am not against nor for t.v. I put it on once in awhile if I need to take a break and relax with Hailey. Usually if I need to get something done, she follows me around. It is very convenient and sometimes a big help but I monitor what she watches and for how long. As a child, I watched a lot of Sesame Street and I don't have ADHD at all. I also know kids who watch a lot of TV and have it and also kids who don't watch TV and have it. I think there are too many variables.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I dont think television is bad... in moderation. I dont see anything wrong with Barney or Elmo while I am cooking dinner or tidying up the house. I do put Noggin on in the morning, but honestly, he watches maybe, MAYBE 15 min of it here and there. He would rather play with toys, run, climb, jump, and pull things out of my cabinets. I have always had Noggin on in the mornings for him since 2 months old, and he just has no interest really. I think total the TV is on for 2 hrs the whole day.

I am not a big TV watcher though, I watch maybe 2 or 3 shows total in a whole week. But the computer?? Well that's another story for me..

Message edited 5/18/2007 10:53:18 PM.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

DD watches TV.. but it is justi in the background. She does sit still for some shows but other she will watch for 10 min and then go play with something else. BUt she now at the ago where she answers all the questions that Dora, and Mickey mouse are asking

TV has taught her numbers, letters, and she was counting to 5 in spanish by the time she was almost 2.5

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

DS has SEVERE ADHD, and never even saw a television that was turned on until close to his second birthday. His tv viewing continues to be very limited today. (He is almost 6.) I wonder just how bad his ADHD would have gotten if we had let him watch tv.......

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

My mom told me I LIVED in front of the TV from a very early age (my parents were 18 when I was born!she said she didn't know what else to do with me after working all night) and I don't have ADHD.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

We use TV for educational purposes. DS is 4 now, and he rarely spends time in front of the TV without us in the room with him. We interact with him and the show, and make sure he responds to the questions they ask, and ask him other questions. I'll dance with him during some of the songs, and we'll reenact some scenes from some of his shows. I think TV can be a good thing if used properly. I honestly think it's helped his imagination, and some of his language skills. We have the closed captioning running on the TV (we're not deaf, but when you have a 4 year old talking incessantly, and a 1 year old crying, it's sometimes the only way to be able to watch a show... ). DS is picking up a lot of words from the closed captioning.
As has been mentioned before, everything in moderation. He has a limit on how much TV he watches, and we spend as much time outside as we can, and we play in his room with his toys when we can't go outside.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I do not think that TV creates ADHD children - ADHD is a genetic predisposition that will develop no matter what the circumstances.

But, with that said, I prefer that Alex not watch TV. Yes, it's easy to calm her down, or to clean up around the house if she would just plop in front of the tv and watch it mindlessly, but I think that does a huge disservice to her. I'd rather she play outside, with friends, read her books, or play inside with me, than receive her stimulation from a television.

I was raised that way - only 30 minutes of TV allowed a day, and as a result, I barely watch TV as an adult, and prefer to do things outside, or hands-on things inside when the weather is bad.

We don't restrict her, but we don't offer TV often - she doesn't seem to like it all that much anyway.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I think everything in moderation. TV is not the devil. Sometimes kids need downtime. DD doesn't need me in her face all the time entertaining her. Sometimes she just wants to watch a show. She is healthy, active, smart, and good-natured. I think it's ok to put the TV on once in a while.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

Im so of all these studies and the government trying to blames things.
We watched tv a lot and all of us are fine

Message edited 5/21/2007 9:32:15 AM.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

My son didn't watch a lot of TV when he was younger and he has ADHD. NOW he wants to watch it all the time, but I limit it GREATLY.

There was also a recent study done that showed school age children who watch TV or play video games during the week do worse on their school work than children who don't do either. They stated that viewing and gaming on the weekend had no effect on the school work.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

I watched TV from an early age and so did my brother and neither one of us have ADHD. I'm sorry but I think its just another excuse a parent is looking for to blame on. Just like the whole autism and vaccines. studies are done b/c someone believes strongly about something but there is no scientific proof.
I let DD watch TV she absolutely loves it, she talks and sings to the TV , she gets excited and reacts to it, even the computer. Its all about moderation.

she also gets stimulation from other things as well, her toys, reading time, going outside etc. I believe every little thing helps.
and watching videos like baby einstein is the same as watching tv.

I have to add this too, my brother used to come home from shcool and play video games every chance he got for hours- he has the BEST coordination and has a masters degree in teaching, so its a load of crap.
Did anyone read the study recently how they feel that children who do play video games will become great surgeons? due to coordination?

Message edited 5/21/2007 11:06:15 AM.

Re: TV and ADHD... discuss...

Posted by girlygrl33

I watched TV from an early age and so did my brother and neither one of us have ADHD. I'm sorry but I think its just another excuse a parent is looking for to blame on. Just like the whole autism and vaccines. studies are done b/c someone believes strongly about something but there is no scientific proof.
I let DD watch TV she absolutely loves it, she talks and sings to the TV , she gets excited and reacts to it, even the computer. Its all about moderation.

she also gets stimulation from other things as well, her toys, reading time, going outside etc. I believe every little thing helps.
and watching videos like baby einstein is the same as watching tv.

I have to add this too, my brother used to come home from shcool and play video games every chance he got for hours- he has the BEST coordination and has a masters degree in teaching, so its a load of crap.
Did anyone read the study recently how they feel that children who do play video games will become great surgeons? due to coordination?