| Abstract [eng] |
Relevance: The increasing prevalence of autism spectrum disorder and intensive media use in childhood highlight the need to investigate their impact on cognitive functions, communication, and self-expression of children with autism spectrum disorder. There is a lack of comprehensive studies assessing the specifics and qualitative aspects of media use in this population. The aim: To determine the characteristics of media use in children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3-11 years and to assess the impact of media on children's cognitive functions, communication and self-expression. The objectives: 1. To review the characteristics of media use in children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3-11 years; 2. To evaluate the impact of media on cognitive functions, communication and self-expression in children with autism spectrum disorder aged 3-11 years, while using and after media use; 3. To reveal the cognitive, communication and self-expression problems of children aged 3-11 with autism spectrum disorder and to assess their links to media use. Research methods: A quantitative study using a one-time questionnaire based on the PedsQL, CCC-2, PVQ, DSEQ, and SCREENS-Q scales. The study included parents raising children aged 3–11 years. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.1 and Microsoft Office Excel 2020. Results: The majority of respondents are working-aged women living in Vilnius or Kaunas, with a bachelor's degree and 1 or 2 children in the family, at least one of whom is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The majority of children are school-age boys with mild to moderate autism spectrum disorder. The characteristics of children's media use, cognitive functions, communication and self-expression during and after media use, and the links between these functions and media use were assessed. Statistically significant correlations were found between time spent using media and the impact on the aforementioned functions. Conclusions: 1. It was found that children aged 3-11 with autism spectrum disorder most often use television (89.47%) and smartphones (68.42%), using them on average up to 1.5 hours on weekdays, up to 2 hours on weekends per day. Most children watch movies, animated movies (95%), play games (89%), watch videos on "YouTube" (82%). Most children use media with parental control modes (42.11%) or with parental supervision (31.58%). 2. According to parents, it has been found that media has an impact on the cognitive functions, communication and self-expression of children aged 3-11 with autism spectrum disorder. During media use, children have difficulty concentrating (47.37%), reaction slows down (65.79%), have difficulty stopping activities (44.74%), prefer not to interact with other peers (68.42%) or adults (57.9%), the child's behaviour changes either for the worse (44.74%) or for the better (42.11%). After media use, children have difficulty changing activities (44.74%), their behaviour changes for the worse (42.11%) or for the better (36.84%), and no impact on communication has been identified. 3. Correlational analysis revealed correlations between time spent using media and cognitive functions, communication and self-expression. Longer time spent using a tablet was associated with negative effects on attention, reaction speed, task switching ability and memory, use of the "TikTok" application was associated with unclear speech, difficulty understanding what is being said and a lower desire to communicate, while watching TV and "YouTube" was associated with positive effects on the child's behaviour. |
