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Children with autism or ADHD spend TWICE as much time playing video games and are more likely to become addicted to them

  • Children with autism and ADHD are at greater risk of gaming addictions
  • Those with autism play video games for an average of 2.1 hours per day
  • Children without autism play video games for an average of 1.2 hours a day
  • Children with autism tend to prefer role-playing games while those without it prefer first-person games

By
Emma Innes


PUBLISHED:

05:39 EST, 1 August 2013

|

UPDATED:

05:39 EST, 1 August 2013

Children with an autism spectrum disorder spend about twice as much time playing video games as those who do not have a developmental disability, according to a new study.

Researchers also found that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD are at an increased risk of gaming addictions, compared to children without the disabilities.

‘What we found is that it looks like addictive gaming is largely driven by inattention,’ Christopher Engelhardt, from the University of Missouri in Columbia, U.S., said.

Children with an autism spectrum disorder spend about twice as much time playing video games as those who do not have a developmental disability

Children with an autism spectrum disorder spend about twice as much time playing video games as those who do not have a developmental disability

Previous studies have found that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD spend more time playing video games and are at increased risk of gaming addictions than other children, the researchers wrote in the journal Paediatrics.

No single study, however, has looked at the three groups to see whether shared features of autism and ADHD – such as inattention or hyperactivity – seem to drive video game use.

For the new study, Mr Engelhardt and his colleague surveyed the parents of 141 boys between the ages of eight and 18. Of those, 56 had an autism spectrum disorder, 44 had ADHD, and 41 were developing normally.

Overall, they found that children with an autism spectrum disorder played – on average – 2.1 hours of video games per day.

Children with ADHD spent about 1.7 hours per day playing video games and normally developing children played about 1.2 hours per day.

Children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD were also more likely to have a video game system in their rooms, according to the researchers.

Children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD are at an increased risk of gaming addictions

Children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD are at an increased risk of gaming addictions

The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that children do not spend more than two hours in front of a screen per day.

The researchers also asked the parents to answer questions about the types of video games their children played the most, about their gaming behaviour, and their symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention.

While normally developing children tended to pick first-person shooter or sports games, children with autism and ADHD were more likely to play role-playing games.

Role-playing games have been linked to video game addiction in previous studies.

The researchers did find that children with an autism spectrum disorder or ADHD were more likely to exhibit symptoms of video game addiction or ‘problematic video game use’, compared to those with typical development.

Overall, they found the number of hours a child spent playing video games and inattention were linked to video game addiction.

‘Among people with autism, the score on problematic video game behaviour was driven by inattention and role-playing video games and not hyperactivity,’ Mr Engelhardt told Reuters Health.

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The comments below have not been moderated.

If you have no imagination, you will never understand the feelings and the emotions that video games can rouse within you. Reality is not OBJECTIVE, reality is SUBJECTIVE.

someone
,

somewhere, United Kingdom,
01/8/2013 23:52

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If a child spent two hours a day running round playing a sport they would not be called obsessed or addictive. So why does two hours at another activity qualify? My son has ASD and ADD and tends to get very attached to laptop or iPod. He is not badly behaved but needs a lot of guidance to make appropriate choices in life such as going to bed rather than playing minecraft all night.

Peanutsmum
,

Ashby, United Kingdom,
01/8/2013 22:37

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Really? Listen if you don’t understand and have experience of asd and ADHD please don’t comment.

You are only showing how ignorant you really are!

Suprise suprise
,

Kent,
01/8/2013 20:57

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As a parent of an autistic child it always saddens me to read judgemental comments . Life is hard ( not that I would abrogate my responsibility to my son , I love him very much ) .
Spend a day or two with a family with an Autistic child and then comment … Most of us are just struggling along the best we can , your derision and criticism of parents is not helpful .

MrsBear
,

UK, United Kingdom,
01/8/2013 20:42

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My wife spends more time than that playing her little Popcap games every day.

Completely Average
,

Somewhere, United States,
01/8/2013 20:03

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This is more demonisation of men and boys.

Thanatos
,

London, United Kingdom,
01/8/2013 18:10

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In reality children who play video games and are addicted to them are diagnosed with ADHD or Autism as a result of the video games…ADHD and Autism are diagnosed far too quickly in children just because they are unsociable this is teaching your children it is acceptable to be like that because of a condition that they may or may not have!!
– Faith Logan, Essex, United Kingdom, 1/8/2013 12:35 My daughter has Autism and is in hospital after nearly starving herself to death because of the sensory issues surrounding her condition. She may have autism but unlike you she is not a b##ot and an ignor##t uninformed person. And no, I am not on benefits and a diagnosis for most children is a long difficult process made worse by people like you.

will
,

uk,
01/8/2013 17:03

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Not just kids with autism/ADHS but many other normal functioning kids too. In fact, playing a popular game, helps them connect and make friends a lot easier and it helps them improve their reading and expand their vocabulary, as many games have extensive background stories. As long it’s not an 18+ ego shooter and said kids are doing well in school, really that’s just fine. If someone fulfills their obligations, they should have some say on how they spend their precious free time anyway, whether it’s a kid or an adult. Just make sure they also read a real book for half an hour or so a day (or read to them if they can’t) and get an hour’s worth of movement.

Zeena
,

Triangle de, Bermuda,
01/8/2013 16:53

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What did this study cost? And wouldn’t that money be better spent finding out what causes autism or how to help children on the spectrum? No it seems like they want to waste funding on surveys like this so that they can tell us useless facts! I know plenty neurotypical kids who play far more than 2.1 hours on games consoles etc. what difference does it actually make?

jane
,

Swinton,
01/8/2013 16:53

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Why is there always a bunch of liberal do gooders that are quick to make excuses for children

JustCallMeDave
,

Guildford, United Kingdom,
01/8/2013 16:36

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