Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effects of speech therapy on children with virtual autism based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
Setting and Duration:
Methodology: This prospective descriptive study was conducted in the Outpatient departments of Ali Medical Centre and KRL Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2020 to December 2022. A total of 30 children under 10 years old, with speech delays, spending more than 5 hours on screens per 24 hours, and diagnosed with autism, were enrolled. These children received early intervention in the form of speech and behavior therapies for one year, followed by reassessment. After one year of follow-up, significant improvements were observed in speech and behavior when screen time was reduced to 30 minutes or less.
Results: The mean age of the children in the study was 4.028 ± 1.99 years. The chief complaint at presentation was speech delay in 21 (70%) children. The distribution of behavior as measured by the Questionnaire for Autism in Toddlers (QABF) scale showed that the majority (10, 33.3%) of children presented with aggression. The ADOS assessments revealed that the majority of the children (14, 46.7%) had mild autism, followed by 9 (30%) with moderate autism. After receiving speech therapy for 10 months to 1 year, the repeated ADOS tests showed that among these children, 24 (80%) no longer exhibited behaviors indicative of autism, while 3 (10%) children had borderline autism, and 3 (10%) had mild autism.
Conclusion: Excessive screen time can lead to autism-like symptoms in young children, which are reversible through early intervention therapies. This effect is more pronounced in children under 5 years old.