There is a definite connection between A.D.H.D (Attention Defecit Hyperactive Disorder) and watching television. With more and more children spending hours in front of the television either playing video games or just watching TV, there seem to be more instances of ADHD occuring. However, there is still much debate over whether excessive watching of TV has a causal effect on ADHD occuring in a child or if it is a consequential occurence as a result of having ADHD to begin with. There is much information on both sides of the debate as pointed out in an article in NYTimes. On the one hand, if a child has ADHD, they are more likely to be socially inept in the classroom and have difficulty learning. As a result of this, they may retreat to the TV to escape their social woes outside their house and also escape from the textbooks that they have trouble learning from. Children with ADHD have no problem recalling facts and remembering things, the problem arises with cause and effect. They have trouble putting together cause and effect and as such, learning becomes difficult and social interactions are most times fumbled through because they can't see the overall picture. By watching TV, it alleviates some of the symptoms they experience with ADHD. Although brief, this speaks to the consequential occurence of watching TV in children that are already suspected to have ADHD.
But what about children who don't exhibit any signs of defecit disorder until they start watching TV or playing video games excessively? There is also evidence to suggest that there may also be a reverse effect in which children who are glued to the screen begin to exhibit signs of defecit disorders. This happens due to the rapid changing of scenes on the screen in which gratification comes in more frequent spurts than it normally would in every day life. This affects the dopamine delivery system in the brain forcing it to pump out more dopamine on a regular basis and thus when the child or teenager goes to interact in the real world, it may seem dull and boring compared to television and they may develop problems with social interaction and learning. By increasing the dopamine delivery in the brain in more frequent intervals on a regular basis, it changes the brains chemistry to the point where it may never return to normal function. This is proven to have effects reaching into the college years of children and possibly beyond if not adressed early enough.
Regardless of which side you support, which side you have seen effect children, the overwhelming determining factor in all of this is family structure and support. If a child has a supporting family who regularly interacts with each other without a television, the children are less likely to retreat to a television. Whether TV and video games causes or is a consequential effect of ADHD, it is a constant factor that can only be adressed at the familial level. No amount of drugs or intervention outside the household will make a difference unless the family itself takes steps to directly make a difference in a child's life. Too often these days, television and video games are relied on as a baby sitter, an easy cure for the temperamental child or the ultimate reward for doing something good. Gone are the days of discipline where a child's actions have a direct effect on what they can or can not do. I have seen it within my own extended family where a child that acts out gets in effect silenced by the television. I believe the saying was, "You know what, if you can't behave, just go watch TV and be quiet." I would hazard to suggest that the child all along just wanted to watch TV and was acting out because he knew how his father would react. Children are very observant and pick up on their parents body language and repeated actions to learn how best to get what they want. I don't believe that is a coincidence that when rewarded with TV, children will act out more to get that "reward".
TV and video games have invaded every aspect of our life from having a place in every room in our house, to our cars, offices, Dr's offices, phones, computers, pda's, tablets...you name it, you can watch TV on it. Soon will be the day when we can just hit a button on the side of our heads and a virtual TV will appear in front of us so we can watch a show while walking down the street. (OK, maybe not so soon, but still, it will probably happen). Parents, granted, lead much busier lives these days often times with both parents working in order to make ends meet. This doesn't make it easier to raise a child, but you know what, if you couldn't handle raising a child, then why have the child. A TV is not a baby sitter and does not know what is best for you child, nor can teach it moral and ethical standards by which to live up to. If a child is constantly glue to the TV screen, they will miss a good portion of their life where they could be learning to interact socially with others and learn about body language and the subtle signs of human conversation that they can not learn through TV or video games. Television and video games will not go away at this point, but parents can make an effort to reduce the influence they have in their own homes and maybe as a result, improve their child's cognitive function both in the social world and in the classroom. If you have a child and you use the TV as a babysitter, think twice before you just plop them in front of the TV so you can get some rest. Parents are not supposed to get rest. They are supposed to be constantly tired and stressed out trying to raise their child to the best of their ability. While having a child may be the best times of your life, they are also most likely, the most tiring. Raising a child isn't easy and by using TV and video games, parents are probably making it harder in the long run by causing the child to develop defecit syndromes. My suggestion, shut off the TV and take your child for a walk outside, the fresh air might actually do them some good.
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