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Scientists have looked at recovery factors in children with concussion. Banning them from screen use in the recovery phase, as is often the case, is proving to be rather harmful.
The screen time given to children is a theme that comes up daily in every home, and which is far from making everyone agree. But if the studies agree that too much screen time in a child’s daily life can harm their development, and in more specific cases, can also harm their recovery from a concussion, the ban Screensaver plain and simple doesn’t seem to be the solution. On the contrary: prohibiting screens would thus have no impact on recovery. Worse, denying children and teenagers this link with their surroundings would make them more psychologically fragile. The study is published in the journal Pediatrics this October 17.
Disallowing screens during recovery is not necessary
To reach this finding, the Canadian study, led by UBC University and the University of Calgary, looked for links between the self-reported screen time of more than 700 children aged 8 to 16 over the course of 7 to the first 10 days following an injury and symptoms reported by them and their caregivers over the following six months.
Data was also cross-referenced between children and teenagers who suffered a concussion or an orthopedic injury, such as a broken arm, in order to compare their recoveries with the group that had concussions and the effect of the screen.
At this term, the children whose concussion symptoms disappeared the fastest were not those who had not had the right to screens, but those who had spent a moderate amount of time in front of the screen. Children with minimal screen time recovered more slowly. “Our results show that the common recommendation to avoid smartphones, computers and TVs as much as possible may not be best for children.” said Dr. Molly Cairncross, assistant professor at Simon Fraser University who led the research.
And the reason is probably to be found on the social side of the child: “Children use smartphones and computers to stay in touch with their peers, so removing these screens altogether could lead to feelings of disconnection, loneliness and lack of social support” continues Dr. Molly Cairncross
Screen time is not the most impacting factor
Following these young patients over a period of 6 months has led to other interesting discoveries: “Screen time during the early recovery period has little bearing on long-term health outcomes.” continue the authors of the study. “After 30 days, children who suffered a concussion or other type of injury reported similar symptoms, regardless of their early screen use in this recovery time.” The researchers also observed that screen time appeared to have less of an impact on symptoms than other factors such as the patient’s gender, age, sleep patterns, physical activity, or pre-existing symptoms. .
The psychiatrist Lucie Joly, consulted on the subject, notes that this study is contradictory with what we have read until recently. But its results prove in the end that it is a question here of balancing the benefit and the disadvantages of the place of the screen:
“Whether we are brain damaged or not, excessive screen use has deleterious effects on sleep, anxiety, social interaction. But in the case of children suffering from head trauma, hospitalized, isolated, likely, as we know, to suffer from depression, using their smartphone in moderation will give them the feeling of being in touch with their classmates, of remaining in school life, of being reassured. untimely use which turns out to be dangerous, not the screen” she confirms.
As for the psychological care of a traumatized child, the psychiatrist recognizes that she will focus more on positive advice, lifestyle and dietary rules (how to sleep better, rest, resume an activity) to accompany the child and its recovery.
“It seems to me much more important than a “zero smartphone” type measure, the principle of prohibition of which does not really have any advantages.
All suggest, however, that this use must respond, like so many others, to a principle of moderation and support.