Duration of watching TV and child language development in young children
Abstract: Many factors
contribute to language development in children. About 5-8% of children in
Indonesia experience delayed language skills. Young children need appropriate
stimulation for optimal development. Children who watch television (TV) for
long periods of time may receive less two-way interaction, the appropriate
stimulation for learning. As such, shorter duration of the appropriate
stimulation may impede language development in small children.
Objective To assess for an association between duration of watching TV
and language development in young children.
Methods This cross-sectional study was done with primary data collected
from questionnaires. Subjects, aged 18 months to 3 years, were from a
Jakarta-area community health center (Puskesmas) Jatinegara and the Pediatric
Growth and Development Clinic, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. Their
language development was tested using the Developmental Pre-screening
Questionnaire (Kuesioner Pra Skrining Perkembangan, KPSP) and the Early
Language Milestone (ELM Scale 2) test.
Results From a total of 84 subjects, 47 (56%) had normal and 37 (44%) had
delayed language development. Duration of watching TV was categorized as <4
hours per day or >4 hours per day. Children who watched TV >4 hours/day
(OR 4.4; 95%CI 1.68 to 11.7; P=0.002), and children who watched both Indonesian
and English language TV programs (OR 14.7; 95%CI 1.77 to 123.0; P=0.004) had
higher risk of language delay. Other variables such as sex, first age exposed
to TV, use of gadgets, and TV in the bedroom had no significant associations
with delayed language development.
Conclusion Children who watch TV >4 hours/day had four times higher
risk of developing language delay. In addition, those who watch TV programs in
both Indonesian and English, also have a 14.7 higher risk of delayed language
development.
Keywords: child TV viewing;
duration of watching TV; delayed language development
Author: Silva Audya Perdana,
Bernie Endyarni Medise, Erni Hernawati Purwaningsih
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg170139
