My child with ADHD can sit and watch TV for hours, but I have heard that watching television can cause ADHD. Is this true?

Researchers have recently reported that for every hour a day preschoolers watch television, their risk of developing ADHD increases by about 10%. These new findings are consistent with previous research showing that television can shorten attention spans. Researchers have speculated that TV might actually overstimulate and permanently “rewire” the developing brain.

The newest study on TV watching assessed more than 1000 children. Parents were questioned about the children’s TV watching habits at 1 and 3 years of age. They rated their children’s behavior at age 7 years on a scale commonly used to diagnose ADHD. About 10% met criteria for a diagnosis of ADHD, about the same frequency as is usually found in 7-year-olds. But the 37% of 1-year-olds who watched 1 to 2 hours daily had a 10% to 20% increased risk of attention problems; the 14% who watched 3 to 4 hours daily had a 30% to 40% increased risk compared with children who watched no TV. Among 3-year-olds, only 7% watched no TV, 44% watched 1 to 2 hours daily, 27% watched 3 to 4 hours daily, almost 11% watched 5 to 6 hours daily, and about 10% watched 7 or more hours daily. These children too were at increased risk for ADHD, and the risk was proportionate to how much TV they watched. Although the research has been done on TV watching, the effects of any repetitive non-educational activity or electronic device, such as playing video games, may be the same.

The TV research is compelling enough that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents do not permit children under 2 years of age to watch television because of concerns that it affects early brain growth and the development of social, emotional, and cognitive skills. And there are many other reasons that children should not watch television. For example, TV watching has been associated with obesity and aggressiveness. So, even if it is one of the places your ADHD child will sit quietly, it is best to limit TV watching. You need to be creative about finding other things your child would like to do. Reading to your child or encouraging your child to read alone, even if he is reading sports magazines or comic books, is a better alternative.