The Reach of Television and In-Person Behavioural Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): An Comparitive Assessment

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to typically developing controls and children with delayed language development (DLD), in order to determine the pattern and degree of television viewing in ASD children.

Methodology: A total of 84 controls (mean age 2.43 ± 0.81 years) and 54 ASD patients (mean age 2.56 ± 0.66 years) were enrolled. In our earlier study, 56 people with DLD who had language developmental levels comparable to those with ASD were included. The primary outcome indicators encompassed the frequency and beginning of television viewing, together with the programme genre and the presence of carer co-watching.

Findings: Individuals with ASD started watching TV considerably earlier than controls (6.44 ± 6.35 vs. 12.41 ± 6.00 months of age, p $ 0.0001*) and watched TV for longer (4.60 vs. ± 1.91 vs. 3.05 ± 1.90 h ⁄ day, p £ 0.0001*) and controls (4.60 ± 1.91 vs. 2.06 ± 1.21 h ⁄ day, p £ 0.0001*). Those with ASD appeared to watch more adult program than normal controls, and they were less likely to watch television with caregivers than both control groups.

Conclusion: There is an earlier onset and higher frequency of television viewing in autistic children compared with children with typical development.