Relationship Between Screen Usage and Speech Delay in Children Aged One to Four Years in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Background  Speech delay is the most common developmental issue among preschool children and is diagnosed when speech development is significantly lower than expected for children of the same age. As digital natives, we recognize that electronic devices can generate both beneficial and harmful outcomes for developing children in this digital age. Globally, pediatric exposure to digital screens continues to increase and is associated with undesirable effects on childhood development, particularly language skills. This study explores the influence of the quantity and quality of screen media use on the development of language skills in children aged one to four years residing in Dubai and the Northern Emirates, while also considering other factors that may contribute to speech delays. Aim This study aims to investigate the association between prolonged screen time and speech delay in children aged one to four years living in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Additionally, it examines the relationship between parents' screen time and their child's screen time and speech delay, as well as the effect of multiple languages spoken at home on the child's speech development. Methods A cross-sectional, online-based anonymous questionnaire was conducted with the guardians of children aged one to four years from Dubai and the Northern Emirates. A total of 192 entries were collected after applying exclusion criteria. The study focused on the amount of screen time, the type of content viewed by children on various electronic devices, and its effect on speech development. Other contributing factors, including the number of languages spoken, gender, number of siblings, parents' work status, and parent-child interactions, were also examined. Results The study revealed that 25.5% (49 of 192 participants) had speech delays. Speech delay was most prevalent among one-year-olds, with 44.9% (22 out of 55) affected, and it was more common in males, affecting 32.7% (34 out of 104) compared to females (17%, 15 out of 88). Children who spoke more than one language had a lower prevalence of speech delay, with no delays observed in children who spoke three or more languages, and only 11.8% (10 out of 85) in those who spoke two languages. Increased screen time was linked to a higher prevalence of speech delay, with 40% (6 out of 15) of children with more than four hours of screen time affected. Conclusion The findings suggest that the amount of screen time is a critical factor in speech delays among young children. Prolonged screen time, particularly over four hours per day, was associated with a higher risk of speech delay. Further research is needed to explore the causal mechanisms and other contributing factors, such as parent-child interactions and socioeconomic status, that may influence speech development.