The effect of screen time on hearing and balance in 6-16 aged children.

BACKGROUND: The increase in screen time and the decrease in physical- activity cause balance problems as well as many systemic handicaps.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to determine the effect of screen time on balance and the effect of headphone usage time on hearing.

METHOD: Thirty-four individuals aged 6-16 years who applied to our clinic with complaints of dizziness and/or balance disorder were included in the study. Participants were divided into 2 groups according to their screen time: Group 1 (4-8 h/day) and Group2(>8 h/day). The other two groups are grouped according to headphone usage time as Group A (2-4 h/day) and Group B (>4hours/day). Pure-tone audiometry, extended high frequency-audiometry, Videonystagmography (VNG) and Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) tests and Pediatric Berg Balance Scale and Visual Analogue Scale were applied to all individuals. CDP scores and pure tone hearing thresholds between groups were compared.

RESULTS: A significant difference was observed between Group 1 and Group 2 according to the CDP test (visual, vestibular and composite scores), and according to the VAS-dizziness and PBS ( p  ≤ .05). Pure tone average and pure tone thresholds at high frequencies were compared between Group A and Group B according to headphone usage time. Pure tone thresholds of Group B were worse at high frequencies than Group A ( p  ≤ .05).

CONCLUSIONS: It has been observed that prolonged screen time may cause balance impairment in children and prolonged use of headphones may affect high-frequency hearing thresholds.