Technology has enabled remote working, learning and social connections during the Covid-19 pandemic, but increases of up to 80% in time spent in front of screens has seen a rise in ADHD symptoms such as lack of focus, poor concentration, and restlessness among both adults and children.
Excessive screen time, either watching television or using devices including laptops, mobile phones and tablets, negatively affects concentration, memory and learning and contributes to problems with sleep, obesity, depression and anxiety – and aggravates the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Psychiatrist Professor Renata Schoeman, convenor of the ADHD special interest group of the SA Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), said studies in a number of countries, including China, India, Australia, Canada, the USA and the UK, had pointed to excessive screentime during the pandemic associated with worsening of ADHD symptoms. Continue reading
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