ADHD and Screentime

We’ve all heard that social media, video games, and any other form of screen time is having a variety of adverse affects on children. But what does the research actually tell us?

In a study of 10,116 children ages 9-10 (two years later 7,880 children participated in the study), researchers measured amount of screen time and ADHD symptoms. In particular they looked at structures of the brain associated with ADHD and length of screen time.

The brain structures they focused on included cortical grey matter which is responsible for—among other things—language and attention. Additionally, researchers also examined putamen volume which helps the brain plan, execute, and sequence, as well as, controls reward processing (aka that dopamine hit we get when we engage with social media, video games, etc). They found that longer screen times were associated with ADHD symptoms (e.g., poor planning, executing, attention, etc) and these results were maintained in a two year follow-up study.

It is very important to note that the study underscored that, “the current study does not establish causality, as multiple factors could influence ADHD symptom scores.” While screen time may account for some of these ADHD symptoms, there could be other contributing factors.

The good news? Cortical grey—you know that brain structure responsible for language and attention…well, it has plasticity. Meaning it can change over time!

You can change your child’s screen time habits, and Focus Speech Therapy can help teach skills to plan, sequence, and execute activities, homework, and more. Contact us for a free 15 minute consultation to get the ball rolling!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Does screen time cause ADHD?

  • No, screen time does not cause ADHD, but it can heighten “symptoms” such as poor planning, difficulty regulating, and decreasing one’s ability to execute a plan.

• Should parents limit screen time for kids with ADHD?

  • Yes, much like any child (regardless of ADHD or not), parents should limit screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under 18 months, watching high quality screen time (e.g., PBS shows) with your child ages 18-24 months. Children 2-5 should have no more than an hour a day, while kids 6 and older should have a predictable routine and plan for when and how long they can have screens.

• How can parents start to create a screen time plan?

  • Consider making a plan together using the Family Media Plan tool. Most experts and researchers agree that making screen time predictable and working with your child to determine acceptable forms of screen time (e.g., video games, educational shows, etc) is the best plan of attack.

Works Cited:

Shou, Q., Yamashita, M. & Mizuno, Y. Association of screen time with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and their development: the mediating role of brain structure. Transl Psychiatry15, 447 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03672-1