“As per Autism Society of America (ASA), there should be zero screen time till 18 months of age of a child.”

What is Virtual Autism? 

The virtual autism does exist. Although you can see it & hear it, but you can’t touch or feel it.

Children discover by touching, smelling, moving, tasting, seeing, and hearing the various items in their environment. Kids can only learn about the actual world if they are not around technology.

Virtual autism is a disease that develops when young children under the age of two are overexposed to screens, which results in symptoms similar to ASD. Children under the age of three who spend excessive amounts of time on TV, tablets, laptops, and mobile phones struggle with communication and frequently exhibit unusual behaviour.

How Do You Identify Virtual Autism? How Is Virtual Autism Diagnosed?

The child's excessive screen time is the only factor in the development of virtual autism. The symptoms may disappear if you take them away from their screens, which would indicate that the youngster has "virtual autism." This is the primary characteristic that distinguishes virtual autism.

Virtual autism refers to a youngster who exhibits characteristics of autism but is not autistic. 

Symptoms of Virtual Autism 

• Hyperactivity.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Absence of enthusiasm for play activities (apart from the virtual world)
• Speech pause.
• Lack of interaction with others.
• Irritability and erratic moods.
• Reduction in cognition.

What Are The Reason Behind Virtual Autism

The main reason is the freedom afforded to children to use screens for extended periods of time. According to some research, kids who watch the screen for fewer than three hours per day have short attention spans and language delays. In contrast, kids who watch it for over three hours per day are hyperactive, have short attention spans, and have language difficulties.

Additionally, more screen time is linked to melanopsin-expressing neurons and a decline in the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which causes aberrant behaviour, poor cognitive function, and issues with language development.

What Happens to Virtual Autism?

When screen time is reduced, virtual autism symptoms frequently go away. The child's cognition, hyperactivity, and irritation have all significantly improved. 

Why Does Virtual Autism Occur?

Children who are exposed to screens like phones, tablets, televisions, computers, and laptops over an extended period of time develop virtual autism. In place of electronic item you can give them Sensory Regulation Tools.

Virtual Recovery for Autism

The fact that something as basic as screen time may be detrimental to your child's growth and health is a terrible reality. The brain, however, is a remarkable organ that can be restored with the proper stimulation and connection.

Your child can recover from virtual autism by reducing screen usage and allowing them to explore and learn from real-world experiences or by using tactile tools. 

 Virtual Autism Treatment

• cutting back on screen time
• exploring the environment around us actively through a variety of activities
• facilitating peer interactions in person, Playtime with the group
• Spending quality time with parents and other adults by playing, cooking, or reading stories before bed.
• Engaging in physical activity