Relationship between excessive gadget exposure and language development disorders in early childhood: a case study in urban areas
Keywords:
Gadget Exposure, Language Development, Early Childhood, Screen Time, Speech DelayAbstract
This study aims to analyze the relationship between excessive exposure to gadgets and language development disorders in early childhood in urban areas of Indonesia. Using a correlational quantitative approach and case study design, as many as 100 children aged 2–5 years from Jakarta, Bandung, and Surabaya were made respondents. The instruments used included a questionnaire on gadget exposure, the Early Language Milestone Scale (ELM-2), and direct clinical observation. The results of the analysis showed that there was a significant negative relationship between the duration of gadget use and the language development score (r = -0.624, p < 0.01). A simple linear regression model showed that the duration of exposure to gadgets contributed to a 38.9% variation in language development scores, with each additional 1 hour of screen time per day lowering the language score by 7,431 points. These findings confirm that uncontrolled exposure to gadgets can be a serious risk factor for early childhood language delay. Therefore, parental intervention, setting the duration of screen time, and selecting appropriate digital content are very important in promotive and preventive efforts for children's growth and development in the digital era.
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