How To Recover From Virtual Autism?

Given that technology has become an inseparable part of people’s lives in the present day, screens are now a familiar sight. But the most significant downside of the increased screen time, particularly in children, is a disorder that has been called virtual autism. This term is slowly being acknowledged by doctors and mothers or fathers as children displaying a host of autistic-like characteristics if they are exposed to too much screen time. Fortunately, this is not set in stone, and with proper intervention at the right time, the majority of these changes can be reversed.

This blog will explain to you what virtual autism is, the symptoms of this disorder, and how one can get a child with this disorder back on track.

What Is Virtual Autism?

Virtual autism is a situation where a child is likely to have some autism-related features as a result of his or her interaction with what is referred to as virtual technologies, especially at a tender age. While true autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a myriad of genetic and environmental factors, virtual autism is formed from a lack of enough social contact in real life and instead, consuming daily time with screen products.

The child with virtual autism does not get to experience social interactions, play, and the sensory of the physical world that is so essential to neurological development. This naturally then leads to an interruption or procrastination of speech, communication, social, and at times even cognitive milestones.

Symptoms Of Virtual Autism

Virtual autism symptoms may seem very similar or even identical to the more traditional autism symptoms, which is why great care must be taken to discern between the two and preside based on the child’s environment and screen usage. Some key symptoms include:

• Delayed Speech: Children may have difficulty developing language skills. They might not start talking at the expected age or may use very few words.
• Limited Social Interaction: Kids may not make eye contact or engage in meaningful social interactions with parents or peers. They might appear disconnected or indifferent to others.
• Repetitive Behaviors: Just like traditional autism, children with virtual autism might engage in repetitive actions like hand-flapping or rocking.
• Difficulty Following Instructions: These children might struggle to understand or respond to simple instructions, leading to challenges in day-to-day interactions.
• Lack of Interest in Physical Play: Instead of playing with toys or exploring their surroundings, children with virtual autism may be more interested in screens or digital devices.
• Poor Emotional Regulation: Meltdowns or tantrums can be more frequent due to frustration, lack of understanding, or sensory overload from too much screen exposure.

Why Does Virtual Autism Happen?

During a child’s early years, their brain is rapidly developing, and this period is crucial for learning communication, social skills, and emotional regulation. When children spend a significant amount of time in front of screens—whether it's watching cartoons, using tablets, or playing mobile games—they miss out on real-world interactions that stimulate healthy brain development.

This lack of engagement with the real world can slow down their development and cause symptoms similar to autism.

Steps To Recover From Virtual Autism

Recovery from virtual autism requires a structured, screen-free approach that emphasizes real-world interactions, play, and communication. Here’s a detailed breakdown of how parents and caregivers can support their child’s recovery.

1. Reduce Screen Time

The first step to reversing virtual autism is to significantly reduce or eliminate screen time. This may be challenging in the beginning, especially if the child is used to spending a lot of time with digital devices, but it’s essential for recovery.

Instead, engage children in activities that stimulate their senses and encourage interaction. Here are some alternatives:

• Outdoor play (running, jumping, climbing)
• Creative activities like drawing, painting, or building with blocks
• Reading books together
• Sensory play using sand, water, or tactile toys

2.Increase face-to-face interaction

To help children reconnect with the world around them, prioritize face-to-face communication. This could be as simple as talking to your child throughout the day, even if they don’t respond at first. Narrate your activities, describe objects, ask simple questions, and encourage them to express themselves verbally or with gestures.

By engaging in frequent conversations, you’re helping stimulate the areas of the brain responsible for language and communication. Even when a child doesn’t seem to respond, consistent efforts to involve them in verbal communication will encourage gradual progress.

3.Encourage social play and interaction

Children with virtual autism often struggle with social skills, so it’s important to offer opportunities for them to play and interact with other children. Set up playdates, enroll your child in group activities like music or art classes, and encourage family members to spend quality time engaging with them.

Social interaction can also occur in everyday settings—like visiting a park, going grocery shopping, or attending family gatherings. The more real-world experiences children have, the more they’ll learn to engage with others.

4. Promote physical activity

Play activities are conduits for the growth of an individual’s brain. Facilitate the kind of activities that will engage the limbs, the sense of balance, and the ability to explore. This could be anything from playing on a swing set to kicking a ball around in the yard. The most important activity is now better defined as ‘free play’.

5. Be patient and consistent

Coming back from virtual autism is not easy because it is a slow and laborious process that must be undertaken day after day. The learning process of some children may be fast, and they will start showing good progress within a short time, while others take a longer time. Ideally, you should always leave the children fully encouraged and provide them with a warm, loving atmosphere so as to consistently promote verbal exchange, play, and social interaction.

Take advantage of your child’s likes. If your child loves playing with blocks, use this time to teach him/her counts, colors, etc. If they like animals or zoos, then you can take them to the petting zoo in order to engage them in a discussion about different animals they see.

6. Professional Help

If one is not aware of how fast their child is progressing or if, for some reason, things are slow-moving, getting help from a professional is useful.

In case of difficulty in speaking, a speech therapist is also useful, and in case of, for example, muscle impairments, an occupational therapist is helpful; a pediatrician is a doctor who should be consulted if the child has some health problems that may hinder the process of development, and he or she can evaluate the child and suggest appropriate treatments or activities to do for the child’s improvement.

Conclusion

Virtual autism is a modern disease that strikingly illustrates the significance of real-life contacts and learning processes in a child’s early years. Of course, new digital devices make life easier, but it is important to remember the influence of an excessive amount of time spent in front of screens on young intellects.

Recovery from a state of virtual autism means considerable effort, but with systematic, holistic closeness to children and termination of their technologically facilitated isolation, children can indeed be cured and brought back to normal. It is very important to enhance the idea in our minds that every minute of progress is a success for the child as well as the caregivers.

By -Dr Aaksha Shukla | August 28, 2024 | 9 Min Read