Technological Diseases In Children: What You Should Know

Children learn to handle smartphones, tablets and remotes at a younger and younger age. You may already be used to watching them watching videos or playing games on the screens, but this can unfortunately lead to technological diseases in children.

What exactly are technological diseases? Read this article to learn everything you need to know.

What are technological diseases in children?

It seems that there is a constant stream of new concepts, new syndromes and new concepts in modern society. Many of the ailments we suffer from now are related to technology, lack of exercise or poor diet.

In this case, we will focus on technological diseases in children. It is a problem that may seem harmless, but it has consequences in the short, medium and long term.

These “diseases” or disorders are evolving. And although they have not yet been studied in detail,  their existence cannot be denied. Worst of all, they hit children at a very young age.

What do we mean by technological diseases in children? The term basically refers to health problems created by the constant use of technological devices.

While it may be hard to believe, children are the primary users of smartphones, tablets and gaming devices. They suffer the consequences that come with them.

Some of the primary technological diseases in children are:

1. Technological diseases in children: Hearing problems due to the use of headphones

Headphones that are used constantly at high volume can cause hearing problems, especially with those placed inside the ear canal.

There is a trend of listening to music, videos and sound in games at a very high volume to be able to block ambient noise. Many parents take their children to the pediatrician due to poor hearing. And that is often due to the use of headphones.

In addition, we should take into consideration that these devices can cause tinnitus. It is a condition that results from damage to the nerve in the ear.

2. Repeated movement injuries

It is hard to believe that there are 5-year-old children with tendonitis in their wrist or carpal tunnel syndrome. There are more cases of this than you think. And they are mostly due to having spent hours with a smartphone in their hands, where one has tapped the screen while playing games.

Another problem is tendonitis in the thumbs due to having written text messages. These are the fingers you use the most when typing on smartphones and also the ones that are most affected by pain, stiffness, cramps and tingling.

3. Overexertion of the eyes

Also known as visual stress, doctors consider this to be the most disturbing technological disease among children. Spending countless hours staring at a small screen causes overexertion of the eyes.

Other symptoms include dryness, sensitivity to light, watery eyes, redness, pain when reading, headache and nausea.

4. Insomnia

This is one of the technological diseases we tend to associate with adults, but it can also occur at a younger age. Using monitors late at night puts the brain in an alarm state and prevents one from getting healthy sleep.

5. Pain in the muscles

Pain in the back, neck and shoulders are normal consequences of using technological devices. Having a bad posture for several hours while watching a movie or a show, playing games and watching videos can cause a curvature of the spine, changes in one’s posture, cramps and more.

6. Addiction to the internet is one of the scary technological diseases in children

Addiction to the Internet is one of the most troubling technological diseases in children. It’s about children not wanting to do anything but stay in their room with a screen in front of them.

They have their phone next to them at dinner, on vacations, on family trips (if we can force them to go), at school… the addiction is so strong that they sleep with smartphones under their pillows. If for some reason they have to do without it for a few minutes, they feel they are missing something important.

What should you do if your children suffer from a technological disease? First, restrict their access to the Internet and their devices.

Plan outdoor leisure activities and do not let them use their phones for two hours before going to bed. If necessary, seek professional help, whether it is a doctor, psychologist or physiotherapist.