Mac vs Pc

The Link between Television and ADHD in Children

Andrea Schwartz

University of Phoenix

May 3, 2013

Television has become so entrenched in family life that it needs to be considered a socializing agent comparable to parents and educators. Currently [1989], 98% of the 75 million households in the United States own a television set, and these sets are turned on an average of 7 hours a day (Christopher, et al., 1989). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or commonly known as ADHD, is a disorder that can make it difficult for an individual to sit still and concentrate on activities. There is so much speculation as to what causes and does not cause this disorder. The truth is there is no known cause of ADHD, but there are of course factors to take into consideration when learning about this disorder. A child’s surroundings can play a huge role in the developmental process, and knowing about the risks is important. Recent speculation has brought to light the specifics of television and how it can affect the learning process in children. When speaking of television and children, there are numerous items that should be discussed including the type of television and exposure that they have to it. Since there is no evidence to support the cause of ADHD in children and there have not been enough studies done, television may not cause ADHD in young children.

Recently there has been a debate on whether or not the exposure of television can be blamed for children having ADHD. Although studies have shown differences in cognitive skills with exposure to television, a huge factor is the type of exposure the children are receiving. With various types of television shows, it is important to know the differences in them. More recently, the television networks are now gearing their shows toward specific audiences. There are shows specifically targeted to adults, as well as ones targeted to young children. Also with the networks targeting specific age groups,...