A growing number of children in Ghana are being diagnosed with communication disorders, a troubling trend that experts attribute to excessive use of phones, tablets, and televisions. Dr. Yvone Nana Ama Brew, a leading neurodevelopmental surgeon, has revealed that about 50% of the cases she encounters in her practice are directly linked to screen time.
“These devices, while convenient for parents and seemingly harmless, are wreaking havoc on our children’s ability to communicate,” Dr. Brew explains. “Children are developing speech and language delays, struggling with social interactions, and in severe cases, showing signs of conditions that resemble autism spectrum disorders.”
Her clinic, which once treated a wide range of neurological issues, is now overwhelmed with cases of children whose communication skills have been severely impacted by screen exposure. When asked by the High Street Journal if these disorders are treatable, Dr. Brew responded that the situation could only be managed.
The alarming rise in communication disorders has prompted health professionals to launch a campaign to educate parents about the dangers of excessive screen time. “Children need human interaction, play, and physical activity to develop their brains properly,” Dr. Brew emphasized. “Parents should prioritize these over the convenience of technology,” she added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has long warned about the dangers of excessive screen time for children, recommending that those under the age of five should not spend more than one hour per day on digital devices, and those under two should not be exposed to screens at all.
