Article: #2
Shute, Nancy. “Programmed for Trouble”. U.S. News & World Report. 4/19/2004, Vol. 136 Issue 13, p76-76. 1/2p. People: Christakis, Dimitri
Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician at Seattle Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center purposes toddlers who watch television are more likely to have attention problems later on in years to come. Dimitri wondered how television affects the rapidly developing baby brain. In existing data that traced children over time, he found that kids who had symptoms of A.D.H.D at age seven were more likely to watch television between ages one and three. Christakis observes that the study doesn’t say TV causes ADHD. Children already subject to ADHD might watch television to soothe themselves, or their frazzled parents might resort to it for a respite. Little is known about whether small children’s environment affects their chances of developing ADHD–or whether some types of television are better than others. “The jury is out on whether educational programs are potentially harmful,” says Christakis.
[Does today’s television screen influence A.D.H.D symptoms?]
pattymelt22 