WIRED & TIRED - Advance LA · MYTH-BUSTING! • Myth: Ed tech is revolutionizing the way kids learn...

©2018VictoriaDunckley,M.D.ResetYourChildsBrain.com

1E L E C T RON I C FA S T I NG FO R T R EATMEN T O F A DHD , D E P R E S S I ON & AU T I SM

WIRED&TIRED

OVERVIEW

Thecaseforrestrictinginteractivescreen-time

• Trends,risks,myths• Physiologicalimpacts•Mentalhealthconcerns• Benefitsofrestricting(casestudies)• Recommendations

©2018VictoriaDunckley,M.D.ResetYourChildsBrain.com 2

TRENDSONTHERISEINCHILDREN

• Psychiatricdisorders• Psychotropicmedicationuse• Chronicmedicalconditions• Disabilityfilings• Genderachievementgaps



MEANWHILE…

MEANWHILE…

…children’selectronicsusecontinuestoclimb:

• 5-7hoursdaily• Exposureatincreasinglyyoungerages• School-basedscreen-timeisrapidlyescalating


ISSCREEN-TIMETHECULPRIT?KNOWNRISKS:

• Obesity,metabolicsyndrome,othermedical• Mentalhealthissues&sleepdisturbance• Delinquency• Socialincompetency• Aggression• Addictions• Delayedlanguage&reading,impairedattention• Diminishedcreativity• Sensoryintegrationissues


MYTH-BUSTING!

• Myth:“ItalldependsonWHATthey’redoing…contentmatters!“Truth:Total screen-timemoreimportantthantype orcontent:“It’sthemediumnotthemessage.”

• Myth: ComputertimeisbetterthanTV.Truth:Interactive screen-timeismoredysregulating& addictingthanpassive

• Myth:“Everythinginmoderation.”Truth:Notuniversal;somekidscan’thandleanyscreen-time

• Myth:The“DigitalDivide”Truth:Disadvantagedchildrenathighestriskforproblematicuse

• Myth:Computerskillsneedtobetaughtearlytosurviveintoday’sworld.Truth: computerskillsareoveremphasized inschool– andarerelativelyeasytolearnatanyage


MYTH-BUSTING!

• Myth:Edtechisrevolutionizingthewaykidslearn&savesschoolsmoneyTruth:Usingtechnologytoteachisatbestneutral– andmaybeharmful*Devicesintheclassroomimpairperformance*Schoolswithmostcomputeruse=lowestscores*Kidswith<30minofscreen-timedaily=highestGPAs

• Myth:NewsoftwarecanhelpkidslearntoreadTruth:E-readinghinders literacy &comprehension

• Myth:DevicesinclasshelpsstudentsbemoreefficientTruth: Handwritingbeats laptopnote-takingforrecall,integration,&testscores;laptopsdistractothers.

Thenatureoftechnologyisatoddswithbasicdevelopmentalneeds!


WHY BE CONCERNED?

Anydevicewithanelectronicscreenactslikeastimulant,isacentralnervoussystemirritant,andemitselectromagnetic

radiation.

Allinteractivescreentime– includingeducational– stressesthenervoussystem:• Desynchronizes thebodyclock• Alters brainchemistry &raisesstresshormones• Createsa“mismatch”(arousal:physicaldischarge)• Createsdrag onmentalenergy&ondevelopment


NUMEROUS SCREEN-RELATED FACTORS TRIGGERSTRESS

Hyperarousal(fight-or-flight)

Reward/addictionpathways

Intensesensory

stimulation

Bright&blue-toned

light

Media-multitasking

Interactivity&rapidpace

Electro-magneticradiation


HOW ELECTRONIC STRESS CREATES SYMPTOMS(ELECTRONIC SCREEN SYNDROME OR “ESS”)

Poorfrontallobefunctioning(emotionalregulation,focus,decision-making,impulsecontrol,empathy,creativity)

Bloodflow(frontallobeà primitiveareas),desynchronizedclock,alteredbrainchemistry&hormones

Overstimulation&stressreactions


WHAT DOES ELECTRONIC SCREEN SYNDROME LOOKLIKE?

• Dysregulatedmood• irritable,tearful,depressed,rageful

• Impairedcognition• poorfocus,forgetful,disorganized,(hallucinationsinsome)

• Dysfunctionalbehavior• oppositional,impulsive,lowempathy


ESSMIMICS &EXACERBATESPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Mood

depression

bipolar

[lightatnightrisk]

Cognitive

ADHD

learningdisorders

psychosis

Behavior

oppositional/defiance

impulsecontrold/o

conductd/o

Anxiety

socialphobia

PTSD

panicattacks

OCD

Neuro

autism

tics/Tourette’s

sensoryprocessing

d/o


ESS&ADHDOVERLAP:VULNERABILITIES

• Dopaminedysfunction• Troubleregulatingarousal/sleepdisturbance• Impulsivity• Poorexecutivefunctioning• Highmovementneeds• Difficultyfilteringirrelevantstimuli• Drawntonovelstimuli• Higherriskforaddiction/compulsions• Exploitationofunmetneeds(competency,control,sustainedfocus,“goodatit”)


ESS&AUTISMOVERLAP:VULNERABILITIES

• Dopamineandserotonindysfunction• Troubleregulatingarousal,sleepdisturbance• Lowmelatonin• Repetitivemovements/behaviors• Sensitivitytostimulants• PronetoticsandOCD• Cognitiverigidity• Social/communicationdeficits


WHATARETHECONSEQUENCES?

Technologyoveruseexactslargecostsontheindividual,thefamily,andonsociety:

• unnecessarymedicationuse• inefficienttreatment• misuseofhealthandeducationresources• technology&otheraddictions• academicfailure,unemployment


TECHADDICTION:BRAINSCANFINDINGS

• Graymatteratrophy• Thinnercortex• Whitematterfragmentation• Reduceddopaminereceptors&transporters• Abnormalprocessing(decision-making)• Similartoalcohol/substanceabusedamage


WHAT’STHESOLUTION?

TheResetProgram:

Astrict,extended“electronicfast”(orscreenfast)followedbymethodicalscreenmanagementbasedontolerability andriskfactors—NOTblanketguidelines.


THE RESET:BENEFITS OF AN ELECTRONIC FAST

Astrict,extended,3-4weekelectronicfasthelps“reset”thebrain:• resynchronizesbodyclock• providesdeeprest,shiftsbrainbloodflow• normalizesstresshormones&brainchemistry• Improvesmood,cognition,sleep&behaviorAndsimultaneously:• clarifiesdiagnosis&optimizestreatment• minimizesneedformedication• providesbaselineforscreen-timetolerability


THE RESET:PHYSIOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF AN ELECTRONIC FAST

Screen-free


CASE#1SOPHIA

15yo girlwithautismandADHD

• Stableforseveralyrs,on2meds,one“as-needed”• Sudden12lb weightgainplusagitation,repetitivemovements,cryingspells,hittingselfandmother• Uncovered:motherallowingsmartphoneplay.Why?...• …newiPadprogramatschool• Weightgainduetoincreaseduseof“as-needed”med• Symptomsreduceduponeliminatingsmartphoneuse;resolveduponeliminatingiPadprogram;lostweight


CASESTUDYLILY

16yo girlwith“bipolardisorder”andsocialproblems

• Presentedwithmoodswings,disruptivebehavior,academicfailure• “Kickedout”ofschool;homeschoolingunsuccessful• 30lb weightgain in2yrs• Excessivecomputertime,phoneuse• Electronicfast:1st week“brutal.”By6weeks-smiling,compliant,lessarguing,goodfocus• 6months-backinschool,lostweight,goodgrades,madefriends.Lowdoseofmildmoodstabilizer,ragesresolved.


CASESTUDYRYAN

8 yo boy,goodstudent,nomentalhealthhistory

• Gradualonsetoffallinggrades,depressedmood,disinterestinlearning,disruptiveinclass

• Given3diagnoses(ADHD,depression,autism),multiplemedtrials,multipleservicesathomeandschoolwithpoorresults

• Dailyvideogames,smartphonegiven1yr prior• Electronicfastx4weeksàmood,play,behavior,andgradesdramaticallyimproved

• Mothercontinuedelectronics’restrictionbybanningallhandhelddevices,allvideogames,nophone

• Childcontinuestodowell3yearslater;nomeds,noservices


CASESTUDYRILEY

17yo boy,ADHD&depression

• Brightbutfailinggradesinhighschool;depressed,ontwomeds;irritable,defiant,UNMOTIVATED

• Videogaming,severalhoursdaily• Electronicfastx6weeksàmood,behavior,andgradesdramaticallyimproved

• Gaveupgaming(afterseveralrelapses),gotpart-timejob• Beganrunning,lostweight,stoppedmeds• 2yearscommunitycollege,transferredtoUCLA,obtaineddriver’slicense• Stillstable5yearslater:nomeds,geologydegree.NOGAMING.


CASESTUDYCAELYN

19yearoldyoungwoman,ASD&anxiety

• Failedseveraldayprogramsduetodisruptivebehavior,failedcollegeclasses

• Dailyphone&computeruse,animeobsessed• “walkingoneggshells”• Severeemotionaloutbursts,rigidthinking,argumentative,refusedallchores• Electronicfastx4weeksàmoreevenmood,betterfrustrationtolerance,ableto“gowiththeflow”

• Continuedeliminationofphone,earnedcomputertime• Abletocompletecollegecourses,toleratelifeskillstraining,enjoyscreenfreeinterests(swimming,art,reading)

• Bettereyecontactandverbalskills• Neededperiodicfasting,troubletoleratingphone


CASESTUDY:TAYLOR

6 yo girl withattentionandhyperactivityissues -- butbright.ADHD?

• Attentionspan“5seconds”,hyper,frequentnotesfromteacher

• Dailymeltdowns,constantarguing&defiance• Hadtorepeatpreschoolduetoinattention&poorbehavior

• iPadandotherdevicessinceinfancy• Electronicfastx4weeks→attention20-60min,joinedjujitsuclass,bettereyecontact

• Now:Playsoutside,engagesingameswithbrother,improvedmanners• Meltdowns– cutinhalf(10%ofday)• Compliantwithtasks,needs1-2remindersonly• AFTERFAST:familydecidedtocontinuebeingdevice-free


SHANNON,MOTHEROF10YEAROLDBOY:2TEACHERS’FEEDBACK:


MARSHA,MOTHEROF6YEAROLDBOY


ELIMINATEORMODERATE?POST-RESETDECISIONTREE


RECOMMENDATIONS:HOUSERULES

• Noscreensinthebedroom• Homeworkinacommunityarea• Onescreenatatime• Designatescreen-freetimes,zones,andactivities• Use“devicebasket”• Mom&dadhavescreenrules,too!“AccountabilityAct”


EVIDENCE-BASEDPROTECTIVEPRACTICES

• Eyecontact• Face-to-facetime,lovingtouch,physicalplay• Reading• Mindfulness• Nature,greenspaces,art


EVIDENCE-BASEDPROTECTIVEPRACTICESTHEBODYCLOCK

• Avoidscreensaftersundown• Brightlightinmornings• Robustexercise,especiallyinmornings• Filteringsoftwaretowarm/darkenscreens• Incandescentbulbs,redbulbinbedroom?


RECOMMENDATIONS:“BIGPICTURE”

• Pacetechnologyexposureaccordingtodevelopmentalandindividualneeds• Restrictingduringyouthprotectsfrontallobeà highertolerancelaterPLUSmaximizeschild’spotential• Useelectronicfaststo“reset”physiologicalsystemswhenchildrenaredysregulated;reintroduceslowlyastolerated• Havingphysicaljob/choresimprovesoutcomes;ASD/ADHDkidsmayneedjobBEFOREpursuinghighereducation• Inschool,allowfasts,opting-outofiPad/laptopprograms,&othertech-relatedaccommodations(e.g.screen-free,WiFi-free,nolight-at-night)


FINALTHOUGHTS…

• Whenpeoplesayitisnotrealisticforkidstogiveupscreenscompletely,Isayitisnotrealisticforustoexpectkidstothrivewhenscreensholdthemback.

• Ironically,weareteachingchildrenwithmethodsthatimpairconcentrationandcreativity,weareexercisingthemwithmediumslinkedtoobesity,andweareparentingthemwithdevicesthatcausetempertantrums.Itsimplydoesn’tmakesense.

• Everytimewetalkabouttheeffectsofscreentimeweplantaseed.Wehavebrainscience,research,andrealityonourside.Thingsaredifferentnowthaneventwoyearsago;thepublicismuchmoreaware.Providingthesciencegivesthemessagesometeeth.Sokeeptalkingbecausepeoplearelistening.



Itits


Whenattemptingtoreconcilethefutureoftechnologywithchildren’shealth,rememberthis:

“First,donoharm.”

Formoreinformation,visitwww.ResetYourChildsBrain.com

REMEMBER…

WIRED & TIRED - Advance LA · MYTH-BUSTING! • Myth: Ed tech is revolutionizing the way kids learn...

Documents

Transcript of WIRED & TIRED - Advance LA · MYTH-BUSTING! • Myth: Ed tech is revolutionizing the way kids learn...