Use of digital devices in children with autism: State of the art and survey

Journal title RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA
Author/s Valentina Bianchi, Eleonora Rosi, Ilaria Baù, Rebecca Nuzzo, Stefania Valsecchi, Massimo Molteni, Paola Colombo
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/2
Language Italian Pages 19 P. 89-107 File size 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/rip2025oa20821
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New generations are growing up in an increasingly digital world, where technological devices and virtual environments are a part of everyday life. This digital reality impacts all families, including those of children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The present study investigates the use of digital devices, particularly tablets and smartphones, by children and adolescents with ASD through an analysis of the current literature and a survey conducted on a large sample of Italian subjects. We aimed to explore the implications and challenges related to the use of these tools through an online questionnaire administered to parents. The results showed a significant prevalence of device use among children with ASD, with 94.5% of participants using at least one device. Despite the benefits reported in the literature, parents noted several critical issues, such as device dependence, social isolation, and behavioral problems. The relationship between the time of use and these problems suggests the importance of a well-balanced and supervised approach to technology use to maximize both educational and therapeutic benefits while minimizing associated risks. In this regard, we emphasize the significance of developing guidelines for the use of digital devices by children with ASD.

Keywords: Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico;Dispositivi digitali;Tablet;Uso problematico dei device

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Valentina Bianchi, Eleonora Rosi, Ilaria Baù, Rebecca Nuzzo, Stefania Valsecchi, Massimo Molteni, Paola Colombo, Utilizzo di dispositivi digitali in bambini con autismo: stato dell’arte e indagine conoscitiva in "RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA" 2/2025, pp 89-107, DOI: 10.3280/rip2025oa20821