Utilizzo di dispositivi digitali in bambini con autismo: stato dell’arte e indagine conoscitiva

Titolo Rivista RICERCHE DI PSICOLOGIA
Autori/Curatori Valentina Bianchi, Eleonora Rosi, Ilaria Baù, Rebecca Nuzzo, Stefania Valsecchi, Massimo Molteni, Paola Colombo
Anno di pubblicazione 2026 Fascicolo 2025/2
Lingua Italiano Numero pagine 19 P. 89-107 Dimensione file 0 KB
DOI 10.3280/rip2025oa20821
Il DOI è il codice a barre della proprietà intellettuale: per saperne di più clicca qui

FrancoAngeli è membro della Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), associazione indipendente e non profit per facilitare (attraverso i servizi tecnologici implementati da CrossRef.org) l’accesso degli studiosi ai contenuti digitali nelle pubblicazioni professionali e scientifiche.

Le nuove generazioni crescono in un mondo sempre più digitale, in cui strumenti tecnologici e ambienti virtuali sono ormai parte integrante della quotidianità. Questa realtà digitale ha un impatto su tutte le famiglie, incluse quelle di bambini e ragazzi con Disturbo dello Spettro Autistico (ASD). Il presente studio esplora l’utilizzo dei dispositivi digitali, in particolare tablet e smartphone, da parte di bambini e adolescenti con ASD, attraverso un’analisi della letteratura esistente e un’indagine condotta su un ampio campione di soggetti italiani. Si sono volute indagare le implicazioni e le problematiche legate all’uso di questi strumenti tramite un questionario online somministrato ai genitori. I risultati evidenziano una prevalenza significativa nell’utilizzo di device tra i bambini con ASD, con il 94,5% dei partecipanti che fa uso di almeno un dispositivo. Nonostante i benefici riscontrati in letteratura, i genitori hanno segnalato diverse criticità come la dipendenza dai dispositivi, l’isolamento sociale e i problemi comportamentali. La relazione tra tempo di utilizzo e problematiche emerse suggerisce la necessità di un approccio equilibrato e monitorato nell’uso delle tecnologie al fine di massimizzare i benefici educativi e terapeutici, minimizzando i rischi associati. A tal proposito si sottolinea quindi l’importanza di sviluppare linee guida per l’uso dei dispositivi nei bambini con ASD.

Parole chiave:Autism Spectrum Disorder;Digital devices;Tablet;Problematic device use

  1. Alamri, M. M., Alrehaili, M. A., Albariqi, W., Alshehri, M. S., Alotaibi, K. B., & Algethami, A. M. (2023). Relationship between speech delay and smart Media in Children: A Systematic review. Cureus. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45396
  2. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Neurodevelopmental disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 5th ed., text rev.
  3. Bacil, E. D. A., Da Silva, M. P., Martins, R. V., Da Costa, C. G., & De Campos, W. (2024). Exposure to smartphones and tablets, physical activity and sleep in children from 5 to 10 years old: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Health Promotion. DOI: 10.1177/08901171241242556
  4. Baker, J. K., Fenning, R. M., Erath, S. A., Baucom, B. R., Moffitt, J., & Howland, M. A. (2018). Sympathetic underarousal and externalizing behavior problems in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 46(4), 895-906. DOI: 10.1007/s10802-017-0332-3
  5. Bozzola, E., Spina, G., Ruggiero, M., Memo, L., Agostiniani, R., Bozzola, M., Corsello, G., & Villani, A. (2018). Media devices in pre-school children: the recommendations of the Italian pediatric society. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 44(1), 69. DOI: 10.1186/s13052-018-0508-7
  6. Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2013). Applied Behavior Analysis, Global Edition. Regno Unito: Pearson Higher Ed.
  7. Engelhardt, C. R., Mazurek, M. O., & Hilgard, J. (2017). Pathological game use in adults with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder. PeerJ, 5, e3393. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3393
  8. Fletcher-Watson, S. (2013). Technology and autism: guidelines for parents (2013). Available from: <a href="http://www.dart.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Guidelines-v3-booklet.pdf">http://www.dart.ed.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Guidelines-v3-booklet.pdf</a>. Access in Nov, 2014.
  9. Gomot, M., & Wicker, B. (2012). A challenging, unpredictable world for people with autism spectrum disorder. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 83(2), 240-247. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2011.09.017
  10. Green, A., Cohen-Zion, M., Haim, A., & Dagan, Y. (2017). Evening light exposure to computer screens disrupts human sleep, biological rhythms, and attention abilities. Chronobiology International, 34(7), 855-865. DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2017.1324878
  11. Gwynette, M. F., Sidhu, S. S., & Ceranoglu, T. A. (2018). Electronic screen media use in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 27(2), 203-219. DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.013
  12. Hu, H. F., Liu, T. L., Hsiao, R. C., Ni, H. C., Liang, S. H., Lin, C. F., Chan, H. L., Hsieh, Y. H., Wang, L. J., Lee, M. J., Chou, W. J., & Yen, C. F. (2019). Cyber-bullying victimization and perpetration in adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: Correlations with depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(10), 4170-4180. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04060-7
  13. Kagohara, D. M., van der Meer, L., Ramdoss, S., O’Reilly, M. F., Lancioni, G. E., Davis, T. N., Rispoli, M., Lang, R., Marschik, P. B., Sutherland, D., Green, V. A., & Sigafoos, J. (2013). Using iPods(®) and iPads(®) in teaching programs for individuals with developmental disabilities: a systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(1), 147-156. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2012.07.027
  14. Kasari, C., Sturm, A., & Shih, W. (2018). SMARTer Approach to personalizing intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 61(11), 2629-2640. DOI: 10.1044/2018_JSLHR-L-RSAUT-18-0029
  15. King, A. M., Brady, K. W., & Voreis, G. (2017). “It’s a blessing and a curse”: Perspectives on tablet use in children with autism spectrum disorder. Autism and Developmental Language Impairments, 2, 239694151668318. DOI: 10.1177/2396941516683183
  16. Kushki, A., Drumm, E., Pla Mobarak, M., Tanel, N., Dupuis, A., Chau, T., & Anagnostou, E. (2013). Investigating the autonomic nervous system response to anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders. PloS one, 8(4), e59730. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059730
  17. Lloyd, M., MacDonald, M., & Lord, C. (2013). Motor skills of toddlers with autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 17(2), 133-146. DOI: 10.1177/1362361311402230
  18. Lorah, E. R., Tincani, M., Dodge, J., Gilroy, S., Hickey, A., & Hantula, D. (2013). Evaluating picture exchange and the iPadTM as a speech generating device to teach communication to young children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25(6), 637-649. DOI: 10.1007/s10882-013-9337-1
  19. McCorkle, S. L. (2012). Visual strategies for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Special Education, 6(4). Available at: <a href="https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/lc-journal-of-special-education/vol6/iss1/4">https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/lc-journal-of-special-education/vol6/iss1/4</a>.
  20. Nakshine, V. S., Thute, P., Khatib, M. N., & Sarkar, B. (2022). Increased screen time as a cause of declining physical, psychological health, and sleep patterns: A literary review. Cureus, 14(10), e30051. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.30051
  21. Ok, M. W., & Kim, W. (2016). Use of iPads and iPods for academic performance and engagement of PreK-12 students with disabilities: A research synthesis. Exceptionality, 25(1), 54-75. DOI: 10.1080/09362835.2016.1196446
  22. Ra, C. K., Cho, J., Stone, M. D., De La Cerda, J., Goldenson, N. I., Moroney, E., Tung, I., Lee, S. S., & Leventhal, A. M. (2018). Association of digital media use with subsequent symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder among adolescents. JAMA, 320(3), 255-263. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2018.8931
  23. Radesky, J. S., Silverstein, M., Zuckerman, B., & Christakis, D. A. (2014). Infant self-regulation and early childhood media exposure. Pediatrics, 133(5), e1172-e1178. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-2367
  24. Rowan, C. (2013). The impact of technology on child sensory and motor development. Retrieved from <a href="http://www.sensomotorische-integratie.nl/CrisRowan.pdf">http://www.sensomotorische-integratie.nl/CrisRowan.pdf</a>.
  25. Slobodin, O., Heffler, K. F., & Davidovitch, M. (2019). Screen media and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A systematic literature review. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 40(4), 303-311. DOI: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000654
  26. Strickroth, S., Zoerner, D., Moebert, T., Morgiel, A., & Lucke, U. (2020). Game-based promotion of motivation and attention for socio-emotional training in autism. I-com, 19(1), 17-30. DOI: 10.1515/icom-2020-0003
  27. Tamana, S. K., Ezeugwu, V., Chikuma, J., Lefebvre, D. L., Azad, M. B., Moraes, T. J., Subbarao, P., Becker, A. B., Turvey, S. E., Sears, M. R., Dick, B. D., Carson, V., Rasmussen, C., CHILD study Investigators, Pei, J., & Mandhane, P. J. (2019). Screen-time is associated with inattention problems in preschoolers: Results from the CHILD birth cohort study. PloS one, 14(4), e0213995. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213995
  28. Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271-283. DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2018.10.003
  29. Van de Cruys, S., Evers, K., Van der Hallen, R., Van Eylen, L., Boets, B., de-Wit, L., & Wagemans, J. (2014). Precise minds in uncertain worlds: predictive coding in autism. Psychological Review, 121(4), 649-675. DOI: 10.1037/a0037665
  30. Wallenius, M., Hirvonen, A., Lindholm, H., Rimpela, A., Nygard, C., Saarni, L., & Punamaki, R. (2010). Salivary cortisol in relation to the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in School-Aged children. Psychology, 01(02), 88-95. DOI: 10.4236/psych.2010.12012
  31. Westby C. (2021). Screen Time and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica, 73(3), 233-240. DOI: 10.1159/00050668

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