Abstract
Background: Gadgets can be interesting learning media for children. However, the negative impacts of using gadgets include language delay, attention disorder, learning problems, anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to estimate the impact of gadgets on the speech development of children.
Subjects and Method: This meta-analysis was conducted using a PRISMA flow diagram. The articles were searched based on the PICO research question. Population: Toddlers. Intervention: Gadgets. Comparison: No gadgets. Outcome: Speech development. The articles were searched from 3 databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. Keywords used "Gadget Use" AND "Speech Development" AND "Children" AND "Cross-sectional". The inclusion criteria were full-text articles, cross-sectional study, published from 2008 to 2023, and multivariate analysis with adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR). The articles were analyzed using RevMan 5.3.
Results: The meta-analysis included 9 primary studies from Indonesia, Thailand, India, and Saudi Arabia. Children who used gadgets had 5.06 times of experiencing speech delay as much risk as those who did not use gadgets, it was statistically significant (aOR= 5.06; 95% CI= 3.82 to 6.70; p=0.001).
Conclusion: Children who use gadgets are more likely to experience speech delay than those who do not use gadgets.
Keywords: gadgets, speech delay, children.
Article Data
