The Impact of Screen Usage on the Speech Development of Preschool Students at Barangay Francisco De Castro, GMA, Cavite

The rise of digital devices has made screen exposure common among young children, raising concerns about its effects on early speech development. Early language skills are essential for educational success. This study aims to examine the impact of screen usage on expressive language among preschoolers in Barangay Francisco De Castro, GMA, Cavite, in line with Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected through purposive sampling and a validated survey questionnaire employing a 4-point Likert scale to measure screen usage patterns and speech development indicators. The instrument demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha: 0.878 for speech development, 0.846 for screen usage). Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rho correlation analyses were conducted to explore relationships between screen time variables and expressive language performance. Findings revealed that screen use does not hinder expressive language. Notably, the age at first screen exposure correlated significantly with speech development (r = 0.253, p = 0.048), indicating that earlier exposure may affect language acquisition. However, total screen time and content type showed no significant association with speech performance. The timing of initial screen exposure is a key factor influencing early speech development. Parents and educators should focus on delaying early screen introduction to promote optimal language growth in preschool children.

Digital era, screen usage, speech development

1. Archana, S. (2022). Significance of English language on media in the globalized world. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Innovative Research, 2(1), 15–19. https://ijmir.org/doc/Vol-2-No-1-2022/Paper%202_Archana_English_15-19_Significance%20of%20English%20Language.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Aziz, Z. W., Aljammas, E. K., & Al-Allaf, L. I. K. (2023). Impact of screen exposure on language development among toddlers and preschoolers in Nineveh province. Military Medical Science Letters, 92(3), 259–271. https://doi.org/10.31482/mmsl.2022.048 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Barrer, S. (2022, February 17). What's the appropriate screentime for toddlers? Hello Doctor. https://hellodoctor.com.ph/parenting/toddler-preschooler/screentime-toddlers/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bhutani, P., Gupta, M., Bajaj, G., Deka, R. C., Satapathy, S. S., & Ray, S. K. (2023). Is the screen time duration affecting children’s language development? - A scoping review. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 25, Article 101457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101457 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bunag, L. (2021, June 17). Effects of screen time on child brain development. Hello Doctor. https://hellodoctor.com.ph/parenting/child-health/behavioral-and-developmental-disorders/effects-screen-time-child-brain-development/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Carandang, C. M. (2022, June 17). Children and screen time: Is my child having too much? Medgate Philippines Inc. https://medgate.ph/2021/11/22/children-and-screen-time-is-my-child-having-too-much/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Dy, A. B. C., & Santos, S. K. (2023, June 28). Measuring effects of screen time on the development of children in the Philippines: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 23, Article 1251. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16188-4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Johnson, A. (2022, March 9). Screen time recommendations by age. All About Vision. https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/myopia/screen-time-by-age/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Karani, N. F., Sher, J., & Mophosho, M. (2022). The influence of screen time on children's language development: A scoping review. The South African Journal of Communication Disorders, 69(1), Article 825. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajcd.v69i1.825 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Lin, H., Chenn, K., Chou, W., Yuan, K., Yen, S., Chen, Y., & Chow, J. (2020). Prolonged touch screen device usage is associated with emotional and behavioral problems, but not language delay, in toddlers. Infant Behavior and Development, 58, Article 101424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2020.101424 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Madigan, S., McArthur, B. A., Anhorn, C., Eirich, R., & Christakis, D. A. (2020). Associations between screen use and child language skills. JAMA Pediatrics, 174(7), 665–673. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.0327 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Malesińska, K. (2023, March 15). How English became the world’s most spoken language? Novakid Blog. https://www.novakidschool.com/blog/english-why-this-widely-spoken-language-is-a-global-language/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Massaroni, V., Donne, V. D., Marra, C., Arcangeli, V., & Chieffo, D. P. R. (2023). The relationship between language and technology: How screen time affects language development in early life—A systematic review. Brain Sciences, 14(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci14010027 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Morris, A. J., Filippetti, M. L., & Rigato, S. (2022). The impact of parents’ smartphone use on language development in young children. Child Development Perspectives, 16(2), 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12449 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Muppalla, S. K., Vuppalapati, S., Pulliahgaru, A. R., & Sreenivasulu, H. (2023). Effects of excessive screen time on child development: An updated review and strategies for management. Cureus, 15(6), Article e40608. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40608 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Nadeem, R. (2024, April 14). Parenting children in the age of screens. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2020/07/28/parenting-children-in-the-age-of-screens/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Ribner, A. D., Barr, R. F., & Nichols, D. L. (2020). Background media use is negatively related to language and literacy skills: Indirect effects of self-regulation. Pediatric Research, 89(6), 1523–1529. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-020-1004-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Rowe, S. (2021, July 31). How do smartphones affect childhood psychology? Psych Central. https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-do-smartphones-affect-childhood-psychology [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Setiani, D. (2020). Effect of gadget usage on the social development of children aged 3-5 years: Literature review. STRADA Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 9(2), 1732–1739. https://doi.org/10.30994/sjik.v9i2.526 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Shivakumar, S., & Sivaraman, V. (2022). Early gadget exposure among young children and its association with cognitive and socio-emotional development. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 48(2), 241–248. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363857331 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Snyder, M. N., & Mares, M. (2020). Preschoolers’ choices of television characters as sources of information: Effects of character type, format, and topic domain. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 203, Article 105034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2020.105034 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Yalçin, S. S., Tezol, Ö., Çaylan, N., Nergiz, M. E., Yildiz, D., Çiçek, Ş., & Oflu, A. (2021). Evaluation of problematic screen exposure in pre-schoolers using a unique tool called “seven-in-seven screen exposure questionnaire”: Cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatrics, 21(1), Article 456. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02939-y [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study