Algunas tendencias en la ocupación del ocio en los jóvenes¿hacia un nuevo autismo?

Abstract

The way our youngsters and adolescents spend their leisure time has undergone wide variations over the last few decades. Television viewing occupies more than three hours a day. More recently, part of this time has shifted towards the use of videogames and consoles and the Internet. On the other hand, personal music players (CD players, MP3, MP4, iPod) have become a constant among our adolescents. What are the metabolic consequences of these changes in our lifestyle? There is an increase in overweight and obesity as a consequence of less time spent in physical activity and play. There is also an increase in deafness –mainly from hearing high-pitched sounds. But there are also worse outcomes related to communication and social skills. These difficulties in communication or social interaction and the development of restricted patterns of behavior, activities and interests are, in some way, very similar to those present in autistic spectrum disorders. The pediatrician has a key role in addressing how our children and adolescents use the new technologies, as well as in the early detection of anomalous patterns of behavior.