Boys with Autism, ADHD at Higher Risk of Being Addicted to Video Games

Kids with Autism or ADHD have a higher risk of developing an addiction to video games, a new study found.

ADHD or Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is characterized with the inability to paying attention, controlling behavior and being overtly active, according to CDC. The condition is rapidly increasing in the U.S., with one out of every ten children showing symptoms of ADHD.

Autism Spectrum Disorders or ASD refer to development disabilities that lead to poor social interactions and communication abilities. According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), In the US, 1 in 88 children and 1 in every 54 boys are born autistic.

In the present study, researchers found that ASD and ADHD were linked with a person's risk of getting addicted to video games.

The study was based on data obtained from parents of 141 boys about the children's video game usage.  In the study group; 56 boys had autism, 44 had ADHD while 41 had no such condition, CBS news reported.

Results showed that autistic boys were more likely to have problematic gaming; they played about twice as long as a non-autistic kid (2.1 hour a day compared to 1.2 hour). Boys with autism were also more likely to play role-playing games.  Boys with ADHD were also more likely to spend more time playing video games than other kids.

"These results shed light into potential associated features of problematic game use and are consistent with previous studies linking impulsivity and inattention with problematic video game use," the authors stated, reported Medpage.

The study is published in the journal Pediatrics.