Speech pathology grad student explores the negative effects of screen time on young children

With children accessing more technology than ever before at an earlier age, increasing evidence shows the negative effect screen time has on their language and development skills.

Miranda Hamman, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in speech pathology, created a project about this issue, which she’ll present at the annual Student Academic Conference.

“In the first two years of life, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommends zero screen time for ages up to two, which doesn’t happen very often now,” she says.

Miranda is looking at the delay in a child’s development and the importance of creating guidelines for parents regarding screen usage for healthy media habits in children.

“They related screen time to missed interactions with adults, peers or even with their environment," she says. “Screen habits develop very early on and creating a good foundation for those habits to expand on as they get older is important.”

Miranda is passionate about this project. “I have been around kids forever. I babysat since I was 12. I worked at three different daycares in college, and I’ve nannied,” she says. 

While this is Miranda’s first time presenting at the conference, she has been a spectator in previous years. She is eager to share her first poster presentation with others.

“It will be cool to be on the other side and have people walking around and wanting to learn more. I'm excited for that experience,” she says.

Miranda will graduate in May and has accepted a position as a speech pathologist at Pediatric Therapy Partners in Fargo.

The conference takes place Tuesday, April 5. Visit the Student Academic Conference website to see the full schedule and list of presentations.