Erika's Lifelong Learning Blog : 2016

Looking at the (Negative) Impact of Technology
(over exposure, nuerological impact, and treating addiction)

Precursor: Technology has offered wonderful gifts.

For example, glasses allow a person with vision impairment to see. Voice to text has allowed persons with significant dyslexia to accomplish writing and school tasks. Technology by standard definition includes any invention, tool, or device created and used to make a task easier or more efficient. The stick a chimpanzee uses to acquire termites from a mound is a form of technology. A musical instrument...

For this presentation we are focusing on specific types of tech.I am referring to devices that include "screens" and what science defers as

"SCREEN TECHNOLOGIES"

Cell Phones, TV, Computers, Tablets, Gaming Devices, and all that goes within those...

Susan GreenField
Science Researcher on Technology and the Brain

"Today’s screen technologies create environments that could alter how we process information, the degree to which we take risks, how we socialise and empathise with others and even, how we view our own identity. This is the primary focus of Susan Greenfield’s work into the impact of modern screen technologies on the human brain (Greenfield)."

The Worst Case Scenario.

"Brain imaging studies reveal that game addictions commandeer the cingulate gyrus (a key brain area involved in motivation) and the prefrontal cortex (the brain's judgment center). The result is that kids can become fixated on digital devices, cease to care about what once mattered to them most, and yet have no insight regarding their problems (Freed, 2016)."

"Brain scans show that video gaming triggers the release of the reward-based neurotransmitter dopamine into the brain at the same level as an intravenous shot of amphetamine. In other words, gaming provides pleasures real-world activities may not be able to match. For example, in contrast to the profound and immediate rewards found in gaming, kids need to work all semester long in math or chemistry before they receive a grade stamped on a transcript (Freed, 2016)."

On the level of neural circuitry, neuroadaptation occurs as a consequence of increased brain activity in brain areas associated with addiction and structural changes as a consequence of Internet and gaming addiction. The cited studies provide a clear picture of Internet and gaming addiction pathogenesis and stress how maladaptive behavioral patterns indicative of addiction are maintained. The brain adapts to frequent use of drugs or engagement in addictive behaviors so that it becomes desensitized to natural reinforcers. Importantly, functioning and structure of the OFC and cingulate gyrus are altered, leading to increased drug or behavior salience and loss of control over behaviors. Learning mechanisms and increased motivation for consumption/engagement result in compulsive behaviors (Kuss, et al, 2012)".

On a behavioral level, Internet and gaming addicts appear to be constricted with regards to their impulse control, behavioral inhibition, executive functioning control, attentional capabilities, and overall cognitive functioning. In turn, certain skills are developed and improved as a consequence of frequent engagement with the technology, such as the integration of perceptual information into the brain via the senses, and hand-eye coordination. It appears that the excessive engagement with the technology results in a number of advantages for players and Internet users, however to the detriment of fundamental cognitive functioning.

Technology addiction, or video game addiction is no joke and although it's considered a psychological addiction, studies show it reveals the same brain impact as substances can, within the white matter of the brain.

The Addiction Cycle includes “the tendency to numb oneself along with feelings of shame, isolation, and guilt (Greenfield, 2016).”

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What's the need or function (for parent and child)?

"Technology is the only thing that calms me down"~Child
"It's the only time I can get a break!" Parent

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What can or do we do (as therapist)?

Psychoeducation

Use videos, it's the language!
Show images
Describe what you’re observing “I can see that you’re ________ today, when was the last time you got to play video games?”

Showing the science

People are more apt to look at “science” versus your opinion

Use story

Using and showing examples of other people’s experience can be a powerful tool (see case example)

Give Parent's tools & Partner with Parent's (see attached resources)

If we’re working with children, it is often through the parent that we can support the child
Avoid judgement
Always aim to reduce, not eliminate at first

Offer "activities" (see list)

Including the act of observation, becoming aware of time spent on tech
Addiction Treatment

Look to same patterns of treatment that are applied to compulsive use, or substance disorders

Example Activities:

Balancing, for every X amount of game time you do Y amount of (play, outdoor activity, art, people time).
Monitoring Chart to observe how much time is being spent on game time (for parents and/or child).
"The Cell Phone Basket": ALL house inhabitants putting devices away for (weekdays, every Saturday, after 4 o' clock...)
Use technology ideas that include a balance, art blogging, outdoor tracking "game" like app, etc.

Parent Tools
http://www.entrepreneurkidsacademy.com/screen-time-five-tips-to-balance-technology-in-family-life/

Monitoring Charts
Reward/Consequence system
Technology contracts
Education, books
Providing ways the parent can obtain their needs (time to do stuff), looking at alternatives

Here are five tips for creating more balance.

1. Set up toy stations. Before I sit down to work, many times I’ll pull out different tubs of toys and create a village with my kids. I will get them started playing and then I explain it’s time for me to work and them to play. I do this during times where I know I can get interruptions because they do happen.

2. Wean them off technology. If your kids are used to having the TV or a device anytime you are busy then you’ll need to wean them off. It’s just like any other treat. Start to limit how much they get and back off until you have found a good balance that works for everyone. At first they will complain and throw fits but as you wean them you should see less of this behavior.

3. Kids WILL play, give them a chance. So many time I have turned the TV on because I feared that if I did not I wouldn’t get my work done. Once I started more research about technology I was aware of what I was doing. So I quit turning the TV on and observed what happened. I noticed that they did what kids naturally do. They started playing and looking at books, big surprise right? They keep themselves busy with the world around them.

4. Schedule it. I look at my day and see where I have to have uninterrupted time. If I need more than one hour, I get a babysitter or wait till hubby can help. There are times that I have a skype call or something that is an hour or less where I can’t be interrupted. Those are the times they get a show or app to play with.

5. Supervise it. The sources of technology our kids are most exposed to are TV, MP3 players, smart phones, tablets, e-readers and computers. In reality parents should only be allowing educational programming/reading for their kids. We all enjoy some fun entertainment that doesn’t necessarily mean learning. So if parents allow kids to consume non-educational content then parents should supervise kids or at least preview the specific content allowed. Parents should also have a conversation with kids about the material consumed. Remember to have wi-fi turned off whenever possible, read more about that in our last article here.

Supervise social media 100%.

Time Allowed and Approved Activities.

Here is a list of ages showing time that should be allowed and types of technology that is okay. This list is what I put together from my own research. It is not scientific and has not been approved. Please note that this is my opinion only. Be sure to check out the sources at the end of this post.

Ages 0-2 – 0 to 1 hour of tech time. The best type of technology for this age is constructive technology. Interactive apps using devices such as tablets and other small handheld devices with wi-fi/phone connection off (use airplane mode). TV is not recommended for this age.
Ages 3-5 – 0 to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above) or educational TV.
Ages 6-18 – Up to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above), educational TV, non-violent movies / video games.

- See more at: http://www.entrepreneurkidsacademy.com/screen-time-five-tips-to-balance-technology-in-family-life/#sthash.Yq1SDE3j.dpuf

Here are five tips for creating more balance.

Supervise social media 100%.

Time Allowed and Approved Activities.

Ages 0-2 – 0 to 1 hour of tech time. The best type of technology for this age is constructive technology. Interactive apps using devices such as tablets and other small handheld devices with wi-fi/phone connection off (use airplane mode). TV is not recommended for this age.
Ages 3-5 – 0 to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above) or educational TV.
Ages 6-18 – Up to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above), educational TV, non-violent movies / video games.

- See more at: http://www.entrepreneurkidsacademy.com/screen-time-five-tips-to-balance-technology-in-family-life/#sthash.Yq1SDE3j.dpuf

Here are five tips for creating more balance.

Supervise social media 100%.

Time Allowed and Approved Activities.

Ages 0-2 – 0 to 1 hour of tech time. The best type of technology for this age is constructive technology. Interactive apps using devices such as tablets and other small handheld devices with wi-fi/phone connection off (use airplane mode). TV is not recommended for this age.
Ages 3-5 – 0 to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above) or educational TV.
Ages 6-18 – Up to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above), educational TV, non-violent movies / video games.

- See more at: http://www.entrepreneurkidsacademy.com/screen-time-five-tips-to-balance-technology-in-family-life/#sthash.Yq1SDE3j.dpuf

Here are five tips for creating more balance.

Supervise social media 100%.

Time Allowed and Approved Activities.

Ages 0-2 – 0 to 1 hour of tech time. The best type of technology for this age is constructive technology. Interactive apps using devices such as tablets and other small handheld devices with wi-fi/phone connection off (use airplane mode). TV is not recommended for this age.
Ages 3-5 – 0 to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above) or educational TV.
Ages 6-18 – Up to 2 hours of constructive technology (see above), educational TV, non-violent movies / video games.

- See more at: http://www.entrepreneurkidsacademy.com/screen-time-five-tips-to-balance-technology-in-family-life/#sthash.Yq1SDE3j.dpuf

Resources:

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-freed/what-one-boys-story-tells-us-about-video-game-addiction_b_9238744.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cris-rowan/10-reasons-why-handheld-devices-should-be-banned_b_4899218.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4061797/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/parenting-in-digital-age/201301/designing-family-contracts-technology-use

http://richardfreed.com/

Link to published articles on facets of this via Susan Greenfield's page: http://wwww.susangreenfield.com/assets/Sept-2015/Reading-list-for-Website-Revised-Sept-2015.pdf

https://plus.google.com/communities/101651115161183157939?cfem=1

BOOKS