Electronic media just before bed – a no-no.

In the growing age of technology, it is particularly relevant to ask whether electronic media usage can influence sleep. A recent study found that electronic media that was part of bedtime routine was associated with significant sleep onset latency in children with ASD, a comparatively larger sleep onset latency of 40 minutes compared to 16 minutes in those who did not have bedtime media. The 40 minutes sleep onset falls under the category of sleep onset insomnia (which is defined as taking longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep), which highlights the clinical importance to such a finding.

The reasons behind this could be due to arousal, both physiological and cognitive, or possibly due to the exposure of light from the screens starting a reaction in the children similar to reacting in daylight and suppressing melatonin, a vital neurotransmitter that signifies sleep.

It is therefore advised that use of electronic devices should be avoided before bedtime.