CALIFORNIA — The Journal of the American Medical Association has published a study which suggests the more teens use digital media, the more likely for symptoms of ADHD to develop.<br /><br />The study found nearly 81% of students reported using at least one type of digital media multiples times daily.<br /><br />At the beginning of the study, the students involved had to complete a survey in which they answered how often they consumed 14 different media activities such as social media, texting, watching videos online, and more, reports CNN.<br /><br />The students took a total of five surveys in the fall 2014, spring of 2015, fall of 2015, spring of 2016, and fall of 2016."<br /><br />Reports also say it is possible that phone notifications distract the students' attention, making it harder to develop concentration skills."<br /><br />According to the surveys, the teens who reported "infrequently using digital media" had a 4.6% chance of reporting ADHD symptoms in the surveys that followed.<br /><br />For teens who reported using seven digital media platforms, the percentage almost doubled to 9.5%.<br /><br />And for the students who said they use all 14 digital platforms on a daily basis, the percentage climbed to 10.5.<br /><br />Adam Leventhal, the lead author of the study, said to CNN there weren't any clinicians involved in the study to "provide a diagnosis" as the study was based on self-reports on digital media use compared to ADHD symptoms.
