The Role of Smartphone Use in Sensory Processing: Differences Between Adolescents with ADHD and Typical Development

Rosa Angela Fabio () and Rossella Suriano
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Rosa Angela Fabio: Department of Cognitive, Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy
Rossella Suriano: Department of Cognitive, Psychological and Pedagogical Sciences and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 12, 1-13

Abstract: The use of smartphones is widespread among adolescents and can affect various cognitive processes. However, the effects of smartphone use on sensory processing, particularly among individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), remain largely unknown. The present study investigated the relationship between smartphone use intensity and sensory processing in adolescents with typical development and those with ADHD. The sample included 184 adolescents aged 14 to 18 years (M = 16.56; SD = ±1.87), with 92 diagnosed with ADHD and 92 with typical development, matched for age, gender, and IQ. Participants completed a self-report questionnaire to measure smartphone use intensity, while sensory processing was assessed using the Adolescent Sensory Profile (ASP). The results revealed a significant association between the intensity of smartphone use and heightened sensory responses in adolescents with typical development. However, this relationship was not observed in participants with ADHD. These preliminary findings suggest that smartphone use may influence sensory processing differently depending on neurotypical development or the presence of ADHD, potentially contributing to the promotion or mitigation of sensory dysfunctions. Future studies are needed to further explore the mechanisms underlying these differences and to better understand the impact of digital technologies on sensory functioning.

Keywords: smartphone use; sensory processing; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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