Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Free certificates of participation are available upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at autism.org/screens-social-engagement
Karen F. Heffler, MD is a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, with primary interest in modifiable risk factors and early childhood development. She completed her medical school and residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, and she began her career as an ophthalmologist. Over a decade ago, she changed focus and began to participate in research involving early childhood development and autism. The rising rates of autism and her own son’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder impacted this decision.
Her review of the literature on autism, parent-child interactions, effects of digital media on social interaction, early post-natal brain development, neuroplasticity, and brain development in autism informs her research. Along with colleagues at Drexel, she researches experiential factors including early digital media use, social experiences, and developmental outcomes. Her group published the first prospective study to show the association between early-life digital media exposure and subsequent autism-like symptoms.
Dr. Heffler and her colleague Lori Frome M.Ed. developed a parent training program on digital media, social interaction, and child development, studying the potential benefit of screen reduction with focus on social engagement in young children with autism and high media exposure. Dr. Heffler speaks at national and international child development and research conferences, and regularly provides talks to pediatricians, psychiatrists, and early-intervention provider groups. Dr. Heffler and her research colleagues have significantly contributed to the early childhood development and autism literature with many publications.
In this webinar:
0:00 – Presenter introduction
3:40 – Background and positive developmental predictors
7:30 – Screen time and social experiences
9:20 – Video and television learning (Video deficit)
11:55 – Developmental outcome associated with early TV/Screen media viewing
13:25 – Brain differences in autism
16:48 – Brain plasticity, social development, and screen time
18:34 – Autism risk factors
21:35 – Study 1 – Association of early-life social and digital media experiences with the development of ASD-like symptoms
26:50 – Study strengths and limitations
28:20 – Literature review on early-life screen time and autism association studies
29:56 – Study 2 – Screen media and social intervention in autism: a 6-month pilot study
36:30 – Study strengths and limitations
37:54 – Literature review on intervention studies
39:12 – Case reports of interest
41:46 – Drivers and mechanisms of association of early-life screen time with autism
43:53 – Summary and next steps
45:45 – Q & A
Free certificates of participation are available upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at autism.org/screens-social-engagement
Karen F. Heffler, MD is a researcher in the Department of Psychiatry, Drexel University College of Medicine, with primary interest in modifiable risk factors and early childhood development. She completed her medical school and residency training at the University of Pennsylvania, and she began her career as an ophthalmologist. Over a decade ago, she changed focus and began to participate in research involving early childhood development and autism. The rising rates of autism and her own son’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder impacted this decision.
Her review of the literature on autism, parent-child interactions, effects of digital media on social interaction, early post-natal brain development, neuroplasticity, and brain development in autism informs her research. Along with colleagues at Drexel, she researches experiential factors including early digital media use, social experiences, and developmental outcomes. Her group published the first prospective study to show the association between early-life digital media exposure and subsequent autism-like symptoms.
Dr. Heffler and her colleague Lori Frome M.Ed. developed a parent training program on digital media, social interaction, and child development, studying the potential benefit of screen reduction with focus on social engagement in young children with autism and high media exposure. Dr. Heffler speaks at national and international child development and research conferences, and regularly provides talks to pediatricians, psychiatrists, and early-intervention provider groups. Dr. Heffler and her research colleagues have significantly contributed to the early childhood development and autism literature with many publications.
In this webinar:
0:00 – Presenter introduction
3:40 – Background and positive developmental predictors
7:30 – Screen time and social experiences
9:20 – Video and television learning (Video deficit)
11:55 – Developmental outcome associated with early TV/Screen media viewing
13:25 – Brain differences in autism
16:48 – Brain plasticity, social development, and screen time
18:34 – Autism risk factors
21:35 – Study 1 – Association of early-life social and digital media experiences with the development of ASD-like symptoms
26:50 – Study strengths and limitations
28:20 – Literature review on early-life screen time and autism association studies
29:56 – Study 2 – Screen media and social intervention in autism: a 6-month pilot study
36:30 – Study strengths and limitations
37:54 – Literature review on intervention studies
39:12 – Case reports of interest
41:46 – Drivers and mechanisms of association of early-life screen time with autism
43:53 – Summary and next steps
45:45 – Q & A
