iPads proven to lower anxiety before surgery

It’s a difficult scenario; your child needs surgery. The last thing they or you need is more anxiety and that’s where an iPad may come in. At least according to a recent article in TIME magazine.

TIME cites a study in which kids between ages 4 and 10, about to have surgery, were randomly assigned to one of two groups before receiving anesthesia. Group one received a sedative. Group two played games like, Angry Birds on an iPad. After measuring the kids’ anxiety levels throughout the day, researchers found that anxiety between both groups was about the same and parents were more satisfied with the experience in the iPad group.

According to the study, it’s about distraction. Humans can only focus on a few things at once and distracting them can take their mind away from whatever is causing the anxiety. Psychologist Mark Todd understands that but offers a word of caution too.

“If you’re giving a child a video game to play with for a few minutes and that’s maybe distracting them I think that’s ok,” said Dr. Todd. “It probably wouldn’t be a solution to a long term problem problem because a child isn’t addressing the problem or the parents aren’t addressing the problem and the child isn’t learning coping skills.”

The study has shortcomings, mainly its size. It was very small, focusing on only 112 kids. Still researchers say it’s worth further study especially, if it means fewer drugs for our little ones.