Screen–induced autism–like symptoms in indian children: community–based screening for virtual autism and developmental disorders

Background: Virtual Autism, characterized by autism-like symptoms resulting from excessive screen exposure during critical developmental periods, represents an emerging public health concern. Early identification through community-based screening remains limited, particularly in low-resource settings. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted across 43 Anganwadi centers in Latur District, Maharashtra, from April 2024 to January 2025. A total of 2,932 children aged 0-6 years were screened using standardized tools: Indian Scale for Assessment of Autism (ISAA), Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), Developmental Screening Test (DST), and Vineland Social Maturity Scale (VSMS). A multidisciplinary team conducted assessments using a mobile screening unit. Structured psychoeducational sessions were provided to parents and Anganwadi workers. Results: Of 2,932 children screened (M = 38.4 months, SD = 21.2; 54% male), 61 children (2.08%; 95% CI: 1.6-2.7%) were identified with Virtual Autism. Screen exposure >4 hours daily was significantly associated with Virtual Autism diagnosis (χ² = 78.3, p < 0.001). Additional developmental concerns were identified in 15.2% of children. Following intervention, 79.3% of children with Virtual Autism showed clinically significant improvement at 3-month follow-up. Conclusions: Community-based screening through Anganwadi centers effectively identifies Virtual Autism and other developmental disorders. The high prevalence and positive intervention responses support integration of developmental screening and screen time education into routine early childhood services. This scalable model demonstrates feasibility for implementation across India's extensive ICDS network.