A new study suggests that the amount of television young childrenwatch may be directly related to attention problems later in school. They mayeven suffer a condition known as Attention Deficit Disorder or A.D.D. Expertssay that A.D.D. involves an over-stimulation of young developing brains andteachers say many children in the United States are showing signs of thedisorder. Some education researchers have believed for years that watchingtelevision at a very young age could change the normal development of thebrain. For example, they say that children who watch a lot of television are notable to sit and read for an extended period of time, show less ability to listen,pay attention, as well as engage in independent problem solving.

This new study tested the idea that television watching by very youngchildren is linked to attention problems by the age of seven. The findingsreported that every hour pre-schoolers watch television increases their chancesby about ten percent of developing attention deficit problems later in life. Forexample, children who watched three hours a day were thirty percent morelikely to have attention problems than those who watched no television.

One of the researchers said there are other reasons why children shouldnot watch television. Earlier studies have linked it with children becoming toofat and too aggressive. Other experts say the new study is important, but morework needs to be done to confirm the results and better explain the cause andeffect.