Effects of Mobile on Mental Health of Children with Special Needs: A Review

The widespread use of smartphones and mobile devices has transformed the daily lives of children, including children with special needs such as those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Intellectual Disability (ID), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disabilities, and sensory impairments. Mobile technologies offer educational, communication, and therapeutic benefits; however, excessive or inappropriate use may negatively affect mental health and psychosocial development. This review examines the impact of mobile device use on the mental health of children with special needs by synthesizing findings from recent literature. Evidence suggests that prolonged screen exposure is associated with increased anxiety, emotional dysregulation, sleep disturbances, attention difficulties, social withdrawal, and behavioral problems. At the same time, appropriately designed mobile applications can enhance communication, learning, self-regulation, and psychological well-being. The review highlights the importance of balanced and supervised technology use and emphasizes the need for further research focused specifically on children with special needs.