A coalition of more than 150 healthcare professionals has raised concerns about the impact of extensive screen use on children’s speech and eyesight. The group, comprising general practitioners, paediatricians, audiologists, and speech therapists, has urged government officials to reduce children’s screen time in educational settings.

The clinicians addressed a letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, warning that current reliance on digital devices in schools is contributing to a growing "crisis" in children's physical and developmental health. According to their assessment, issues such as speech delays and vision problems are emerging earlier and appearing more severely among children who regularly use screens for learning.

Recent data indicate that approximately one million children engage in lessons fully delivered via digital devices, with an additional 2.6 million students using screens as part of their daily educational activities. The medical professionals emphasized that these learning platforms have not undergone comprehensive evaluation regarding their long-term effects on young users’ eyes, ears, and speech development.

The letter highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that health practitioners will likely manage the fallout from these challenges throughout their careers unless changes are made. While schools have increasingly incorporated technology to enhance learning opportunities, the letter calls for a reconsideration of how and when digital tools are employed in classrooms to safeguard children's developmental well-being.