The Relationship Between Gadget Use By Toddlers And Language Development In Delanggu Subdistrict Community Health Center (Hubungan Penggunaan Gadget oleh Anak Usia Toddler terhadap Perkembangan Bahasa di Wilayah Puskesmas Delanggu)

The language acquisition process in toddlers (aged 12-36 months) is a significant domain shaped by a myriad of determining factors, one of which is the use of electronic devices. As shown by the 2022 Indonesian Statistics Agency (BPS) survey, the prevalence of gadget use among young children in Indonesia has increased significantly, with 33.44% of children reported to be involved with this technology. Specifically, 25.5% of children aged 0-4 years and 52.76% of those aged 5-6 years use gadgets, with an anticipated increase of 42.25% projected by 2025. These data imply that the initiation of gadget use has begun in this early stage of development. The main objective of this investigation was to explain the correlation between gadget use by toddlers and their linguistic development at the Delanggu District Health Center. This study used a quantitative methodology characterized by an analytical observational study design and a cross-sectional approach with a sample population of 46 children aged 12-36 months in the Delanggu Community Health Center area, conducted between July and September 2025. The assessment of gadget use was conducted using the Digital Screen Exposure Questionnaire (DSEQ), while children's language development was evaluated through the Denver Development Screening Test (DDST). The analytical procedures applied included frequency distribution analysis and chi-square statistical testing to confirm the relationship between the variables under investigation. The findings showed no statistically significant relationship between gadget use by toddlers and language development in the Delanggu Health Center area, as evidenced by a p-value of 0.311. Many factors may have contributed to this result, including the level of parental supervision and duration of gadget exposure, the type of content consumed, and the mother's educational background and age.