Increased temperature found to reduce children's ability to read and calculate

Research on more than 19,000 children showed that temperatures above 32°C significantly reduced reading and math skills, especially in children living in difficult conditions.

Children exposed to excessive heat are at risk of falling behind in developmental milestones, according to a new study - Photo: New York Times

Research is increasingly showing that rising temperatures due to climate change are negatively affecting human health. A new study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry looked at the impact of extreme heat on the development of young children, finding that children who are frequently exposed to high temperatures experience learning disabilities.

A growing body of scientific evidence has previously linked high temperatures to poor physical and mental health. For example, a 2021 study found that heat can impair adolescents’ ability to learn and perform poorly on tests.

Researchers also noted that temperatures above 32°C were associated with a nearly 10% reduction in cognitive function in adults and accelerated cognitive decline.

In addition, climate change also has indirect impacts through reducing crop yields when temperatures exceed 34°C, affecting child nutrition - a key factor for development.

However, evidence on the impact of high ambient temperatures on foundational skills in the early years remains limited. To shed light on this issue, the team analyzed data from 19,607 children aged 3 to 4 in Georgia, Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sierra Leone and Palestine between 2017 and 2020.

Children's developmental data are compared with high-resolution temperature data from where they live.

The results showed that children exposed to average maximum temperatures above 32°C were less likely to reach developmental standards in literacy and numeracy. The impact was most severe for children from economically disadvantaged households, living in urban areas, or in areas with poor water and sanitation.

The authors explain that extreme heat affects cognitive development through multiple direct and indirect mechanisms, including dehydration, activation of the stress response system, neuroinflammation, neuronal damage due to inadequate heat dissipation, and sleep disturbance.

At the same time, hot weather also causes children to reduce physical activity, increase passive behavior, and limit opportunities for social interaction outside.

The research findings highlight the urgent need to develop policies and interventions to protect the development of children – the future generation – in the context of global warming.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-nhiet-do-tang-lam-giam-kha-nang-doc-tinh-toan-cua-tre-20251210075938427.htm