8.5 Percent of U.S. Youths Addicted to Video Games, Study Finds

Even when the study accounted for hours of play, the gamers deemed addicted performed worse in school.

Other experts said that although they agree that too much video-gaming can take a toll, they are not convinced by the study's addiction findings.

"I think kids use this just the way kids watch television, the way kids now use their cellphones," said Michael Brody, chairman of the media committee of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. "They do it to relieve their anxiety and depression. It's all a matter of balance."

Mark Griffiths, director of the International Gaming Research Unit at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom, contended that game addiction exists but in smaller numbers than the study suggests.

"In all honesty, if there really were 8.5 percent of children who were genuinely addicted, there would be treatment clinics all over America."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that screen time, including television, computer and video games, not exceed one to two hours a day and that it be "quality programming."

Donald Shifrin, past chairman of the academy committee that examines media impact, said that "maybe this is an 'Aha!' moment for parents to say, 'We're going to look and see whether these games are being used in a balanced way.' "