Can your child be addicted to video games? According to a new study from Iowa State University, 8.5% of young video game players exhibit signs of addiction to gaming. The researchers found that their addiction affects their schoolwork, disrupts interaction with family and friends and poses health problems. The national study looked at 1,178 U.S. children and teens (aged 8 to 18).

The Iowa State researchers say your child is pathological or addicted if he or she answers "Yes" to six or more of these questions:

• Over time, have you been spending much more time thinking about playing video games, learning about video-game playing, or planning the next opportunity to play?

• Do you need to spend more and more time and/or money on video games in order to feel the same amount of excitement?

• Have you tried to play video games less often or for shorter periods of time, but are unsuccessful?

• Do you become restless or irritable when attempting to cut down or stop playing video games?

• Have you played video games as a way of escaping from problems or bad feelings?

• Have you ever lied to family or friends about how much you play video games?

• Have you ever stolen a video game from a store or a friend, or have you ever stolen money in order to buy a video game?

• Do you sometimes skip household chores in order to spend more time playing video games?

• Do you sometimes skip doing homework in order to spend more time playing video games?

• Have you ever done poorly on a school assignment or test because you spent too much time playing video games?

• Have you ever needed friends or family to give you extra money because you spent too much money on video-game equipment, software, or game/Internet fees?