Abstract
We explored the possibility that a critical period exists during the first few months of life, when treatment should be started in order to obtain a normal IQ. Previous publications have not fractionated the first 6 months of therapy for comparison of IQ results by a single test procedure. Thirty-one cretins were tested by Stanford Binet after age 3 years. A significantly higher percentage had IG > 85 when treated before 3 months (Chi-Square p < 0.02) indicating that thyroprevia is most harmful during the period that CNS neuronal number is increasing.
Questionnaires disclosed twice as many behavior concerns in parents of cretins with IQ < 85 than in those with IQ > 85 whose parents had no more worries than those of age matched normals. Parents had anxiety about punishment of these children who were characterized as “high strung, stubborn, contrary” and whose “feelings were easily hurt.” Concern was high regarding future education and jobs.
Since clinical diagnosis of cretinism is difficult during the first 2 months of life, and since it is as common (1:8,000 live births) as phenylketonuria (1:10,000), a routine screening procedure is warranted. Systematic psychological counseling should be an integral part of therapy.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Klein, A., Meltzer, S., Kenny, F. et al. Improved prognosis in congenital hypothyroidism treated before three months. Behavior concerns of parents of treated cretins. Pediatr Res 5, 399 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00117
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00117
This article is cited by
-
Assessment of a programme to screen the newborn for congenital hypothyroidism
CrossRef Listing of Deleted DOIs (1979)
-
Negative impact of growth-hormone deficiency on psychological functioning in dwarfed children and adolescents
European Journal of Pediatrics (1977)