Improved prognosis in congenital hypothyroidism treated before three months. Behavior concerns of parents of treated cretins

摘要

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 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.