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Preliminary results on the mental development of hypothyroid infants detected by the Quebec Screening Program
Insights
Early thyroid hormone therapy in infants shows no significant developmental differences at 12 months. However, hypothyroid infants had lower scores in speech and reasoning by 18 and 36 months, indicating potential long-term impacts.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Congenital hypothyroidism requires timely intervention to prevent developmental deficits.
- Early detection and treatment are crucial for neurodevelopmental outcomes in affected infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term mental development of infants with congenital hypothyroidism treated early.
- To compare the developmental trajectories of hypothyroid infants with normal controls.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study design initiated in 1976.
- Assessment using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales at 12, 18, and 36 months.
- Comparison of mental development scores between 45 hypothyroid infants and 37 controls.
Main Results:
- No significant differences in developmental scores at 12 months.
- Hypothyroid infants showed lower scores in hearing-speech and practical reasoning at 18 and 36 months.
- Global quotients remained above 100, with few scores below 85.
Conclusions:
- Early thyroid hormone therapy may mitigate some developmental delays but does not fully normalize outcomes.
- Further research is needed to evaluate mental development at age 6 years for definitive conclusions on long-term effects.
Abstract:
A prospective study of the mental development of hypothyroid infants detected by the Quebec Network for Genetic Medicine began in January, 1976. The mean age at initiation of thyroid hormone therapy was 27 days. Forty-five hypothyroid infants and 37 normal control subjects were assessed at age 12 months with the Griffiths mental development test; 77 and 41, respectively, were assessed at age 18 months, and 59 and 40, respectively, at 36 months. There were no statistically significant differences in the various test scores between the two populations at age 12 months, but at age 18 and 36 months the hypothyroid infants had lower scores in hearing-speech performance scales and practical reasoning (36 months) which also decreased their global quotient. The mean scores were still above 100 and only nine were below 85. Further assessment of the influence of early therapy on mental development at age 6 years is needed before definitive statements can be made about the long-term mental development in these subjects.