SUBTLE SPEECH AND MOTOR DEFICITS OF CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HYPOTHYROID TREATED EARLY

This study surveyed the development and functioning of a group of 16 c hildren with congenital hypothyroidism who had been followed closely s ince treatment was instituted at an average age of 15.6 days. This gro up of early-treated young children had no deficits in cognitive or ada ptive functioning. Some isolated motor deficits were found, although r esults of the Finger-tapping and Marching subtests of the Reitan-India na battery did not replicate the New England Congenital Hypothyroid Co llaborative (1985) finding of impaired performance. Speech deficits we re documented in some. Congenitally hypothyroid children with delayed neonatal bone-age performed more poorly on most measures than those wh ose bone-age had been normal at birth.