Premature sexual development in individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities

Studies on precocious puberty have primarily focused on children with typic al patterns of growth and cognitive development. This study reviewed diagno stic data from the records of 15 719 patients with neurodevelopmental disab ilities for diagnoses associated with premature sexual development/precocio us puberty. Thirty-two individuals with premature sexual development were i dentified, with the earliest changes seen in one girl at 1 year 7 months of age. In this group, the mean age at onset was 7 years 2 months in boys and 5 years 11 months in girls. Central precocious puberty, which was the most common cause of onset of early pubertal changes, was present in 15 of the 32 children. The results of this study suggest that children with a neurode velopmental disability are at increased risk of premature pubertal changes when compared to children without a neurodevelopmental disability. This stu dy indicates the need for health-care providers to be vigilant in screening for early pubertal changes in children with neurodevelopmental disabilitie s.