Subtle speech and motor deficits of children with congenital hypothyroid treated early.

This study surveyed the development and functioning of a group of 16 children with congenital hypothyroidism who had been followed closely since treatment was instituted at an average age of 15.6 days. This group of early-treated young children had no deficits in cognitive or adaptive functioning. Some isolated motor deficits were found, although results of the Finger-tapping and Marching subtests of the Reitan-Indiana battery did not replicate the New England Congenital Hypothyroid Collaborative (1985) finding of impaired performance. Speech deficits were documented in some. Congenitally hypothyroid children with delayed neonatal bone-age performed more poorly on most measures than those whose bone-age had been normal at birth.