[Results of psychomotor development in hypothyroidism detected at birth].

Thirty-five children in whom hypothyroidism was detected at birth were studied with respect to psychomotor development. A 5 year-follow-up was obtained in a few cases. The I.Q. was established using Brunet-Lezine's test or Griffith's test after age 30 months. Global quotients where normal: 98 + 10 at 6 months, 96 + 7 at 1 year, 99 + 7 at 3 years, 97 + 7 at 4 years and 97 + 4 at 5 years. Partial development quotients were normal concerning coordination and sociability. A transitory decrease was found at 1 year concerning posture and at 2 and 3 years concerning language, both returning to normal by age 4. These results were correlated with several factors: there was no significant difference between athyroidism and ectopia at the different ages but a difference appeared for partial development quotients at 2 and 3 years. There was no correlation between development quotients, clinical scores and dates of diagnosis. On the contrary, a significant correlation was found global development quotients at 6 months and the surfaces of epiphyses. Finally, a precise neurological evaluation showed an impairment of posture, coordination and fine movements of the extremities.