[Physical and mental development of children with congenital hypothyroidism].

69 children with congenital hypothyroidism, who were detected by neonatal screening in Lower Saxony, were reevaluated 1-12 years after diagnosis. They had been treated either by regional children's hospitals, local pediatricians or general practitioners. Substitution of thyroid hormone had started for the majority between day 7 and 14, for 17%, however, only later. Symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism at birth were observed in 35 children, but only 3 cases were correctly diagnosed before the result of the screening was known. Further diagnostic tests to elucidate the cause of congenital hypothyroidism had been performed in 33 children. In 36 cases the etiology remained undiagnosed at the evaluation. Hormone therapy had been administered continuously in all cases. The somatic development of all children was normal. Bone age at the time of diagnosis was retarded in more than 50%, later it became normal in most cases. The psychomotor and intellectual development was satisfactory as assessed by psychometric tests. The mean value of the Intelligence Quotients in the children older than six years was 96.3. 5 children of this age group had an IQ below 85 and only one child had an IQ of more than 115. In the younger group the results were similar, but children younger than 4 years showed deficiencies in speech development. In summary, the somatic development of the re-examined children with congenital hypothyroidism was normal, but the psychomotor and intellectual development was only subnormal in some cases. It is therefore suggested that children with congenital hypothyroidism should be closely followed by experienced pediatricians, especially in the early years of life.