Would being born without a Thyroid Gland effect concentration at school?
Your friend’s son’s condition will have been identified soon after birth by the hypothyroid screening programme which involves a drop of blood being taken from every baby born in the UK at about ten days after birth. Studies have shown that affected babies started on thyroid replacement treatment within the first few weeks of life experience no long term adverse effects on intelligence or educational attainment. When the baby was diagnosed he will have been seen by a paediatrician and an endocrinologist and will have been given a thorough physical examination and a full range of laboratory tests. His thyroid status will have been closely monitored for the first few months of treatment until dosages were stabilised and there will be a regular review, usually annual, at around the time of his birthday in my hospital, to determine progress and to see if any change needs to be made to medication. If his medication has been regularly taken and he has attended for his regular checks, there i
