[The prevention of disorders due to congenital hypothyroidism: the experience of a neuropsychological follow-up].

Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) changed the prognosis for affected subjects. However it is still matter of controversy whether the neuropsychological development of early treated CH children is completely normal. In our study, even if the cognitive development is within the normal range, several disturbances were repeatedly observed in the neurological area, in language and in behavioural aspects. Severe neonatal hypothyroidism and low socio-cultural level of the family were risk factors for these disturbances; our results emphasize the relevance of a neuropsychological follow-up of early treated CH children.