INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 10 Program Schedule 02/17/2024 09:00 am - 10:15 am Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120) Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental \| Congenital Conditions Final Abstract #98 The Importance of Controlled Treatment in Pediatric Hypothyroidism for Selective Attention and Visual Working Memory Paola Velázquez González, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Mary Rodríguez Rabassa, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Carlos Leyva Jordán, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Mario Bermonti, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Carmín Centeno, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Charlenne De Jesús, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Mary Moreno Torres, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States Category: ADHD/Attentional Functions Keyword 1: attention Keyword 2: working memory Keyword 3: hypothyroidism Objective: Adequate thyroid function is essential for attention and working memory skills in childhood. Well-controlled treatment is comprehensively documented as a protective factor for cognitive and emotional functioning in adulthood-onset hypothyroidism. However, the literature on cognitive functioning in childhood-onset hypothyroidism with well-controlled treatment is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore the differences between a sample of Puerto Rican children with well-controlled hypothyroidism and healthy controls in selective attention and visual working memory tasks. Participants and Methods: Forty participants, 20 children with hypothyroidism (ages 8-16; 6 males, 14 females) and 20 healthy controls (ages 7-15; 12 males, 8 females), were enrolled through endocrinology clinics and schools in Puerto Rico, respectively. All participants met the inclusion criteria of age (7-16 years) and exclusion criteria of a diagnosed neurodevelopment disorder (e.g., ADHD). Ninety percent of children with hypothyroidism were in well-controlled treatment with Synthroid and actively followed by a pediatric endocrinologist. Visual working memory was measured through the Picture Span (PS) subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale V-Spanish (WISC-V Spanish). Selective attention was measured through the Stroop Color Word Interference Test (Stroop), based on available pediatric Puerto Rican norms. Descriptive analysis (e.g., mean; M, and standard deviations; SD) were used for sociodemographic variables. Scaled scores from the PS subtest and standard scores from the Stroop test were analyzed through an independent t-test using a bootstrapping technique. Results: The mean age for children with and without hypothyroidism was comparable [M1= 13.5; M2=11.3]. Although 20% of biological mothers from the clinical group had hypothyroidism during pregnancy, their offspring were typically developing. Sixty percent of the children in the clinical group had a clinical hypothyroidism diagnosis, while 40% were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. The age of onset of hypothyroidism was M=10.25 (SD=2.9), and onset treatment was M=10.45 (SD=2.9). There was no significant difference in selective attention between children with well-controlled hypothyroidism (M=104, SD=3.3) and healthy controls (M=101, SD=4.0), t (6) = .444, p=.740. Additionally, no significant differences were found in visual working memory between children with well-controlled hypothyroidism (M=8, SD=.72) and healthy controls (M=9, SD=.56), t (4), =1.979, p=.740. Conclusions: Well-controlled treatment in children with hypothyroidism could be a protective factor for age-appropriate selective attention and visual working memory skills. Therefore, early detection and treatment could prevent weaknesses in the neuropsychological profile of children and adolescents with hypothyroidism. A multidisciplinary treatment approach that includes pediatricians, endocrinologists and neuropsychologists could be helpful for children with hypothyroidism for early identification and monitoring of their emotional and cognitive function as they continue developing. Further research is warranted for longitudinal casual-comparative design examining the neuropsychological functioning as a result of uncontrolled treatment versus controlled treatment.

Poster

02/17/2024
09:00 am - 10:15 am
Room: Majestic Complex (Posters 61-120)

Poster Session 10: Neurodevelopmental | Congenital Conditions

Final Abstract #98

The Importance of Controlled Treatment in Pediatric Hypothyroidism for Selective Attention and Visual Working Memory

Paola Velázquez González, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Mary Rodríguez Rabassa, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Carlos Leyva Jordán, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Mario Bermonti, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Carmín Centeno, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Charlenne De Jesús, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States
Mary Moreno Torres, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, United States

Category: ADHD/Attentional Functions

Keyword 1: attention
Keyword 2: working memory
Keyword 3: hypothyroidism

Objective:

Adequate thyroid function is essential for attention and working memory skills in childhood. Well-controlled treatment is comprehensively documented as a protective factor for cognitive and emotional functioning in adulthood-onset hypothyroidism. However, the literature on cognitive functioning in childhood-onset hypothyroidism with well-controlled treatment is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore the differences between a sample of Puerto Rican children with well-controlled hypothyroidism and healthy controls in selective attention and visual working memory tasks.

Participants and Methods:

Forty participants, 20 children with hypothyroidism (ages 8-16; 6 males, 14 females) and 20 healthy controls (ages 7-15; 12 males, 8 females), were enrolled through endocrinology clinics and schools in Puerto Rico, respectively. All participants met the inclusion criteria of age (7-16 years) and exclusion criteria of a diagnosed neurodevelopment disorder (e.g., ADHD). Ninety percent of children with hypothyroidism were in well-controlled treatment with Synthroid and actively followed by a pediatric endocrinologist. Visual working memory was measured through the Picture Span (PS) subtest from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale V-Spanish (WISC-V Spanish). Selective attention was measured through the Stroop Color Word Interference Test (Stroop), based on available pediatric Puerto Rican norms. Descriptive analysis (e.g., mean; M, and standard deviations; SD) were used for sociodemographic variables. Scaled scores from the PS subtest and standard scores from the Stroop test were analyzed through an independent t-test using a bootstrapping technique.

Results:

The mean age for children with and without hypothyroidism was comparable [M1= 13.5; M2=11.3]. Although 20% of biological mothers from the clinical group had hypothyroidism during pregnancy, their offspring were typically developing. Sixty percent of the children in the clinical group had a clinical hypothyroidism diagnosis, while 40% were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s. The age of onset of hypothyroidism was M=10.25 (SD=2.9), and onset treatment was M=10.45 (SD=2.9). There was no significant difference in selective attention between children with well-controlled hypothyroidism (M=104, SD=3.3) and healthy controls (M=101, SD=4.0), t (6) = .444, p=.740. Additionally, no significant differences were found in visual working memory between children with well-controlled hypothyroidism (M=8, SD=.72) and healthy controls (M=9, SD=.56), t (4), =1.979, p=.740.

Conclusions:

Well-controlled treatment in children with hypothyroidism could be a protective factor for age-appropriate selective attention and visual working memory skills. Therefore, early detection and treatment could prevent weaknesses in the neuropsychological profile of children and adolescents with hypothyroidism. A multidisciplinary treatment approach that includes pediatricians, endocrinologists and neuropsychologists could be helpful for children with hypothyroidism for early identification and monitoring of their emotional and cognitive function as they continue developing. Further research is warranted for longitudinal casual-comparative design examining the neuropsychological functioning as a result of uncontrolled treatment versus controlled treatment.