Endocrine Disorders in Childhood: A Selective Survey of Intellectual and Educational Sequelae

Abstract

This review examines the intellectual and educational sequelae of selected endocrine syndromes. These effects stem from the medical condition and/or as a result of the psychosocial impact of the illness. Disease states in which the endocrine dysfunction is the primary problem or one of several medical consequences associated with another condition are reviewed including: Growth Hormone Deficiency, Psychosocial Short Stature, Turner Syndrome, Precocious Puberty, Klinefelter Syndrome, Congenital Hypothyroidism, and Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. Because particular endocrine states may indirectly be associated with negative educational outcomes through the influence of psychosocial stress and inappropriate child rearing styles, the reader is given psychoeducationai information to guide parents, other family members, and allied professionals involved in the care and education of the child.